Table Wine is a No-No this Christmas

01/11/2007

Don’t take the easy way out and pick up a bottle of vino at your local supermarket. As a gift for the Christmas party host, try a specialty store for wine. There are several options if guests are willing to spend more than six pounds a bottle.

For Christmas party hosts, plan your menu in advance and pair tapas and dishes with specialty wines.

Tom Moggach from The London Paper released a list of popular wine stores throughout London: “If you live north, most funky is The Sampler in Islington. You buy a swipe card, charge it with cash then use it to taste 80 different wines at different prices.”

Moggach recommends when shopping that customers “describe what [they] like and be guided from there.” He says some wine buyers promote Chileans wines as a good starting point as a gift to take to a Christmas party.

For a Christmas party menu, shop assistants can help match different wines to different tastes. They should also suggest wines in different price points so don’t be afraid to reveal the budget.

Moggach says: “If you’re in the mood to learn more, Vinopolis in Borough and Vinoteca in Clerkenwell run excellent short courses. Learning about wine doesn’t have to be complicated. Step up and taste the difference.”