With the gift-giving season upon us, we often hear “It’s the thought that counts.”
While you may indeed be thinking fondly of friends and loved ones when giving gifts this holiday season, how often do you really take the time to pick a thoughtful gift? When we give a gift, do we ever consider how much symbolism we wrap up with the package?
Let’s consider, for a moment, how much symbolism is in a bottle of wine.
You can convey much more than ordinary season’s greetings this year with wine; a great bottle symbolizes the fellowship and connection we feel with others. A gift that can be enjoyed with family and close friends, or can commemorate a special time and place with absent loved ones, a bottle of wine is no ordinary stocking stuffer. Scouring your local wine shop for that rare vintage for a special somebody can be more rewarding than standing in line for the latest (and soon to be outdated) gadget.
Wine also captures wonderful moments in time.
Maybe Christmas 2011 has you nostalgic for Christmas 2006, 1996 or 1956? Spending less money than you may think, you can savor the flavors of Christmas past. Perhaps you spent some of your best holidays on Hilton Head Island or are spending your first Christmas with somebody you married on our wonderful beaches?
If you can’t make it down to the Island this season, you can always place a bottle of local wine under the tree. Drinking it will only make the memories fonder.
Purchasing a case of wine usually gets you a discount, so if you shop for presents by the dozen, this may be the option for you. Ever notice that there are 12 days of Christmas and 12 bottles of wine in a case? Or, the particularly pleasing cubic shape of a case and how attractive it would look wrapped up under the tree?
While the holidays are about comfort and joy, sometimes the holiday season can be very stressful.
A bottle (or case of wine) may be one of those presents you want to open before Christmas morning. And, if you’ve been naughty this year, consider leaving a bottle of Chardonnay out for Santa instead of milk and cookies. Sharing a bottle of wine is always a great strategy for getting on somebody’s “nice” list any time of the year.
Giving wine as a gift is thoughtful because a great wine fits every budget. It’s not only a sensible present, but it’s a gift that can convey heartfelt holiday sentiments. Wine can symbolize some of the things we hold sacred during the holiday season; it’s a present we can fill with our own meanings to be shared with friends and loved ones… whether they’ve been naughty or nice!
By Georgene Mortimer, Island Winery
The perfect bottle of award-winning wine awaits at Island Winery on Cardinal Road. Store/Tasting hours are Monday-Saturday, 12:30-5:30 p.m. 843-842-3141 or www.islandwinery.com.