There's still time to buy something really special for your favourite wine, whiskey or beer buff – but go for quality over quantity on this occasion, writes JOHN WILSON
STILL HAVEN’T bought your Christmas presents? Here are a few last-minute gift ideas for those of us who are not quite as organised as we would like to be. Wine accessories are an easier buy than wine itself, and a wine drinker will probably welcome a decent corkscrew or decanter. However, most will already have plenty of these, and would probably prefer the real love of their life – wine.
Go for quality rather than quantity – a single bottle of something decent rather than three average bottles. Once you pay more than €15 for a bottle, the quality really does move up a few notches. Why not go for something they may not have tried before? A Grüner Veltliner from Austria, a Godello from Spain or a German dry Riesling for white wines. For red wines a Pinot Noir from Central Otago, Germany, or Chile, or something weird and wonderful from Italy, the Languedoc or Eastern Europe should all provide a nice surprise.
If you aren’t a wine expert, go to a decent wine shop or off-licence where there should be someone knowledgeable to help you. If you know what the recipient normally drinks, it will help matters greatly.
Vinaire red wine aerator, €29.99
A new invention that will please both a lover of gizmos and an oenophile. The Vinaire claims to aerate red wine instantly, essentially doing the same job as a decanter. It looks great, and makes a pleasing gushing sound as you pour the wine through it. Does it make any difference? My blind trials were inconclusive – three out of the four wines changed slightly, usually for the better, one seemed exactly the same. Those poured through the aerator were slightly more aromatic and softer. However, apparently there are plenty of tasters who do notice a marked difference, and it takes up far less space than a decanter. Stockists: Holland’s, Bray; Carry-out off-licences; Louis Albrouze, Leeson St; O’Briens; Next Door off-licences; The Corkscrew, Chatham St
Wine classes and weekends
You might be leaving it a little late, but a wine course, wine evening or wine weekend can be educational and social at the same time. Many courses start in January, when there isn’t much else on. I mentioned a couple in the Irish Times Christmas gift supplement, but since then I have learned that Ely wine bar in Dublin is running a series of one-off tastings, which include supper, over the next few months, as well as wine courses and cookery courses. See elywinebar.com.
Antique Palo Cortado Sherry NV, Bodegas Rey Fernando de Castilla, 20%, €38.50 for a 500ml bottle
There is something very Christmassy about sherry. This is an award-winning version, dry rather than sweet, one to savour after a meal or with cheese. At nearly €40 for a half litre, it’s expensive, but if someone close to you deserves a Christmas treat, I would consider this. Powerful but elegant with a core of tangy lightly roasted nuts and a bone-dry finish.
Stockists: Searsons, Monkstown
Redbreast 12 year-old Cask Strength Single Pot Still Whiskey, 57.7%, €69
A new addition to the Redbreast range, a cask-strength whiskey with full rich flavours of toasted oak, dried fruits and toffee. Powerful, full of flavour with a long smooth finish. One for the whiskey-lover in your life.
Stockists: Widely available
Chateau Dereszla Tokaji Aszú 2000 5 Puttonyos, 12.5%, €13.95 for a 187ml bottle
Tokaji is one of the world’s great sweet wines, and a great seasonal gift. I recommended the 2005 Château Dereszla Tokaji in an article earlier this month. Mitchell Son also have a very handy quarter bottle of the same wine (although a different vintage). The wine has lovely notes of butterscotch and spice, along with some wonderful pure pineapple fruits and plenty of refreshing acidity. A perfect stocking filler or gift for the wine-lover in your life.
Stockist: Mitchell Son, Glasthule CHQ
Irish artisan beer
The Irish micro-brewing scene is still some distance behind the UK or US, but this year has seen a big increase in the number of artisan breweries. Why not take yourself down to your local off-licence, and make up a mixed taster pack of Irish beers? There are plenty of specialists such as Redmonds in Ranelagh; Deveneys, Dundrum; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; The Bottle Shop, Meath St and others in Dublin, as well as a growing number of off-licences around the country who have also seen the light and increased their range of Irish beers.
2011 Extra virgin olive oil
Most Tuscan wine estates also produce some superb extra virgin oils. They are at their fruity peak just after harvest and the 2011 vintage has just hit our shelves. Drizzle over beans, salads, meats or vegetables. My own favourite is the wonderfully grassy Capezzana. Mark Shannon in Bistro One in Foxrock has his own organic extra virgin olive oil for €28 per half litre available from the restaurant.
The Capezzana Extra Virgin Olive Oil, is €24.99 for a 75cl bottle; the Selvapiana €22.99 for a 50cl bottle, and 2011 Fontodi, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, €17.99 for a 50cl bottle. Stockists Ballymaloe Cookery School Shop; Fallon Byrne, Exchequer St; Red Nose Wines, Clonmel; Cinnamon, Ranelagh; 64 Wine, Glasthule; Red Island, Skerries; Donnybrook Fair; Michael’s, Deerpark Road; Anderson’s Food Hall, Glasnevin; On the Grapevine, Dalkey and Jus De Vine, Portmarnock
