| How to Win with Wine at the Holidays |
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(ARA) - Whether it's the sure-to-please gift you keep on hand for unexpected guests or a sparkling vintage raised in salute to the New Year, wine is as much a holiday tradition as stockings above the fireplace or a wreath on the door.
Americans' love affair with wine continues to grow and evolve, like any good relationship. Where once it was enough to simply give the wine-lover on your list an expensive bottle, consumers are demanding more creative and meaningful ways to give wine as a gift.
"Wine is the ultimate sophisticated gift," says Bruce Boring, co-founder of The California Wine Club. "A well-chosen wine gift can make a statement of caring and attention without a flashy show of expense."
When it comes to giving wine for the holidays - or incorporating it into your entertaining - a little knowledge and some expert guidance can be the difference between delight and disaster. Different wines lend themselves to different occasions, and the individual tastes of a gift recipient will dictate the type of wine you give.
If you're looking for a unique gift, here's the hottest trend: Give a wine club membership, or join yourself and give the wines you sample as gifts.
"A wine club allows you to sample a range of wines you probably wouldn't be able to find locally on your own, and ensures you'll be tasting quality wines," says Boring, who, along with his wife Pam, founded The California Wine Club in 1990. The club spotlights wines produced by small, family wineries in California, and the Borings sample and hand-select every wine featured. To learn more about the club and its featured wines, visit www.cawineclub.com.
A wine club is a great way to gain access to exceptional, limited-production wines you might not otherwise discover, like those produced by Ballentine Vineyards in California's Napa Valley. The 100-year-old family winery, run by Van and Betty Ballentine, produces just 12,000 cases of wine per year. At that rate, it would take the vineyard 50 years to produce as much wine as large winemakers like Kendall Jackson do in one year. The California Wine Club has selected two of the Ballentine's award-winning wines to be featured this holiday season.
Each month, California Wine Club members receive two new wines, delivered to their door with the club's magazine, "Uncorked" which features information on the wines, background on the vintners, wine education articles and recipes for foods that pair well with the featured wines. There are no joining fees; members only pay the monthly cost of the wines, which can be as little as $34.95 per month for the beginner's level Premier Club up to $180 per month for the Signature Club that caters to true connoisseurs and collectors. Members receive discounts for buying three, six, nine or 12-month memberships in advance, but may also opt for a month-to-month membership that can be cancelled at any time without cost or penalty.
"The joy of a wine club membership lingers long after the bottles have been emptied," Boring says.
To give the wine lover on your list an insider's taste of California wine country, visit www.cawineclub.com.
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