Holiday gift guide: Wine by Bottlenotes

November 5, 9:43 PMDallas Adventure ExaminerChris Wessling

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In spring, a young man’s fancy turns to love. Or so the saying goes. In fall, though, everybody’s fancy turns to gift-giving – whether they like it or not. Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. Then there’s Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve. (Festivus, anyone?)

So many gifting opportunities, so little time. Fortunately, wine never goes out of style, and you never have to worry about it being the wrong size. As Ernest Hemingway once said, "Wine is the most civilized thing in the world."

Equally civilized is Bottlenotes.com, an incredible resource for your wine shopping. And with choices like the Explorers Club, Ultimate World Tour and Tuscan Tour, Bottlenotes.com is the perfect place for an adventurer to find a superb gift.

Bottlenotes.com takes the guesswork out of gifting wine.  Founders Alyssa Rapp and Kim Donaldson have searched the globe, trekking from Israel to Italy and Argentina to Australia, in search of exceptionally crafted wines. The hottest online wine community and virtual wine store and wine club, Bottlenotes.com assesses your palate and customizes wine recommendations tailored to your tastes. They offer everything for the novice and the oenophile -- varietal theme packs, a collection of single standout bottles, wine clubs, Italian stemware from Bottega del Vino, and even customized wine cellars.

Not sure what to choose? Bottlenotes’ Personal Taste Profile quickly assesses an individual's tastes and recommends wines with the savvy of a personal sommelier. In other words, it's almost idiot-proof.

Need options? Bottlenotes stocks a world class collection of boutique wines to please all palates and wallets, including blends from Bordeaux, vivacious Shiraz from Australia, luscious Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and mouth watering Malbec from Argentina -- all delivered directly to your, or the recipient's, doorstep. Whether you give a standout single bottle of cult wine, a themed gift pack, a basket brimming with artisanal foods, or membership in a fun monthly wine club, Bottlenotes offers the perfect wine for novices and oenophiles alike.

 

Need something for a budding wine lover? Theme packs offer delicious ways to explore specific wine regions, compare classic old world styles with emerging new world trends, learn more about a favorite varietal or taste the latest from organic producers. Some of the theme packs include; Tuscan Tour ($49.50/ 3 bottles), A Trip to Argentina ($50 / 3 bottles), Green World Tour ($99.95/ 4 bottles), Que Sera, Syrah ($99.95/ 3 bottles) and Around the World in 80 Sips ($125.00 / 6 bottles).

Going green? Their Organic Wine Sampler ($37.50/ 2 bottles) theme pack includes the Mont' Albano Pinot Grigio from Italy, a crisp wine replete with tropical fruit aromas-perfect for toasting-and the Spanish Can Vendrell Barrica Tinto 2004. This Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Carignan blend is aged in French oak barrels, giving it a rich, succulent profile that pairs perfectly with holiday fare.

Gifting a wine enthusiast? Wine lovers will appreciate a membership to one of Bottlenotes monthly or bi-monthly wine clubs - it's the gift that keeps giving! Whether joining a themed club or one tailored specifically to the individual's palate, members will enjoy regular deliveries of limited-production wines, tracking of all their wines with notes and ratings in their own online wine cellar, as well as invitations to exclusive wine events and insider information such as harvest conditions through the newsletter. Membership options include:

·       The Explorers Club: perfect for her - it's a fun and affordable way to travel to Europe, South America, South Africa and other parts of the globe without ever leaving home. The intrepid wine drinker will enjoy expanding her horizons at an average of $23 per bottle.

·       The Dinner Party Club: perfect for the hostess - it includes wines for cocktail hour, dinner, and after dinner, along with food pairing suggestions and recipes.

The Connoisseurs Club: perfect for him - it will add to the collectors wine knowledge, with selections from top boutique and estate producers, and prices averaging $50 a bottle. Bottlenotes offers several other clubs, at a range of price points.

 

Need a classic? Bottlenotes' Cut Above gift basket (srp $54.95) pairs Jadot Château des Jacques Beaujolais Blanc 2004 and Castello Banfi Col di Sasso Cabernet/Sangiovese 2005 with Bel Paese Cheese, 3 Pepper Crackers, California pistachios, Mediterranean sun dried apricots, Ferrero Rocher Gold Chocolates and Gourmet Sweet Butter Cookies.

To browse all the Bottlenotes offerings, visit bottlenotes.com.

Orders must be placed by December 10th to ensure delivery by December 25th. Please keep in mind that the following states allow wine shipments: AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, ID, IL, LA, MA, MI, NE, NV, NB NJ, NM, NY, OR, TX, WI, WY.

If you’re still not sure what to choose, you might want some up-to-date, sensible and sophisticated advice from those in the know. Alyssa Rapp, wine expert and co-founder of Bottlenotes.com, shares her passion for wine and in-depth wine expertise in her wine primer Around the World in 80 Sips. Alyssa inspires wine drinkers to expand their knowledge by exploring different categories and wine regions. In a wine world that is more multicultural then ever, Around the World in 80 Sips offers essential information to help the wine enthusiast stay in the game.

Find the book at: www.amazon.com/Bottlenotes-Guide-Wine-Around-World/dp/1598697870?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220473267&sr=8-1