Wine Gift Baskets

"Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing." Ernest Hemingway

The fact that we gain so much pleasure from making and drinking wine is no real surprise. Oenology, the art of making wine, has been around for some considerable time. The earliest evidence of winemaking was apparent in China and Iran, some 7,000 years ago. And our efforts to control the excesses of alcohol, through various state laws and even prohibition, are only following in the footsteps of our ancestors.  Almost 4,000 yeas ago in Babylon, present day Iraq, they introduced the Code of Hammurabi. By law, tavern-keepers were required to adhere to quality controls, operate within agreed pricing structures, (overcharging was punishable by drowning) whilst serving a criminal on their premises would see them burned at the stake!

Wine, with its romance and excitement, has beguiled generations of wine drinkers, encompassing numerous qualities and eccentricities.

Intrigue - Wine, not just its taste but the history it embodies, constantly fascinates us. Even wine, so old it is undrinkable, can command extraordinary interest and change hands for astronomical prices.  Christopher Forbes, American publisher, purchased a bottle of Bordeaux 1787 Chateau Lafitte (with the initials of a previous owner, Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the USA, allegedly etched on it) at auction in 1985 for a staggering $157,000.  In 1988 American oil billionaire, William Koch, bought 4 similar bottles, etched with 'Th.J', for $500,000 (a 1784 and a 1787 Branne Mouton, as well as a 1784 and a 1787 Chateau Lafitte). However, Koch was later to claim that the purported provenance of these bottles was not genuine. he employed an ex legal action against the original seller, Hardy Rodenstock, a German pop-band manager who claimed they had been discovered around 1985, along with more than a dozen other bottles, in a bricked-up cellar in Paris, France. As well as President of the U.S, Thomas Jefferson, as avid wine collector, had been Minister to France between 1785 and 1789. He is associated with two other exceptional bottles sold at auction; a 1775 Sherry ($43,500) sold in 2001 as well as a 1787 Chateau d'Yquem ($56,500) which sold in 1986.

Wine Tasting - Is it an exact science?
to us an oxymoron - wine tasting is serious fun! and it is certainly not the preserve of connoisseurs and experts. It's a bit like learning to ride a bike; daunting at the first attempt but you quickly gain confidence and then there's no stopping you! The main principles to abide by are; having fun and recording notes and observations that you personally experience, not those that you're told should experience. There really is no right or wrong. Even experts, who have dedicated much of their lives to appreciating and enjoying wine, agree that wine tasting is a very subjective exercise and every bit as enjoyable for the novice.

Asked whether he ever confused Bordeaux with Burgundy in blind tasting, British wine legend Harry Waugh replied, "Not since lunch."

Tasting wines and identifying those that appeal to your palate is a very enjoyable and fairly subjective hobby. The reward is considerable. Like most other things, it requires practice. However, your knowledge develops quickly, which means that you are soon buying wines that consistently match your taste preferences. you also acquire the ability to select wines for dinner parties and other events, catering for varying palates and menu selections. This ability ensures that this key gastronomic element contributes an exciting, additional dimension to any meal, rather than being something of a lottery. Wines are great for all holidays whether it be Mother's Day, Valentines Day or Christmas Cheer. Salute.

Everyone has their own tastes but bottom line. Wine is AMAZING for those who love it... They love it.

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