Do you have a friend’s milestone birthday coming up? Are you looking for the perfect festive season gifts? Wine is one of the very best gifts, perfect for any occasion. And what can be better than locally produced South African wine? With hundreds, maybe even thousands, of options, there is a South African wine for every wine lover and every occasion.
But finding the right gift wine can be pretty overwhelming. The good news is that tastewine.co.za is here to make buying wines as gifts easy and hassle-free! We can even deliver the wine to your door in South Africa for free. Read on to see our tips for easy-peasy wine gifting.
1. Think of the giftee
Buying wine as a gift is easy when you know what the giftee likes.
Do they only drink white wines? Consider Sauvignon Blanc or a lekker white blend. Easy-drinking sweet wines? Consider a sweet Riesling or dessert wine. Is your friend a tree hugger? Think sustainable wine (like our Conservation Champion Mixed Case, or organic wines by Reyneke Wines).
But maybe you have no idea what the giftee likes. In that case, Cap Classique or sparkling wine is the best and safest wine to give – especially during the holiday season. Not only is it the official drink of celebration but it’s also the most flexible food pairing-wine. Think brands like Durbanville Hills, Graham Beck, JC Le Roux Kleine Zalze, Spier, and Villiera.
2. Choose the right wine for the occasion
Different occasions call for different types of wines. Here’s a quick guide to gifting the right special-occasion wine:
- Braai: Impress your friends or family by gifting a wine that will pair well with the food. It’s simple: Red wine with red meat; white wine with white meat or fish (We love a good Chardonnay with freshly caught fish).
- Milestone birthday: Consider a collectible red wine, like Anthonij Rupert Optima, Meerlust Rubicon, Kanonkop Paul Sauer, La Motte Hanneli R, Lanzerac Cabernet Sauvignon, or Sadie Columella (if you can find it), or Steenberg Catharina.
- Christmas: Think festive. As previously mentioned, bubbly is the best wine to gift in the festive season – and our local bubblies have a lot to offer!
- Wedding: Make it meaningful and give a case of wines. Our mixed cases are ideal! Two of our top picks are the Prestige Pack (perfect to impress!) and the Red Blend Mixed Case.
3. Consider the season
When it comes to wine gift etiquette, it helps to select the right wine for the season.
Lighter, more refreshing wines such as semi-sweet sparkling wine, floral rosé, and Sauvignon Blanc are great for summer months. Two favourites in the tastewine.co.za are the Taste of Sauvignon Blanc and Taste of Rosé packs, great for summer sipping.
In contrast, deeper and heartier wines make the perfect choice for winter. Think Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Riesling, and so on.
Fruity and lighter wines such as sparkling white wine, Pinot Grigio, unwooded Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc are spring's best wines.
Fuller-bodied wines are the perfect complement to the cooling season of autumn. Look for those warming flavour notes in light-bodied red wines like Pinot Noir and Merlot. If you would rather gift white wine, opt for something rich like Chardonnay or Viognier.
4. Add a personal touch
Including a short, handwritten note or card is a nice way to make the gift more personal. You can add a little something explaining why you chose this wine and what your relationship to the giftee means to you.
Missing your family that’s far away? Let us personalise your gift before sending it off to them. Simply send us the words and we’ll write them in our best hand, and add the note to the package.
5. Ask wine experts for advice
Don’t worry if you don’t know the first thing about wine. Ask wine professionals to recommend wine for you. This will take the stress out of the selection process.
Contact the tastewine.co.za team for advice; with more than 25 years in the industry, we know what kind of wine gifts are winners! Email us via taste@wine.co.za or phone us on 021 851 2737.
Click HERE to shop our wine gifts collection.