(Photo illustration by Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Experts highlight 16 wines — and match each to the type of drinker who would love to find it under the tree.

Uncork the cheer: 16 wines to give — or get — for Christmas

Gifts » Experts highlight 16 wines — and match each to the type of drinker who would love to find it under the tree.

By Kathy Stephenson

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Dec 11 2012 07:22 am • Last Updated Apr 08 2013 11:32 pm

We suggest you stop giving family and friends small appliances they won’t use or sweaters that don’t fit for Christmas. Instead, give them something they really want — wine.

Of course, one bottle won’t fit every taste, so we asked several Utah experts to suggest wines that will please the special people on your list. Here’s what they said:

—

For the princess » 2010 Principessa Gavi, Italy $13.99. Pale straw in color with a fresh and fruity bouquet, this wine has a crisp taste and a gentle acidity. Utah wine broker Drew Ellsworth described it as "very minerally," which makes it taste great with seafood, especially oysters, as well as chicken or veal. Named for the legendary princess who eloped with her forbidden lover to Italy’s Cavi region.

—

For the golfer » Greg Norman sparkling wine, Australia $15. Score a hole-in-one with this bubbly produced for world-class golfer Greg Norman. It’s made with a blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier grapes. When Ellsworth tasted it for the first time, he thought it was "as good as a $35 French Champagne."

—

For the blue-collar guy » Castle Creek Outlaw Red, Moab, $12.95. Straight from Utah’s red rock country — the famed hideout for outlaws like Butch and Sundance — comes this no-nonsense red table wine. Cowboys and blue-collar guys will love it with a beef steak or hearty meal. Campfire not required.

—

For the connoisseur » 2008 Chateaux Margaux, France, $871. This wine comes from the famed Bordeaux region of France and is produced at one of the area’s most prestigious estates. That pedigree, makes this the most expensive 750-ml bottle sold in Utah wine stores. The 2008 vintage is said to be superior to previous years, making it even more remarkable, said Jake Byrnes, a supervisor at the Utah State Wine store in Salt Lake City.

—

For the bargain hunter » 2008/2009 Chateau Carbonnieux Graves, France, $64.99. Can’t afford the Chateaux Margaux mentioned above? No problem. Byrnes said this wine costs significantly less, but is comparable, coming from the same region and made with a similar blend of grapes. "It’s a big style, definitely not for the novice."

—

For the golden child » 2007 Chateau d’Yquem, France, $565 (375-ml bottle). Because it comes in a smaller, 375-ml bottle, this late-harvest sweet wine actually costs more per ounce than any other wine in Utah. "It’s liquid gold," Byrnes says. It’s made from semillion grapes that have been left on the vine until they become raisins; and by that time a mold, called botrytis, has formed. But this is a welcome fungus that gives the wine characteristics of ripe, honey-drenched fruit.

—

For the locavore » Slide Ridge CaCysir, Utah, $24. This amber-colored wine is "so unique and different," Byrnes said, "and I love that it’s local." Produced in Cache Valley, this sweet wine is made from honey, a blend of seven different apple varieties and just a touch of grape. Serve it with cheese or pasta. It also goes with caramel, custard or fruit desserts.

—

For the traveler » 2009 Raventos i Blanc Reserva Brut, Spain, $19.99. The Raventos family of Spain has been producing cava — sparkling wine — from their estate vineyards for more than 500 years. It’s crisp with citrus notes and peach aromas, said Michael Grisley, with P.R. Grisley wine importers. "It has wonderful acidity to cut through richer holiday dishes, yet is still refreshing enough to drink on its own." Cava is considerably less expensive than Champagne, and can be just as good.

—

For the romantic » 2006 Gloria Reynolds "Tinto Real" Portugal, $13.99. This rich, warming red wine, from the Alentejo region in southern Portugal is a great wine to serve with all types of hearty dishes including braised or roasted meats, soups and stews, and it even pairs well with hard sheep’s milk cheeses, Grisley said. It has concentrated dark fruit and berry notes, and a slightly sweet, juicy quality "that makes you want to keep sipping it while you warm up by the fireplace."

—

Next Page >

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

About Reader Comments

---

Reader comments on sltrib.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Salt Lake Tribune. We will delete comments containing obscenities, personal attacks and inappropriate or offensive remarks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. If you see an objectionable comment, please alert us by clicking the arrow on the upper right side of the comment and selecting "Flag comment as inappropriate". If you've recently registered with Disqus or aren't seeing your comments immediately, you may need to verify your email address. To do so, visit disqus.com/account.
See more about comments here.