ChangeMe  
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1907
 | | 08-23-2004 06:32 PM |
| TWO-PART QUESTION
I have a wedding to attend shortly for a young couple who are good friends with one of my daughters. They both enjoy wine, though the world of fine wine is something that they have no knowledge of. My question is, do you think it would be wasteful to give them (in addition to some $) a nice bottle of wine (say valued at $50 or so)? Something to drink now or something to open up on a 5 or 10 year anniversary? | | |
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rickym13
los angeles
Wine Thief
Posts: 2868
| | 08-23-2004 06:37 PM |
| I don't think its a waste if they enjoy wine......we were all there once  | | | |
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JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
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ChangeMe
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1907
| | 08-23-2004 06:44 PM |
| ricky,
You're absolutely right, but I don't want to be the cause of their divorce before they're even married! You know, he says things like: "we need a house with a basement or we need to build an addition" (but not for the kids!) and "No, that's not how much I PAID for the wine, that's how much it's worth NOW! (when she looks over his shoulder while making some new additions to his Cellartracker)  | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts: 307
| | 08-23-2004 06:48 PM |
| lou,
easy answer, give them a card with money and a note describing the wine. also include in there that you will be holding onto the wine for proper storage and for them to let you know when they want to drink it. | | | |
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Drew
Sammamish, WA
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3233
| | 08-23-2004 06:59 PM |
| From experience - I'd give the card with money, along with a note that you'll give them a bottle of xxx wine when they come back from their honeymoon. Just did this with some friends and it worked A LOT better than putting the bottle out on the table and letting mom and dad or somebody else take it god knows where until the honeymoon is over. I almost passed out when one buddy told me his wife's mom put our gift (99 Insignia) on top of the fridge while he was on his honeymoon for two weeks. In July. In California.
DREW | | | |
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Rothko
Palm Beach
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5711
| | 08-23-2004 07:18 PM |
| Question 1: It is not a waste
Question 2: Something to drink 5-10 years down the road.
I like the idea of the note, describing the wine that you are holding for them. I would also include a photograph of the bottle, and then have some really small print on the back of the card which states:
"This card must be redeemed on January 7, 2011, between 6:54 a.m. and 6:57 a.m., at the offices of Dewey, Cheetum & Howe in Nome, Alaska. Failure to redeem this card in accordance with the conditions herein will result in forfeiture of the wine." | | | |
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Budman
Philly Suburbs
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 23638
| | 08-23-2004 07:35 PM |
| | Not a waste at all! | | | |
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MikeW
Fremont, CA
Grape Sorter
Posts: 355
| | 08-23-2004 09:25 PM |
| | While I think it is a really great thought, if the wine is for future enjoyment, there is a chance that it might be a waste. Based only on the description above, I have this visual in my mind that the $50+ special bottle will end up sitting on top of the fridge, kitchen counter, etc. for 5 or so years until they find an occassion to drink it. I fully agree that sharing a good bottle with them is a great idea, but do they have a way to store that "special bottle" until they are ready to enjoy it. If not, then you can't go wrong by just giving them more money. | | | |
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rickym13
los angeles
Wine Thief
Posts: 2868
| | 08-23-2004 09:33 PM |
| | That funny! I think we have all been there and done that! | | | |
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NorCalVinoLover
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2202
| | 08-23-2004 10:06 PM |
| How about a nice bottle of champagne with a note about the care required of this bottle for the next year, when they celebrate their first year together.
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1475
| | 08-23-2004 10:44 PM |
| Quote:
How about a nice bottle of champagne with a note about the care required of this bottle for the next year
Yeah, just remember the storage conditions their lone-bottle wine collection might be subjected to. I'd give them something to drink soon (1st anniversary is perfect - champagne is perfect). | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 08-23-2004 11:10 PM |
| | How about giving them a note telling them you're going to get a 2004 wine for them to open up on anniversary in the future, but that the 2004 wines will not be released for quite a while? Then keep a reminder for yourself where you won't lose it. I'm doing that for my son and his wife. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts: 15756
| | 08-24-2004 01:48 AM |
| I'd go with the Champagne. And if you are still friends in 10 years give them another one then.
What I do is have flowers, a basket of fruit and a chilling bottle of Champagne (make sure glasses are with it) waiting for them in their honeymoon suite. Sometimes a box of chocolates is good too. That's one they will remember forever. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1907
| | 08-24-2004 11:46 AM |
| Thanks to all!!!
You all are a great "sounding board"!
The wedding is this Friday and I think I'm leaning toward giving them a nice bottle of Champagne and a card with cash and note telling them they can "cash" it in for something special on an anniversary of their choosing.
Sometimes, I find it hard to determine when to share this great passion of ours with others and when not to. I'm guilty many times over of giving away a great bottle, when Yellowtail would have sufficed!
Thanks again! | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13767
| | 08-24-2004 01:27 PM |
| | Not a waste at all. I remember giving a nice bottle to a friend at his wedding. He like wine, but has not had his eyes opened before drinking the bottle I gave him and his wife. heh heh heh | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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Drew
Sammamish, WA
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3233
| | 08-24-2004 01:36 PM |
| | Ahhh another soul pulled towards the dark side. If only I'd stayed happy drinking Jordan cab and random chards. Think of all the money I would have saved... on red bull the next morning :-) | | | |
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Landshark
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1894
| | 08-25-2004 01:33 AM |
| | Not a waste. | | | |
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Edward Bowers
Palm Beach Gardens
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2072
| | 08-25-2004 12:44 PM |
| Quote:
Not a waste.
It's a waste if they don't invite you to share it. | | | |
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