You’ve bought toys for the kids, sweaters for the in-laws, and shiny cans of car wax for the man who has everything. If you’re still in the dark about what to get for wine-loving friends and relatives this holiday season, consider these timely ideas and vintage delights.
Those who are new to the wine world will enjoy Wine for the Confused, a DVD narrated by the inimitable Monty Python alum John Cleese. Originally aired on the Food Network, this 90-minute romp through good information and sublime silliness covers grape varietals, the mysteries of fermentation, and how to keep tasting notes, all while debunking the snobbery sometimes associated with wine. Interviews with winemakers like Foxen Winery’s Bill Wathen lend a touch of local flavor to this fun-filled disc.
Another DVD that’s perfect for stuffing the stockings of wine lovers, From Ground to Glass, made by independent filmmaker Rob Dafoe, shows the winemaking process through the eyes of an amateur vintner. Seeking advice and a deeper understanding of the hobby that captured his imagination, Dafoe interviews local winemakers, including Chuck Carlson, Richard Sanford, Jim Clendenen, Ken Brown, and Brooks Firestone. The film offers a lively look at winemakers in Santa Barbara County, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and the Santa Cruz Mountains, and is available at fromgroundtoglass.com (239-0020).
Considered one of the cornerstones of any wine library, The World Atlas of Wine, by British experts Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson, explores grape varieties, the meaning of terroir, and wine regions by country. The sixth edition of this encyclopedic volume holds an expanded U.S. section, reflecting the rise in stature of U.S.-made wines, as well as colorful maps of the world’s wine-growing regions. The first edition came out in 1971, and with more than four million copies in print, it’s a safe bet your wino friends will be thrilled to receive their very own.
Another welcome gift, The Oxford Companion to Wine, by Jancis Robinson, includes information about ancient wines, the lowdown on growing techniques, and concise descriptions of the many types of wine. Beautiful photos add to the package, making it a dynamite present for both neophytes and experienced wine folks.
On a more local note, One Vintage: A Year in the Vineyard, by Chris Jones, tracks the seasonal changes in Faith Vineyard, a Santa Ynez Valley vineyard that Chris and her husband have owned for more than a decade. The seven-acre vineyard has given rise to a contemplative book that’s both a labor of love and a work of art, right down to the cover made of real cork. Purchase One Vintage at The Book Loft (in Solvang), Foxen Winery, and through the publisher at sagehillpublishing.com.
Wine fans love to visit area tasting rooms, so why not give them a day on the wine trail? Call Jill Tweedie at Breakaway Tours (breakaway-tours.com, 1-800-799-7657) and set up a day of tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Rita Hills, or Santa Maria Valley AVAs, or in downtown Santa Barbara. Your lucky recipients will explore both sophisticated winery complexes and what Tweedie calls “shack tasting rooms,” those rustic, out-of-the-way spots that often offer the most memorable experiences.
For a gift that keeps turning up long after the holidays are over, enroll special friends in their favorite producer’s wine club. Most wineries offer different levels of participation—from one to four shipments a year—that deliver prize vintages right to your giftee’s doorstep. For a list of area wineries that also links to their web and wine club sites, go to sbcountywines.com.
To send a gift that includes vintages from a variety of producers, check out the Wine Merchant Wine club (santabarbarawine.com), which is affiliated with the Los Olivos Café, a restaurant/wine shop that stocks 400 different wines. The club specializes in smaller wineries, offers three levels of membership, and promises to send only the finest selections culled from 60-plus Santa Barbara County wineries.
Wine geeks adore gadgets that help them enjoy their favorite beverage, and there are some dandy ones to choose from this year. The Ravi Instant Wine Chiller cools wine in seconds by passing it through a cold stainless steel tube, while the Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator swirls wine with air as it pours, instantly allowing the wine to breathe.
How about a battery-operated corkscrew that fits in the palm of the hand, a Vino Vault that holds a single bottle under cellar perfect conditions, or a Preservo Wine Preservation Steward—complete with argon cartridges—that keeps wine fresh for several days after opening?
Perhaps the best idea of all, however, is to plan a gathering of friends and relatives, open a few bottles of wine, and simply share the gift of time.
K. Reka Badger is a gift. Contact her at rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Dec 18-25, 2008.
