Why are More People Giving Wine as Gifts? How to Select Wine for Gifting and 10 Bottles of Wine to Give for Diwali 2019

Indian society, especially urban India has evolved a lot. With the transformations in our lifestyle and attitudes, the way we celebrate festivals has also undergone a few changes. Casual drinking is now a part of every celebration. Earlier drinking was a bit of a taboo; primarily a masculine activity. Women would partake in it rarely, and often with the permission of their partners.

Thankfully those days are behind us. Drinks are not only served freely in most modern urban households, they are also popular gifts. Diwali is the time for celebrations, for letting ones hair down and taking a break from work. Drinking has become an integral part of the celebrations. Therefore urban India’s top choice of Diwali gift would be a good bottle of wine or champagne. Wine is a classy gift to give on the joyous occasion of Diwali. Almost everyone enjoys wine, and there are many varieties available. Wine is also used as the base for delicious cocktails like sangria and wine cooler.

If you want to take your wine Diwali gift to the next level then a great way to do that would be to gift the wine in personalised wooden boxes. Printvenue.com makes personalised wooden wine bottle boxes for around Rs.549. You can also go one step ahead and get customised wine bottle labels printed as well. You can get labels with the picture, text and design of your choice to surprise your friends and family from photojaanic.com

Buying good wine requires a bit of knowledge and a there a few important pointers that you absolutely need to remember before settling on a bottle of wine. The first thing to keep in mind would be the brand. Certain brands have made their name in the market due to the consistent quality of their products. Some popular wines on the Indian market are Grover-Zampa Chêne, Charosa Tempranillo Reserve, KRSMA Cabernet Sauvignon, Fratelli Sangiovese Bianco, York Chenin Blanc and Sula Riesling.

The second thing to be noted is the year. Wine is all about age and year of produce. Older preserved wines taste better and are usually more expensive. Wines of a certain year may be more popular, because the taste and the quality of the wine varies according to the quality of the grapes, the weather and even the moisture in the soil. Do your research beforehand and select your bottle of wine carefully.

Before you pick out a bottle of wine for someone always inquire about their preferences. A person who is fond of red wine may not like white wine and vice versa. Some people prefer a flat and others love bubbly or sparkling wine. Sparkling wine such as champagne contains considerable levels of carbon dioxide which makes it fizzy. A large number of people are fond of neither red or white, but love a rosé which is a light pink wine having the characteristics of both white and red wine.

Wines can be expensive. Imported wines can cost Rs.2,000 to Rs.4,000 a bottle. But good Indian wines can be found for cheaper. A 750 ml bottle of Fratelli Merlot comes for around Rs.850. Sparkling wines are a bit more expensive and come for around Rs.1,250 to Rs.1,500 a bottle. To avid overspending do your research and find the best bottle according to your taste and budget.

If you are gifting wine to your friends and family for Diwali, then we would suggest that you stick to the popular ones one the market. These have been tried and tested by wine connoisseurs. We are presenting you with a guide of the best wines on the Indian market.

The Grover Zampa Chêne is a full bodied red wine aged in French oak barrels for around 15 months. It has the primary notes of warm coffee and chocolate which sits beneath the oak along with distinct fruity flavors. A 750 ml bottle costs around Rs.1,850 on chopine.in

Myra Reserve Shiraz has been hailed as the best Indian Shiraz currently on the market. This elegant purple-red wine is medium bodied and is matured in oak barrels for 12 months. It contains traces of gentle oak and vanilla. It goes great with grilled meats and seafood, and mildly spiced Indian food. A bottle costs around Rs.636.

This subtle white wine from the Fratelli brand is fermented in stainless steel tanks at 18-20° C in big steel tanks. It’s light bodied due to the avoidance of overexposure to the sun, resulting in a fresh and fruity taste with low tanins. It has the delicate flavors of coconut and bougainvillea along with hints of violets and vanilla. It goes great with Indian kebabs, French foods like bouillabaisse, pad thai, scallops etc. Buy it for Rs.800 from madhuloka.com

The Krsma Sangiovese is a dark garnet colour medium light bodied wine which envelopes the senses with the aromas of spice, red berries and jasmine. It has notes of red cherries and spices like cinnamon and oak. It leaves a pleasant, smooth taste on your palate. It has a medium light body and a smooth finish. Buy it for Rs.1,800 from madhuloka.com

The Grover Zampa Chêne Grand Reserve is an elegant red wine aged for a minimum of 15 months in French oak barrels. It combines the aromas of blackberry, currant and ripe plums along with the hint of spices and oak bouquets like vanilla and roasted coffee beans. This wine is perfect for pairing with Indian rice dishes, pasta and meats. A 750 ml bottle costs around Rs.1,850 on chopine.in

Although the Seagram Nine Hills is a range of wines ranging from viognier to shiraz and chenin blanc, it is the cabernet sauvignon that deserves special attention. It is a dry and medium wine with full bodied flavours. The taste of blackcurrant and cherry are strong and it also has aromas of plum, vanilla, capsicum and tobacco. It pairs well with dry and spicy food. It is quite fairly priced at Rs.650 for a 750 ml bottle.

The Fratelli Sette is a complex and preserved wine.The layers and structures requires this wine to be decanted for a minimum of 2-3 hours and for best results 4-5. This Sette has the ability to evolve into an elegant full bodied wine if decanted properly. Buy it for Rs.1,700 from madhuloka.com

Alpine Vindiva Shiraz Reserve is a complex strong fruity wine. It has deep dark hue akin to a ruby garnet colour and hints of oak. It also has a strong fragrance of raspberries, spices and hawthorn berries. The wine has spicy notes and a long finish, perfect for pairing with red meats like lamb. it comes for around Rs.875 a bottle.

This Myra Misfit is a smooth, medium-bodied Cabernet shiraz containing a blend of elegant cabernet sauvignon along with fruity shiraz. The grapes have been hand picked and matured in French oak barrels for over 18 months. The wine imparts the flavor of rich berries, spices and delicate oak aroma. It tastes best paired with red meats like lamb, pizza and pasta. You have to shell out Rs.1,500 for a 750 ml bottle.

Did reading about wine remind you of another favourite drink, whiskey? If you have a few whiskey lovers on your Diwali gift list and want a good bottle in a similar price range then Monkey Shoulder is the answer. It is a favorite of whiskey lovers. It’s an excellent blended malt whisky from William Grant, made with single malts from three renowned Speyside distilleries. This malty Scotch is smooth and creamy. It can be consumed neat, over ice, or in whisky cocktails. Buy it from masterofmalt.com for approximately Rs.2,500.

Wine can be the perfect Diwali gift for your boss, colleague, friends or family members. But before you decide to gift someone wine make sure that the person is not averse to drinking. There are families where drinking is strictly prohibited. In that case it would be good idea to ask first before gifting wine. There are a lot of people who have suffered from alcohol addiction in the past. Gifting wine to any such person is a big no no. Wine contains considerable amounts of alcohol. Therefore make sure that the person you are gifting wine to is of legal drinking age.

Wine is a classy and elegant gift. But it’s always wise to inquire about a person’s personal preferences before gifting them any alcoholic beverage. There are non-alcoholic wines available now which is a good substitute for the ones containing alcohol. Lastly and most importantly, always drink responsibly and see that others do the same as well.