What wines to give for a birthday?

What wines to give for a birthday?
A good wine can make a great gift but people’s taste in wine can be difficult to work out if you are not in a position to discuss it with them. However, there are a few rough guidelines you can follow to increase the chances of your present being a big hit.

When buying wine for people whose taste you know very little about, go for a bottle that you are confident would please the majority of your friends if you served it at a dinner party. Perhaps your wine won’t be a life-changing experience for the receiver, but you want to make sure you at least do not offend their palette!

Merlot and Cabernet are considered to be universally loved wines, so if you’re seeking a bottle of red wine to buy your boss or a long lost family member, these two options represent reasonably safe bets.

If your friend’s birthday is in autumn or winter, a bottle of Pinot Noir is likely to go down a treat with most people. White wine is more commonly served in warm weather, so if the birthday party is a spring gathering or a summer barbecue, a bottle of Pinot Grigio will make you a popular guest.

Champagne is the classic celebration wine and you will rarely get anything less than a positive reaction when buying it as a gift. Even wine drinkers who don’t have a particular affection for champagne will enjoy having a bottle around for that special occasion or celebration.

If you can ascertain the kind of food being served at a birthday party you’re attending, you can always bring the gift of a great wine to accompany the meal.

If the birthday dinner is likely to be a hearty dish of red meat, casserole or pie, then a good, full-bodied red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon will compliment it well. If fish, pasta or salads are on the menu, go for a white wine such as Rombauer Chardonnay. Alternatively, if spicy Mexican or Indian food is on the agenda, a wine with more of a zesty kick to it might work well, such as a Shiraz.

The price and size of your birthday gift are, unfortunately, things to keep in mind. A standard bottle of wine brought as a gift to be served at a table of 20 people might be a gesture that creates a bit of a problem for the host when everyone wants to try your perfectly matched wine with their meal. Ask your local wine merchant for a magnum if you know the wine will be passed around a lot.

Equally, don’t scrimp on birthday wines. Imagine your friend or relative’s face when they sit down to enjoy their present, only to find upon tasting that you picked up a cheap, bottom-of-the-barrel bargain from your local corner shop! When it comes to wine, price generally reflects quality, so while there is no need to break the bank, let the price of your wine guide you to a good gift.