Present ideas needed for a home-cook and wine guy

Hey all - I want to pick everyone's brains about what would be a good and reasonably priced "dream" gift for someone who loves to cook and loves his wine.

He is beyond the "beginner" stages of cooking and wine appreciation so something for the more developed foodie would be great.

Say between $200-300? Any ideas or what would YOU want for the holidays?

I was just coveting this, even though I can't imagine taking a sip and thinking I got my money's worth. But I'd still like to take that sip.

Maybe a wine cooler? I know I've seen one at Sam's Club easily in that range. Maybe with a Rabbit cork-puller?

Or, to give something to look forward to, maybe a wine future? You can a pretty good case of Bordeaux in that price range, or a number of good Californians ...

I would definitely try and find out what types of wine/spirits he enjoys and start exploring that route. You can start to put together an interesting gift of either a case or a combination of bottles. You could also assemble a "basket" type gift with some bottles, a nice rabbit cork-pull, a decanter etc. (depending on what he has).

I'd steer away from any kitchen cookware/appliances/cutlery unless you're sure you know what he wants, or if you're comfortable with him returning it. I find that kitchenware is a very personal item for people who cook. Personally, I put a lot of research into what pans, knives, gadgets, etc., that I make part of my kitchen.

But, if someone put together a nice combination of bottles of wine for me as a gift, I'd be tickled pink.

Best,
EC

Hi,

You can always add the personal creative touch as exemplified here:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=2528#2528

with more information here:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=2745#2745

Imaginative, creative and highly personalized gifts are always more memorable.

good friend just got a wine club subscription for his wedding. He's thrilled with the case of wine a month he gets for the next few months - who wouldn't be.

Depending on the levels of wines that would impress, there are many options similar to this one:

http://www.californiareds.com/

While I will never turn down an interesting case of wine, for that amount, you might want to get something that has value lasting beyond the memory. A few suggestions that would be welcome in our oenophilic home

A set of Riedel glasses - Vinum, or dream of dreams, Sommelier series

A Riedel decanter

And if you want something really cool and unusual, there is a culinary antique store in New Orleans, Lucullus. Having just been down there, they have a wonderful selection of antique corkscrews, tasting cups, wine buckets. It's a very good thing that I don't live closer to them.

Hi,

If MAG considers Riedel pricey, then I believe her. My favorite shopping grounds for my wants, rather than needs, is over at e-Bay. I just checked, they have 125 Riedel auctions., including two auctions for pairs of wine glasses in the Sommelier series

Regards,

I remember reading somewhere that all of Riedel's claims about different glasses improving the taste of wine by delivering specific wines to specific parts of the palate is pure BS. For me, if you can't follow the Greek tradition of throwing the wine glass into the fireplace after it's empty, then it's not worth it.

FWIW - maybe more off-topic - I saw some sturdy wine glaases at Food4Less for about 10 bucks a dozen. But even more distinctive - and better priced - glasses - billed as beer glasses, but would also be great for champagne - look here:

http://www.leevalley.com/gifts/page.asp ... ncy=2&SID=

But don't tell my siblings about these, since they're all getting a set for Christmas.

Hi Nr706,

We have those thin walled beer glasses. Most have been lost in the dishwasher from the jostling they get there. So if preservation is important, then hand wash otherwise it is the dishwasher.

We have expensive glassware, which haven't had the touch of human hands in years. Nobody wants to use them because if they break there is hell to pay. Someday they will be sold in an estate sale at a low enough price nobody will fear using them. Sometimes being the original owner is a highly over-rated experience.

Here are some thoughts regarding a gift for a wine lover. If he is really into wine, he probably already has Riedel glasses (usually one of your first purchases), but he may not have a decanter. I love this Riedel decanter. Since it is a magnum size, it has room to swirl (to aerate young reds). It is also a good value and easy to pour from. Do not get one with the massive, flat bottom. They are a nightmare to pour from. Here is an Amazon link (on sale, plus free shipping).

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... n&n=507846

I have a great leather wine bag, which I use for BYO's and Ravinia. It is the equivalent of a Coach bag for wine. It comes with a removable, chillable insert. I always receive compliments on it, and since it is pricey, he may not splurge himself (I also received mine as a gift).

http://store.mulhollandbrothers.com/esc ... &pls4=null

Speaking of BYO's, the Riedel 'O' series glasses are great for this purpose. No stem to break (or draw attention in a storefront BYO) and they come in a small box. Bed, Bath, & Beyond has them for $19.99 and they have 20% coupons floating around.

A Chateau Laguiole corkscrew is a handmade, lifetime corkscrew, which works great. No comparison to a cheap waiters friend corkscrew. I have a couple, but this one is my favorite.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... n&n=284507

You can always add some nice wine to round up to your desired price. Instead of throwing all of your money into one really expensive bottle, you can get many great bottles (with some advice and look for small production wines) in the $30 to $60 range. If he is a red drinker look for regions such as the Rhone (France), Priorat (Spain), Veneto for Amarone (Italy). For domestic choices try Oregon Pinot Noir, Sonoma Russian River Valley or Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Mendocino Pinot Noir, Washington State Cabernet blends or Syrah, and some California Syrah.

Good luck,
Al

I would also suggest an estate wine opener with a stand. I gave one to my husband for Father's Day and we love it. To describe, they are about 20 or more inches high with a lever that goes from back to front, front to back, opening a bottle within seconds and without have to cut the foil. It is a godsend during large parties.

You may have noticed in the above post, I only had some red wine suggestions. I just find it safer to gift reds for gifts, unless you know someone's tastes. People seem to be more black or white (pardon the pun) on whites. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, White Rhones, and German Rieslings frequently draw love/hate responses. If I were going to give a white, I would probably give a drier Alsatian. Just my humble opinion.

nr706 wrote:I remember reading somewhere that all of Riedel's claims about different glasses improving the taste of wine by delivering specific wines to specific parts of the palate is pure BS.

Riedel makes MANY different glasses for specific varietals/regions. For a person with a casual interest, all of these different glasses are a little extreme. Using some of the basic shapes (Bordeaux and Burgundy for reds and Chardonnay and Riesling for whites) will really enhance your wine experience.

Try drinking a nice bottle out of a Riedel, or Spiegelau, and then drink some out of a tumbler that you would 'throw in the fireplace.' No comparison. You would be very surprised. I have never spoken to someone who has attended a Riedel comparison tasting, who did not come away a believer.

Best,
Al

Al Ehrhardt wrote:

nr706 wrote:I remember reading somewhere that all of Riedel's claims about different glasses improving the taste of wine by delivering specific wines to specific parts of the palate is pure BS.

I have never spoken to someone who has attended a Riedel comparison tasting, who did not come away a believer.

Thanks for the comment - I wish I could find the article, because it basically substantiates your point - Riedel does an exceptionally good job at its tastings in convincing people that specific wines need specific glasses to enhance flavors. But they then went back with these true believers and did a blind study of the "proper" Riedel glasses vs. generic wine glasses, and there was no statistical difference in flavor appreciation between the two.

That's not to say that wine glass shape doesn't make a difference - the tulip shape does help capture aromas, and for champagne flutes are clearly superior to those awful saucer-shaped things. But the research I read suggests that there's no appreciable flavor difference between Food4Less's dozen for 10 bucks glasses and the Riedel stuff.

Re: Riedel

I've never been to an official Riedel tasting and haven't much vested interest in the reality of the difference one way or the other. At Easter last year, though, we tried a couple different wines out of Riedel and whatever else we were using at my sister's house. There were a couple nice wines as well as some, I think, Lindemans Shiraz. The difference was between glasses was incredible.

In fact, I'm not sure I would have believed my taste buds had other family members, with no exposure to Riedel hype and pretty limited wine experience concurred. Seriously, even the Lindemans tasted way better out of the Riedel glass. I don't know the series or the specific glass, but everyone liked it better. After that I became a believer.

I've since ordered the Spiegelau Authentis Burgundy and Bordeaux glasses, and they are somewhat less convincing. They're nice glasses, and there are some wines where they really do make a difference, but mostly in the nose rather than on the tongue. I like them, but I don't feel the difference is comparable to my (very limited) experience with the Riedels.

Cheers,

Aaron

nr706 wrote:But the research I read suggests that there's no appreciable flavor difference between Food4Less's dozen for 10 bucks glasses and the Riedel stuff.

That is the point. They compare their glasses (side by side) to generic wine glasses, (such as, Food4Less's dozen for 10 bucks glasses) and the Riedel's are found perform better.

Best,
Al

Aaron Deacon wrote: The difference was between glasses was incredible.

In fact, I'm not sure I would have believed my taste buds had other family members, with no exposure to Riedel hype and pretty limited wine experience concurred. Seriously, even the Lindemans tasted way better out of the Riedel glass. I don't know the series or the specific glass, but everyone liked it better. After that I became a believer.

I remain a non-believer in Riedel, but I'm a true believer in most Lindemans wines (especially their Pinot Noir), and the most important thing is ... ENJOY THE WINE!

nr706 wrote:I remain a non-believer in Riedel, but I'm a true believer in most Lindemans wines (especially their Pinot Noir)

That's why there are different flavors of ice cream (Gary, sorry about using your line).

I'm a believer in Riedel, but a non-believer in Lindeman's wines.

Let's agree to disagree.

adele wrote:Say between $200-300? Any ideas or what would YOU want for the holidays?

In that price range, I absolutely love myWeber Smokey Mountain Cooker - Weber's version of the ubiquitous water smoker. In fact, you'd have enough left over for a chimney starter, as well as a couple of bags of lump charcoal & some smoking wood, too...

I know Gary has a couple of these as well....

I remember reading somewhere that all of Riedel's claims about different glasses improving the taste of wine by delivering specific wines to specific parts of the palate is pure BS.

The article is 'Shattered Myth' by Daniel Zwerdling in the August 2004 issue of Gourmet.

Thanks Rene

nr706 wrote:I remain a non-believer in Riedel, but I'm a true believer in most Lindemans wines (especially their Pinot Noir)

I don't know if it came off that way, but I certainly didn't mean to impugn Lindemans wine. My point was that, prior to trying them, I thought that any difference that might be discernible using fancy glasses would only be apparent with wines I couldn't afford.

Have you tried a Riedel glass next to a non-Riedel? I don't know anything about the science, and I won't deny the impact of marketing, but I was surprised as anyone that a group of people who don't know Lindemans from Chateau Margaux--by name or by taste--thought the wine tasted better out of the Riedel glass. And so did I.

Cheers,

Aaron

I really don't want to get into a huge debate over Riedel. But as a marketing guy, I know how much expectations can influence an experience. Thanks to Rene, I found my 8/04 issue of Gourmet, and I'll quote ...

-Call Riedel's glasses graceful. Call them beautiful. Who would argue that a lovely frame doesn't enhance the enjoyment of a painting? But despite Riedel's and other companies' claims - and despite al the anecdotal testimony from wine critics and consumers alike - researchers haven't found any scientific evidence that a $90 glass makes your wine smell or taste better than than a $3 version from Wal-Mart.

-In fact, you might want to stop reading this article if you've gone to a Riedel tasting and left as a convert. Because studies suggest you've been brainwashed.

It goes on to describe in detail the experimentation process to compare wine glasses.

One more quote:

--The tasters did find a small but notable difference in how 'intense' a wine smelled in different glasses, but - oops - it smelled less intense in the Riedels than it did in the cheaper glasses.

I'm not a big fan of Gourmet magazine, but this article seems to have a scientific rigor to it which gives it a lot of credibility for me. If you can find a copy of the magazine, it's a fascinating read.

Of course, you mileage may vary. And still, the most important thing is to enjoy the wine, even if all you have is a paper cup.

Al and Nr706,

I posted this recently on the Not About Food board, which may be amusing. The information is as-told and it does offer some substance to mind over matter (if you don't mind, it doesn't matter).

I hope you both enjoy a happy Thanksgiving.

Best wishes,

Cathy2 wrote:Al and Nr706,

I posted this recently on the Not About Food board, which may be amusing. The information is as-told and it does offer some substance to mind over matter (if you don't mind, it doesn't matter).

I hope you both enjoy a happy Thanksgiving.

Best wishes,

C2 - thanks for the interesting/relevant link. Is this your way of saying "Now, you guys, play nice"?

Aaron Deacon wrote:I was just coveting this, even though I can't imagine taking a sip and thinking I got my money's worth. But I'd still like to take that sip.

The wine is magical. I got to taste that very wine at Vin Expo last June. Fritz Hasselbach, the winemaker at Gunderloch is, IMHO, the guru of TBA. Its very hard to get because it is made in such limited quantities. The 2003 vintage should prove to be equally as good, they were picking for the TBA well into late November.

MAG wrote:While I will never turn down an interesting case of wine, for that amount, you might want to get something that has value lasting beyond the memory. A few suggestions that would be welcome in our oenophilic home

A set of Riedel glasses - Vinum, or dream of dreams, Sommelier series

A Riedel decanter

I prefer the Vinum line because its not as heartbreaking when one of those gets accidentally broken. It would be quite painful to break a Sommelier glass.

winebabe wrote:The wine is magical. I got to taste that very wine at Vin Expo last June.

We need a "green with envy" emoticon. I can only imagine.