Wines For Dad

The Elegant Connoisseur

 

“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”

                                                                Ernest Hemingway

By Doc Lawrence

He’s quite the entertainer, a maestro on the patio grill who knows more than you think about creating delicious dishes in the kitchen. He owns cookbooks going back decades and makes some fancy cocktails like the Sazarac and Old Fashioned from his well-stocked bar.

Wines almost always accompany the food served at his home. Not just something from the super market bottom shelf, mind you, but selected with knowledge and care.

You want to give him either some bottles of wines he will enjoy plus something extra that compliments your brilliant selections.

It’s getting hot down South and the very wise and savvy Dad will gravitate a little more to lighter wines, adding more whites into his entertainment menu. Here are some suggestions.

2015 Fume Blanc Sonoma County from Dry Creek Vineyards. Since 1972, this winery has produced wines modeled after the classics from the Loire Valley in France. Without even a hint of oak, this mouthwatering reasonably priced wine almost begs to be served with oysters on the half shell which Dad buys and skillfully shucks for dinner guests.

2014 King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris from Oregon is soft and balanced with some orange and lime zest flavors that will be delightful with his amuse-bouche before dinner or pair beautifully with that rainbow trout, obtained from his fly fishing adventure in the Blue Ridge mountains.

2014 Pierre Sparr Gewürztraminer is a dry wine from Alsace that Dad will find to be a nice companion with his favorite Asian dishes. This wine isn’t frightened by umami flavors and it is delicious on its own.

2013 Gin Creek Blanc du Bois not only will be a surprise to a wine-loving Dad, but he is in for a sensational experience. This is a dry Southern wine actually developed in Florida to be resistant to vine killing disease, but delicious enough to be served confidently. Gin Creek is located in deep South Georgia not far from Moultrie and Thomasville.

2013 - Z. Alexander Brown Uncaged: North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon is one of Zac Brown’s wines and it is a fine representative from this Georgia native. A powerful full-bodied wine of depth and character, with supple tannins and a long, silky finish.

Crystal Wine Glasses

Maximilian Riedel once told me that “nothing is sadder that a fine wine poured into a pedestrian goblet reeking with dishwasher residue.” Give Dad a set of Riedel crystal wine glasses or one of the other fine wine glasses like Waterford’s extraordinarily affordable Elegance Bordeaux edition that will become his personal treasure. There is a noticeable difference in taste and he’ll think of you each time he enjoys good Bordeaux or a Cabernet.

A box of Cabernet filled chocolates completes a gift that honors him. http://liquidchocolates.com.

Pressed for time? Go to a good wine shop and you should be able to find these wines or something comparable in style, price and purpose. Crystal wine glasses can be obtained in one day through Amazon Prime. Also, a high-end retail store will have just what you’re looking for.

These are gifts that send Dad a loving message that you understand him and appreciate what he has done so admirably with the leisure side of his life.