04/24/06 Email Question

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and today we are answering a question from the email. Recently a listener wrote to ask "We are going to visit my new father in-law and I want to impress him with a nice bottle of wine. Should I expect him to open it and share it with us?" If as a guest we bring a nice bottle of wine to the host we may or may not intend it a gift. If it is intended as a gift, I personally will say that. I have a friend who will say "this is for your cellar" indicating that it is not for opening now. Letting us know that we are not expected to open this nice wine until it is ready to drink. I think that is a lovely way to handle it and I almost always open the wine with them at a future date. If you are truly trying to impress your father in-law then perhaps that would be the nicest gesture. If he insists upon sharing it with you during that visit then be certain to let him know that although it wasn't necessary, you truly appreciate it. If on the other hand the wine is meant to age for some time longer before it is deemed "ready" to drink then let him know by saying something like. This is a gift for you to keep around for a while - I was told that this wine is expected to be at its best in about 5 years. If he is a wine fan he will appreciate your information and if you are all about making points you will most likely do so! Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at Vine to Wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.