<p>I need* to buy a nice bottle of wine for someone who is much more knowledgeable about wines than I am. I’d like to get something that says “special, hidden value, insider knowledge” and “thank you for everything you’ve done,” but doesn’t say “trying too hard” or “clueless” or “chose it because the label was pretty.”</p>
<p>Targeting the $20-40 price range.
No strong preference for red or white.</p>
<p>*because my charming offspring already promised the person I was giving them wine</p>
<p>Does the person you are buying for not have a strong preference for red or white? that is surprising, as wine enthusiasts typically have a specific varietal and winery that they prefer. (At least that is true for all the folks that I know, including myself.)</p>
<p>Check out wine spectator to see what wines might be in that price range and got high marks. Here is the link to their top 100</p>
<p><a href=“http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/pdf/WS123111_Top100AtAGlance.pdf[/url]”>http://assets.winespectator.com/wso/pdf/WS123111_Top100AtAGlance.pdf</a></p>
<p>Why don’t you assign this task to the “charming offspring”? After all, it was his/her cockamamie idea in the first place.</p>
<p>Agree, you should determine red or white…love red wine, not much a fan of white wine</p>
<p>Our favorite liquor store has wine spectator ratings and narratives clearly posted near the wines…a great resource for someone like me who has no clue. Maybe you can find a store with this near you.</p>
<p>I don’t know what their preference is…and neither does my child (who is not of age and therefore can’t consummate the purchase herself). I can check wine spectator and consult with the local store owner, but I was hoping people might have favorites of their own - either red or white - that I could check out.</p>
<p>I would recommend Mer Soleil:</p>
<p>[Mer</a> Soleil Overview - Mer Soleil Vineyard](<a href=“http://www.mersoleilvineyard.com/mersoleil-overview.html]Mer”>http://www.mersoleilvineyard.com/mersoleil-overview.html)</p>
<p>trouble is, some snooty people people define “good wine” = pricey.
Good wine is one that the recipient thinks is tasty.
But the hard part is guessing the taste preferences of the recipient.
A person that likes merlot, for example, might taste test 10 of them in front of him and dislike 2, 3, or 4.</p>
<p>I’d favor post 3. After offspring does all the research, adult can make the purchase.</p>
<p>Can you get a gift certificate to their local wine store? Or can you change it to beautiful wine glasses, fancy decanter set? Or maybe a Houdini wine opener with cute wine stoppers?</p>
<p>Thank you dadinator. Adding that to my list.</p>
<p>MizzBee - great ideas, and a possible add-on to the gift!</p>
<p>Nothing in the $20 and up range is consumed frequently enough by me to be classified as a “favorite”! :)</p>
<p>I find that white wine drinkers will drink red, while the reverse is not true. Also, reds tend to have more snob appeal. Therefore I would suggest a red. </p>
<p>I would not buy a merlot. I personally like merlot, but red wine drinkers tend to think of it as an “easy” wine. </p>
<p>If you are looking for something that does not proclaim that you are buying because of a cute label or because “even you” has heard of it ( 
), you might consider some of the classic Italian reds such as a Gattinara, Barolo, or Barbaresca, or the more recent style of Valpolicella called Ripasso. I just had a Ripasso for the first time with Christmas dinner, and it was definitely good. (My wine merchant recommended one priced at $26, but I opted for the $16. )</p>
<p>I frequently give an Eiswein (Ice Wine) which is a varietal dessert wine usually made in Germany. Great to sip after a heavy meal. It generally comes in a half bottle, and for around $45 you can buy a fantastic vintage. Dessert wine is almost always an afterthought, even with real wine nuts. Check with a local wine merchant or see recommendations from Wine Spectator.</p>
<p>If you’re not sure about red or white, red is the safest bet. Wine lovers tend to have very particular tastes, so there’s no such thing as a guaranteed-to-please choice. A pretty safe bet in your price range would be a nice Russian River (CA) pinot noir. I’d urge you to buy from a knowledgeable wine dealer and ask for their recommendations, but here’s a fairly recent review of some Russian River pinot noirs:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Web-2011/Russian-River-Valley-Pinot-Noir-The-Triumph-of-Terroir/[/url]”>http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/Web-2011/Russian-River-Valley-Pinot-Noir-The-Triumph-of-Terroir/</a></p>
<p>Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio- great wine. It is well-liked by all types of wine-lovers- even those who like expensive wines.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>Many of the wine/liquor stores have experts who can suggest something that will meet your definition. I have found they can be very helpful.</p>
<p>If you have an hour or two to devote to this…</p>
<p>Go to <a href=“http://www.vinetalk.com%5B/url%5D”>www.vinetalk.com</a></p>
<p>It’s a PBS show. It’s fun to watch. There’s a mix of true experts, celebrities, and audience members. The experts/celebs pick their fave from a group of wines in the same category and the audience does the same. Tasting is “blind.” On at least one episode, the experts picked the cheapest wine in the group.</p>
<p>Go to the episode guide. Each episode focuses on a different kind of wine.I I prefer white, but if I were choosing red, I’d choose a good Malbec.</p>
<p>Each episode will give you a list of wines in that category that were good enough to try out on the show. It will list the different kinds they tried and the average price of each. You don’t have to watch the episode to find out the different wines they tried and the price, but do have to watch it to find out which wines came out first among the judges/celebs and the studio audience.</p>
<p>Do you live near a wine-growing area? There’s an almost infinite number of wines to choose from, and I’ve found that few wine lovers have ever tasted all of the wines from their own region. If you do, and can take the time to visit some wineries and taste some yourself you could (a) have a good time and (b) pick out something you yourself liked.</p>
<p>I am a white wine drinker. If someone were to give me a red I wouldn’t know what to do with it. If you are not sure, you could get a bottle of Mo</p>
<p>Here is one idea: there is a great old vine Zin called Predator (it is produced by Rutherford Ranch winery in St Helena, CA). It is made from organically grown grapes and has a very catchy label with a lady bug (yup, that’s the predator). It retails for about $20-25/bottle. The wine has a smooth, smoky flavor and is great with cheeses or a steak dinner. </p>
<p>Here is a more expensive option: a Pinot Noir by Etude Vinyards (Carneros area of the Sonoma-Napa wine country):</p>
<p><a href=“http://shop.etudewines.com/2008-etude-pinot-noir-estate-carneros[/url]”>http://shop.etudewines.com/2008-etude-pinot-noir-estate-carneros</a></p>
<p>For ice wine I highly recommend Terra Blanca ice wines (it is a great family winery in Eastern WA).</p>
<p>Our white wine of choice is Reisling because it is H’s favorite wine. The two options that would not leave you in the poor house are Poet’s Leap and Dr Loosen Eroica, but the latter is a pretty common find, so I would not recommend it as a gift.</p>
<p>Now that dear offspring has gotten you into this pickle …</p>
<p>Picking out a wine for some unknown taste is really no more difficult than picking out an appropriate wedding dress for a person you hardly know. I love big reds from Chile … my D likes cheap Pinot Grigio. It’s time to task that dear offspring with a minor snooping job. Have him find out what’s in the intended giftee’s wine cellar right now.</p>