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When it comes to buying gifts for friends, family, and loved ones, wine is always a great idea. Although wine is considered a highly personal beverage, as we all have different tastes and preferences, choosing the right bottle as a gift shouldn’t be that hard.
There are some things that may help in making the right choice. These involve, knowing the recipient’s unique taste, considering the right type of occasion as well as choosing from the renowned wine brands on the market whose names have become associated with particular types of quality wines.
What Are the Different Types of Wine?
There are now more than 10,000 wine grape varieties in the world, but only a few of them have achieved widespread popularity. All these varieties fall into four different categories including red, white, sparkling and rose.
And when it comes to Australian wines there are many varieties that thrive in this particular climate. Most of them are associated with Tasmania, the Upper Yarra Valley, the Macedon Ranges, and pockets in the Adelaide Hills. The cool climate in these regions is perfect for providing the best base wines. They are usually picked early and contain high levels of acidity.
Considering the confusing labels of choices out there you may get overwhelmed as to which one to pick. For this reason, we’ll have a look at the four general options and their characteristics.
Sparkling Wine
Even though there is are an abundance of sparkling wines produced around the world, many people are only aware of champagne when thinking of sparkling wines. However, there are some other popular types of sparkling wines, which are native to Spain and Italy, called Cava and Prosecco.
And our very own Australia isn’t to be overlooked either. When it comes to sparkling wine Australia varieties, there are a number of exceptional choices you can find. Some of the most recognizable brand names that produce high-quality sparkling wine Australia wide are Bernard Remy, Dal Zotto and Moscato.
When choosing a sparkling wine gift to bring to an event, all of the abovementioned types will make great gift options. For instance, for a casual backyard celebration, any type of Cava or Prosecco wil be an ideal gift as they’re appropriate for a relaxed atmosphere and much more affordable. For more formal events such as birthdays, anniversaries, or weddings a good bottle of Champagne should always be your choice.
Moreover, sparkling wines are often used in certain types of cocktails to add textural components and carbonation. If you want to know how to distinguish and find a good quality sparkling wine you should pay attention to the size of the bubbles as these indicate the quality, – the smaller the better. You can often find them named under the label “brut” or “extra dry.” Brut is is the most popular type of sparkling wine. These types of sparkling wines are dry with a hint of sweetness. Champagne is the most common type of sparkling wine to be labelled Brut.
White Wine
Many studies have confirmed that organic wines are much healthier than regular wine for a number of reasons. Most of these are associated with the fact that no fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, or any other types of synthetic chemicals are being used during the growing process. Due to the higher concentrations of antioxidants and anthocyanins and the absence of harmful substances. many people prefer to drink it.
So, if you know someone who takes good care of their health, organic white wine can be the perfect gift choice. Derived from sustainably harvested grapes and free of sulfites, additives and containing less sugar, organic white wines can bring freshness to any occasion. There are many brands names the produce wide varieties of different organic white wines. You can find an organic alternative for every popular grape variety out there from Pinot Noir to Sauvignon Blanc, Shira, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, etc.
Choosing a biodynamic white for a person you love, family member or friend will make the ideal present. For instance, Christmas is the perfect time of the year to give such a gift. Although organic wines tend to be more pricey than regular wines, the truth is you don’t need to spend a fortune as there are many affordable organic wines of great quality. When it comes to giving gifts, beautiful packaging is also very important. For instance, a great wine gift box can provide a simple and stylish solution.
Red Wine
Red wine makes a great gifting choice for any type of occasion, including Valentine’s Day, birthday, or dinner parties. Choosing the best red wine for a gift requires learning a bit more about different textures, flavours, and brands. For instance, if you decide to bring a red wine for a dinner party you can pick a wine that complements the meal that is being served. If you don’t know which type of red wine matches well with a certain type of food, you can learn about some suggested food matches that go well with each type of wine.
Alternatively, you can also get red wine as part of a gift hamper. If you are having trouble deciding which red wine to include in it, you can go for a classic such as the Pinot Noir and get a fine wine hamper. Pinot Noir is considered one of the healthiest wines because of its high levels of resveratrol. This specific type of wine is made of thin-skinned grapes, has low sugar content, fewer calories, and low alcohol content. If you decide to go for this velvety pinot noir wine hamper you can pair it with some of the best cheeses such as Camembert, Gruyere, or goat cheese that will make an ideal gift for the true red wine lover in your life.
Rose Wine
Rosé is not a specific grape type but rather a specific type of wine, just like reds and whites. While the process of producing rose wine is similar to the other red wines, the time it ferments is cut shorter, which results in reducing the skin contact that gives this wine a specific subtle, pink colour. Even though some people consider it as a particularly girly drink, and gift choice, the opposite is actually true as rose wine makes the perfect gift choice both for men and women.
There are a number of great rose wines, from the best wine regions around Australia, such as 2014 Castagna Alegro, Moscato Rose, Tempranillo, etc. Containing low to medium alcohol levels, a perfumy nose, bright acidity, and a refreshing blast of red berry flavours, rosé wines make charming and lovely gift choices.
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