Always a Welcome Gift: WINE
By Leslie-Ann Sheppard

A s the holiday season arrives, many people have already witnessed scenes of mad dashes for commercial goods. Despite the impending economic recession, or perhaps more intensely because of it, "Black Friday"- the day after Thanksgiving - revealed folks racing each other for items on sale, whether it was clothing, electronics or other goods. Here is a suggestion for those into a more relaxed and civilized gift-getting experience: give the gift of wine.

Perhaps not everyone on your giftgiving list has an appreciation for wine, and this should be taken into consideration. But also keep in mind that a person need not be a connoisseur to be the happy recipient of a bottle of wine.

How do you choose a great bottle for a gift? Here are some suggestions.

The most important rule is to focus on the recipient of the wine, and to keep it personal. What do you know about the person's preferences?

If your giftee is an easy to please person, and the gift is mostly a "gesture," keep it simple. A bottle of wine under $15 is a nice gesture. In this range, you can find anything from California chardonnay to Australian Shiraz. If you have a wine that you really like, this is the perfect choice because you've tried it and it shows that you want to share something with them. Also in the "good value" category are wines from "minor" regions, like the South of France, much of Spain, Chile and Argentina. If you like the wine, your giftee probably will as well.

A little more difficult is selecting wine for "foodies" - people who regularly dine out, order wine, pay attention to food and wine pairings and go to wine tastings. It's best to try to focus on their specific preferences, and then perhaps, shop for something that is one step removed from their usual choice.

For example, if your giftee always drinks California chardonnay, selecting a chardonnay from France - a white Burgundy - is a good choice. It acknowledges their preferences while offering a new experience. True foodies will appreciate the opportunity to broaden their horizons. Likewise, if the recipient is really into cabernet-based wines, consider a "Super Tuscan" or a nice Rioja. You can get help from your knowledgeable wine merchant to make these connections.

I find the most challenging person to give wine to is "The Connoisseur." Many people, like myself, have people on our gift-giving lists who have wine cellars filled with top class older California cabernets, Bordeaux, Burgundies, Barolos and Barbarescos.

Instead of trying to give The Connoisseur something in the same league as his cellar stock, I consider wine that is ready to drink now. Rosé Champagne is always a winner, as is vintage port. Well-known Champagne such as Billecart-Salmon, Dom Perignon, or Perrier Jouet are always welcome gifts, but so are the lesser-known houses that produce excellent Champagne, at a fraction of the cost of the heavy-hitters. A few to try: Duval- Leroy, Nicolas Feuillate and Paul Bara.

Other ready-to-drink options are Argentinian malbec, classy old-world whites such as Sancerre or Chateauneufdu Pape Blanc, or something unique from a highly regarded vintage or producer.

If you want to buy the host something cellar-worthy, it's not difficult. Consult with a knowledgeable wine merchant; you can always find something if you have the means to obtain it. There are plentiful Web sites that offer advice and scores of thousands of wines, but there is no substitute for a living, breathing wine professional who has personally tasted the wine and possibly even visited the vineyards.

In addition to giving wine, there are other great options for the person who appreciates wine. Nice wine glasses are great gifts, and there are many options at different price points in this category. Wine carriers are also great; think how smart your giftee will feel toting his wine to Black Eyed Susan's in a classy twobottle satchel! Wine openers are also a good gift. Personally, though, I'd prefer to receive wine itself.

Finally, if I do decide to go all out and splurge on a special bottle of wine for that special someone, I make sure to let giftee know that the bottle is for him or her. This lets the person know that I don't expect that the bottle will be opened on that specific occasion. But I'm probably hoping that it will.

I encourage everyone to stroll this weekend. Saunter leisurely through our decorated streets, take time to appreciate the unparalleled beauty of our island, from our uninterrupted coastlines and desolate moors and bogs to the hustle and bustle of downtown restaurants and island-wide shops. When you are thinking of purchasing gifts, I encourage you to think about supporting your local businesses. In doing so, you are giving a gift that has a ripple effect, maintaining a tradition of unique businesses on the island and keeping our local economy moving. I, along with my local colleagues, thank you for your support. Cheers to a wonderful holiday Stroll! I

Leslie-Ann Sheppard is the owner of The Cellar, a wine and cheese shop.