We all have ‘that’ friend: someone who exceeds the healthy boundaries of love for wine. With a cellar that seems to regenerate more quickly than bottles can be extracted, and bookshelves buckling under the weight of volumes with titles that read more like an atlas than a book spine, this friend is the ultimate collector of all things related to the romantic and complex world of wine. Most certainly, this collector has been inundated with decorative bottle stoppers, wine bags for travel, coffee table books and bottles that are doomed to gather dust – in a bad way. Don’t let a gift for your wine-loving friend wind up forgotten in a kitchen drawer! Listed below are three gift ideas that will delight the most studious or eclectic lover of wine in your life.
The Spirit of Christmas Past
There are few frustrations in the wine world greater than pulling a cherished bottle from your cellar to find that the cork is crumbling. The traditional tool to retrieve a crumbling cork is an ‘ah-so’, a two-pronged instrument. The dual prongs are meant to slide between the cork and the inside of the bottle, gently hugging the cork as you pull. However, this is often a test of dexterity and patience with older bottles. A normal corkscrew is not the answer as the downward pressure may further degrade the cork, potentially crumbling it into the bottle.
Enter the hybrid cork remover The Durand. Brilliantly designed to include both a helix corkscrew and a two-pronged ah-so, this is without question the key for collectors with older bottles. With The Durand, a stabilizer bar assists the helix corkscrew by resting across the opening of the bottle. The two-pronged ah-so is then gently inserted around the cork and pushed downward until the hand rests on top of the stabilizer bar. Using the added support of both systems allows for the removal of fragile cork from the bottle without crumbling or much manual dexterity. This tool is a literal lifesaver for rare, old and fine wines and is the tool most coveted by wine hosts around the world.
For more information or to purchase visit: Thedurand.com
Retail price: $125
Wine bottle corks
The Spirit of Christmas Present
For wine lovers that live in the moment, there is no better gift than the ability to take your favorite wines with portable luxury service! The Carivino was developed by a San Antonio native and maximizes your ability to drink wine on the go. This luxury ceramic lined growler holds an entire bottle of wine and boasts the following features: A Venturi aerator built into the neck of the bottle, and a twist-lock removable base that includes two Tritan plastic wine glasses with magnetic stems and a hidden corkscrew.
The double wall insulation will keep your white or rosé wines cold for up to ten hours making this a perfect companion for a day at the pool, picnic or outdoor concert. Carivino also features insulated travel wine tumblers with a ceramic interior to avoid the ‘metal to palate’ sensation that can impact your wine experience.
For more information or to purchase visit: carivino.com or visit Re:Rooted 210 to purchase.
Retail price: $160
The Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come
For the adventurous palate, invest in a wine club membership at Re:Rooted 210. You can purchase a three-month gift membership for the wine lover in your life. Re:Fill Monthly Subscription Members receive a stainless-steel double wall insulated logo branded wine growler which they use to fill a complimentary bottle from our tap system each month! In addition to their monthly ‘freebie’ members receive a 15% discount on all wine by the glass, sampler or bottle and unparalleled Southern hospitality when they arrive.
Whether members have an interest in casual wine education or extensive discussion, the Re:Rooted team is prepared to cater with classes or tableside conversation. The gift membership is all inclusive for 90 days from the recipients first visit but can be extended for $20 a month following the conclusion.
For more information or to purchase visit Re:Rooted 210 Urban Winery:
3 Month Re:Fill Wine Club Gift Subscription, $72
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
While the holiday season seems to bring out the glutton in all of us, I hope that you take the time to raise a glass with your loved ones and savor memories that you share together. Open the bottle that you’ve been holding onto for a special occasion, eat every last cookie on the plate, and always remember that wine brings us all closer…the naughty and the nice!
Jennifer Beckmann and her husband John own the Re:Rooted 210 Urban Winery in Hemisfair
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