Wine and drink
Buying wine as a gift
Take the guesswork out of buying wine for a gift, with wine expert Richard Ehrlich's personalised guide
If they love sweet things and puddings...
If they're celebrating a birth or wedding...
If they're usually happiest drinking beer...
If they like debating until the wee hours...
If they like light fresh food and salads...
If they love a good curry...
If they love everything Italian...
Buying wine for a stranger...
Just for the heck of it...
If they like big casseroles, walking with dogs, countryside...
Friends who like big hearty food are not crying out for subtle, intricately layered flavours, and would prefer something deeper and more complex.
The world's diverse variety of wines has loads to offer...
You won't get many complaints if you take them a blockbuster Oz Shiraz, but there are other directions in which your gift can take them. Try starting with Californian and Italian selections.
From California, the perfect wine would be a serious Zinfandel. It's North America's unique contribution to the wine world, and produces wines with high alcohol content - 16 per cent is not uncommon. They often embody the profound flavours of cooked and dried fruit.
Although easier to find in the USA than in the UK, try Seghesio Zinfandel 2003.
Easier to find, the Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2003, is, like Seghesio, a specialist in Zindafel and makes consistently decent wines; this particular one is an entry-level wine, and offers great value.
Supplier stockists
Seghesio Zinfandel 2003
around £15, Liberty Wines
Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2003
£6.99, widely available
If they're celebrating a birth or wedding...
If they're usually happiest drinking beer...
If they like debating until the wee hours...
If they like light fresh food and salads...
If they love a good curry...
If they love everything Italian...
Buying wine for a stranger...
Just for the heck of it...
If they like big casseroles, walking with dogs, countryside...
Friends who like big hearty food are not crying out for subtle, intricately layered flavours, and would prefer something deeper and more complex.
The world's diverse variety of wines has loads to offer...
You won't get many complaints if you take them a blockbuster Oz Shiraz, but there are other directions in which your gift can take them. Try starting with Californian and Italian selections.
From California, the perfect wine would be a serious Zinfandel. It's North America's unique contribution to the wine world, and produces wines with high alcohol content - 16 per cent is not uncommon. They often embody the profound flavours of cooked and dried fruit.
Although easier to find in the USA than in the UK, try Seghesio Zinfandel 2003.
Easier to find, the Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2003, is, like Seghesio, a specialist in Zindafel and makes consistently decent wines; this particular one is an entry-level wine, and offers great value.
Supplier stockists
Seghesio Zinfandel 2003
around £15, Liberty Wines
Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2003
£6.99, widely available
