When you buy a Christmas gift for someone, you want it to be something that shows thought; that will be a tribute to your good taste; something the person will actually use and enjoy; something unique that will stand out and remind them of you; and something that they wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves. Frugal MacDoogal has lots of gifts that satisfy the above criteria. Here are our top ten gift ideas.
1. Many people do not know that Tennessee is a wine-producing state. Chateau Ross in nearby Robertson County makes some very high quality wines that will surprise your recipient. We sell three of their high-end reds, and a white, Viognier. We wouldn’t hesitate to give one of these to a business associate in another state. Beachaven Winery, just up the road near Clarksville, also makes popular wines such as Blackberry, Muscadine, Golden Rose, and Cumberland White.
2. If your recipient knows about wines, but you don’t, you want to be on the safe side with gift purchases. One way to do that is to buy a highly rated wine. The best part is that some of these are very reasonably priced: Langmeil 2005 Shiraz $22.99 (91); Root 1 Cabernet Sauvignon $10.99 (90); Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc $16.99 (90); and Chateau Ste. Michelle 2005 Indian Wells Chardonnay $18.99 (90), just to name a few. Most of the wines rated over “90” will have a tag above the bin (called a “shelf talker”). If you want something rated higher or a bit more expensive, don’t forget to check out our wine cellar where you will find: Standish Barossa Shiraz $94.99 (99); Amon Ra Shiraz $79.99 (97); Opus One--the legendary collaboration of Robert Mondavi and Baron Rothschild--$174.99 (94); or Hollywood and Vine Cabernet Sauvignon $89.99 (93). For $50-$70 you can opt for esteemed names such as Caymus Cabernet and Newton Chardonnay.
3. Perhaps the best, and most appreciated, gift if you aren’t quite sure what to buy for someone is a bottle of good champagne. Almost everybody is going to have an occasion for celebration during the next year. Our #1 recommendation is Nicholas Feuillatte Brut Rose at $44.99. This is a sparkling, festive, delicious, and absolutely gorgeous wine. It is an esthetic experience just to watch it being poured into a glass! Trust us--anyone will be delighted with a bottle of this. If you are looking for something a bit less expensive, Frugal’s has a big choice of California sparkling whites, as well as Italian Proseccos and Spanish Cavas.
4. One of my favorite gift ideas is wine from unusual places. If your recipient is a traveler, or just interested in the off-beat, how about a bottle from Israel (kosher), Georgia (formerly part of the U.S.S.R.), a Bulgarian red, or a dry white or retsina from Greece? If you want something closer to home, you can buy a Riesling from Texas, or a sparkling white from New Mexico! With a little imagination, the wine guys can help you to find something your recipient won’t get from anyone else.
5. Let’s not overlook the spirits drinkers. Every Christmas, dozens of brand name distillers offer attractive gift sets that are sure to please. Old revered names like Jack Daniel’s, Crown Royal, Frangelica, and Baileys are represented, along with dozens of others. Whatever brand your recipient drinks, there is most likely something on display in the store. Many of these include special glasses or other premiums. Because there are more gift sets than we have room to discuss, we have set up a special section on our website for your shopping convenience.
6. Still on the subject of spirits, if you are buying a special gift for a special person, nothing will elevate you higher in the recipient’s regard than a bottle of his or her favorite whiskey—maybe one they hadn’t tasted yet. It might be a bottle of Jack Daniel’s single barrel Tennessee sipping whiskey, or one of the high end bourbons such as the Pappy Van Winkle that ranges from $46.99 per bottle for the 15-year old to $229.99 for the 23-year old. If Scotch is the recipient’s favorite, Frugal has a great selection of single malts ranging from $40 to $400. These are gifts that will be appreciated, savored and remembered.
7. When you have shared a special meal with people you care for, one of the best parts of the evening is the after-dinner drink. How about a nice ice wine as a special gift? Ice wines are made from frozen grapes that are picked by hand. We are talking low yield and labor intensive, but the result is spectacular. The grapes are almost all sugar by the time they are pressed, producing an elegant dessert wine. Ice wines are expensive, so they are often overlooked, but you won’t be overlooked if you choose one as a gift. Most of these come in small .375 ml bottles, and range in price from $18.99 to $82.99. If your special person prefers a Port, Frugal has a variety of selections between $49 and $199. Few pleasures can match that of sitting in front of a roaring fire on a winter’s night with a glass of good Port in hand, and maybe a good cigar too.
8. If your recipient is a beer and ale drinker, there are some excellent gift choices. The wine/liquor side of the store has a great selection of ales from around the world. A “sampler” dozen assorted bottles of ale would make a much-appreciated gift. The beer side of Frugal’s offers additional choices. A mixed pack of Flying Dog ales is available—12 bottles for $11.99. This comes in a festive, eye-grabbing box. There is also a European Sampler of beers from the Czech Republic, Poland, and Italy that comes in an 18-bottle pack for $19.99 and would make an unusual gift. Again, there are single bottles of various brews that could be assembled into a nice sampler pack. Most brewers are offering specially priced 12-packs of your recipient’s favorite beer, and Frugal’s has a big selection.
9. If you are not a beer drinker you may never have ventured into the confines of the “other side” of Frugal’s. Please don’t overlook what is available over there. We have a wide selection of Riedel wine glasses in stock, and can get anything we don’t have in a day or so. Drinking wine from a Riedel glass does make the wine better! A set of these can be a really elegant gift. The “other side” also offers cocktail shakers, corkscrews, gift bags for wine bottles, and a good selection of cigars from our humidor. In order to protect the health and morals of Tennessee citizens, these items cannot be sold on the wine and liquor side, so you may have missed these accessories. The merchandise available on the “other side” makes Frugal’s even more of a one-stop for your Christmas gift needs.
10. Finally, how about a carefully chosen case of wine as a special gift? Let’s say that your friend, relative, or boss is a big fan of Cabernet Sauvignon. Let the wine guys put together 12 different bottles of that varietal for you. Maybe your recipient just drinks white wines. How about assembling a mixed case of 12 white varietals and blends? How about 12 bottles of Chardonnay—each from a different country or area? The possibilities are only limited by your imagination!
We hope these hints will be helpful and that we will see you in the store soon. The wine guys wish you and yours all the blessings of the holiday season.
Photo credits: Jerry Hall | 2BSEEN.
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