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Giftguide
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Here's the 2008 Wine Lovers Gift Guide.
We take all the guess work out of selecting a truly unique gift idea for you or a wine crazed friend.....
Top 20 Gift Ideas
Let's start with a selection of Luxury Corkscrews .....
The Screwpull ELEGANCE by Le Crueset - The world's most popular premium corkscrew
 The Elegance ($186.25) is a French design that combines fabulous form and function!
What separates the Elegance from all other corkscrews is its unique leverpull design. You simply clamp the Screwpull around the neck of the wine bottle, and with a gentle swing of the lever handle, even the most stubborn cork surrenders gracefully.
What really makes the Screwpull so foolproof is not the lever design (although the lever really helps) but the Teflon coated worm or screw (that metal spiral you stick in the bottle). The long, extremely sharp worm is actually coated with a lubricant that helps the worm penetrate the cork without cracking or tearing - like butter on a hot knife. The Elegance will make you look like a hero the next time you do the honors. No more fumbling, no more embarrassing moments trying to wrestle the corkscrew out of the bottle.
The Elegance weights about 2 pounds and has brushed metal handles. Its worm is guaranteed to stay sharp for over 2000 bottles. At one bottle a day, that's about six years before the worm needs to be replaced (an extra worm is included). The Elegance comes with a stand (no more searching through the kitchen drawers), and a handy foil cutter which slips easily over the bottle's foil crown.
At $149 the Elegance is one of the most expensive corkscrew in the world (only antique corkscrews cost more). If you're looking for a truly distinctive gift for that special someone who has everything, the Elegance is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Now, if you haven't recently won the state lottery, here's an alternative that costs less but is guaranteed to delight.
The Classic Screwpull model ($117.50) was introduced in 1989. Its been updated since  then and looks very much like its bigger brother the Elegance (black instead of silver, and about 8 ounces lighter). Both models use the same finely engineered leverpull design and Teflon coated worm. We made a special purchase from Le Crueset and for a limited time are offering the Classic Screwpull with foil cutter for $89.... a $129 value. The Classic Screwpull makes a great gift for any occasion.
Here's a little Bunny by Metrokane that's taken the wine industry by storm.
The Rabbit by Metrokane ($67.50) is another leverpull design that weights only 13 ounces, so its  light, and really easy to use. You simply clamp the Rabbit around the neck of the wine bottle and a gently swing the lever handle. No cracked corks or crumbs falling into your vintage varietal.
The Rabbit pulls a wine cork in as little as 3 seconds. It's fast, light, and works on all sizes of wine bottles. It even pulls most of those new plastic corks. The handles of the Rabbit are shaped to fit snugly in your hands, with soft grip pads on the top handle for easy leverage.
The Rabbit is available in Black and Silver. Each Rabbit includes a wine bottle foil cutter, a replacement worm, an attractive rabbit hutch case and a 10 year warranty.
The Deluxe Rabbit ($86.25)is a new member of the Rabbit family. This premium Rabbit  includes die-cast metal handles. A heavier feel makes this the prefect selection when you have a lot of bottles to open. Each model comes with a wine bottle foil cutter, a replacement worm, an attractive rabbit hutch case and a 2 year warranty.
The Rabbit Wine ToolKit ($69) is a great combination gift. The tool kit includes a  Silver Rabbit corkscrew, Velvet-finish wine bottle Drip-Stop ring, Wine/Champagne bottle sealer, Foil cutter and Wax remover all in one attractive gift box. This is a great gift for someone who is starting to collect fine wine instruments.
The New Titanium Gold - Special Edition Rabbit ($99) is  made entirely of die-cast metal, is triple plated with an alloy of Titanium that provides a shiny, smooth finish more durable than gold. This limited edition Rabbit is a truly special corkscrew you'll be pleased to own and use. Each corkscrew includes a gold foil cutter and 2 year warranty.
Four great Rabbit gifts to choose from from $69.00 - $149.
The Trudeau Symphony leverpull corkscrew
The Trudeau Symphony ($59) is another new leverpull design. You slide the Trudeau on top  of the bottle, and squeeze the handle to insert the worm in the cork. A gentle pull on the lever removes the cork. Each Trudeau includes a wine bottle foil cutter, a corkscrew stand and comes in an attractive tin gift box. At $54 this is one our our most popular moderately priced corkscrews.
Laguiole Corkscrews and Knives - Hand made in France
Like the great Champagne and Limoges regions of France the Laguiole (pronounced Lie Yull) region of southern  France has developed a reputation for creating the finest hand made knives and corkscrews in the world. They've been making knives and corkscrews in Laguiole since 1880 (in fact, corks were invented in the seventeenth century, but nothing happens at breakneck speed in southern France).
Many aficionados believe that two companies in the Laguiole region make the very finest corkscrews and knives. We carry a range of products from both these companies,
Chateau Laguiole and Forge de Laguiole each have their own very distinctive designs, but both use only the finest quality steel and precious woods for their corkscrews and knives. Each corkscrew they produce require at least 100 individual hand fashioned steps before being declared an authentic Laguiole.
What makes Chateau Laguiole corkscrews so special is their combination of art and science.  Each instrument is crafted from stainless steel so they often outlast their owners. When hand made precision is combined with the most exotic woods in the world, you get a corkscrew that's both a pleasure to look at, and a joy to handle. Red Wood, French Oak, Olive Wood ($199) plus other precious wood and horn variants all combine to make the Chateau Laguiole something very special.
Forge de Laguiole knives and corkscrews have their own very distinctive designs. Whether you choose a  handle made from the tip of a bull horn, or a stamina wood made of Cocobola you'll see and feel the quality the moment you pick one up.
Next time you're in a fine restaurant, look closely as the Sommelier opens your bottle. Chances are he'll be using a Laguiole corkscrew. Simple and efficient, no cork can resist a Laguiole. Each Laguiole will leave a lasting impression on anyone who has the pleasure to give (or receive) it.
If you have the good fortune to receive a Laguiole as a gift, you must offer a small coin in exchange. This will ensure your friendship is never broken. I'm not sure how the tradition started, but it's been done this way for 100 years.
Riedel Glasses and Decanters
No gift guide would be complete without a selection of fine Wine Glasses and Decanters from Riedel. You'll be amazed at how a fine hand blow crystal glass can effect the taste and aroma of your favorite wine .... Read on
The Riedel glass company (rhymes with needle) has been making fine wine glasses for eleven generations. They pioneered the use of different glass shapes and sizes to enhance the taste of specific types of wines. It may be hard to believe, but wine tastes better in a Riedel glass..... The experts agree, but you don't need to be an expert to taste the difference for yourself.
If you want to impress someone who knows wine - give them a set of Riedel glasses or a Decanter. Your gift will be graciously received.
Riedel glasses come in many different sizes and prices ranges. We've selected the three most popular series for sale at Finely Corked.
The Riedel Sommelier Series. In 1973, in Orvieto, Claus Riedel presented the world's first  gourmet glass series developed with the help of the Association of Italian Sommeliers (ASI). The Sommeliers series was developed further by Claus' son Georg, into an all-embracing state-of-the-art wine glass collection. Praised in 1991 by Robert Parker, Jr., publisher of The Wine Advocate, as "The finest glasses for both technical and hedonistic purposes are those made by Riedel. The effect of these glasses on fine wine is profound. I cannot emphasize enough what a difference they make."
Thanks to worldwide demand, the Riedel Sommeliers series is now the wineglass benchmark and the most successful series of hand-made glasses in the world. Each glass is individually made with 24% lead crystal: the upper parts blown into a mould, the stem and base hand-crafted using methods developed at the time of Christ's birth. Try one and see the difference a fine wine glass can make!
The Riedel Vinum Series. Introduced in 1986, Vinum was the first machine-made series of glasses in  history to match the shape of the glass with the type of wine. Vinum, functional, high in quality, reasonably priced and widely distributed, has had a permanent impact on the globe's wine glass culture.
These glasses have proved to consumers and restaurateurs that the pleasure of consuming wine starts with the glass. The Vinum collection is made of over 24% lead crystal making it a real pleasure to have and to hold.
The New Riedel O Series. The tumbler, used for centuries as an all-round drinking vessel,  is now turned into a sophisticated wine accessory.
The designs of O are based on the benchmark shapes of Riedel Vinum. For the first time in glass history the design parameters such as shape of tumbler, size and diameter of rim, have been fine tuned to enhance the world's most important grape varietals. O is a non lead machine-blown series. A more casual Riedel glass for everyday use, at a very reasonable price....
Wine Decanters. Decanting old wines, just a few moments before they are served, helps to ensure that  the wines' clarity and brilliance are not obscured by any deposit that may have developed over time.
Decanting young wines several hours before they are served gives the wine a chance to bloom and attain a stage of development that normally requires years of aging.
Wine Dossier with Label-Off -  Have you ever been in a liquor store racking your brain to remember the name of that great Chablis you had last week (or was it a Chardonnay). Wouldn't it be great if you had a copy of the wine label, and a small description of how you felt about the wine? Now you can.
An enterprising book publisher must have had the same problem. He just created a hard bound Wine Dossier ($34) designed to track and rate your wine tastes, pricing, and personal notes associated with your favorite wines. Its rich 160 ivory pages also have space to place the actual wine label. Each Dossier now includes a 10 pack of Label-Off - the easy way to save your favorite wine label. Label-Off peels the label from the bottle and laminates it, so it can be placed in the wine dossier.
Your personal notes, and a copy of the actual wine label, all bound in a rich hardcover book. For those of us whose memories need help, the Wine Dossier ($34) with Label Off make a great gift combination!
Round the World Wine Course - This latest edition covers every aspect of selecting, purchasing, serving,  tasting and enjoying the wines of the world. Kevin Zraly, Master Sommelier authors an educational classic. An elegant smorgasbord....One of the best start-from-scratch wine books ever written. The New York Times. Hardcover.
Cork Bulletin Board Kit -  Here's a gift for the hobbyist on your list. The Cork Bulletin Board Kit ($24) is a great place to show off your wine bottle corks. Create your own designs. Fun to build and display. 16 x16 x2 . Each kit includes a solid oak frame, mounting board and glue.
Vintage Wine Bottle Coaster -  This Vintage Wine Bottle Coaster ($23.25) makes a great addition to your dinner table. Protects your table while accenting your wine selection. Makes a great gift for any occasion. Why not bring one along to your next dinner party?
Twenty great gift ideas for your favorite wine lover, and the best news is you no longer need to live in New York city to find all these great corkscrews and wine accessories.
So take a few more minutes and visit our boutique. We're always adding new gift ideas. We stock everything we sell so delivery is fast, and hassle free..... we guarantee it.
You can also use our Corkscrew Selection Guide to help make choosing a corkscrew a bit easier.
Here's to health, life, wonderment and most of all, to wine!
Sincerely
David Crowe - The Finely Corked Proprietor
Copyright 2008 FinelyCorked
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