Dallas wine experts share their 15 top holiday gift ideas
Fine wines, bottled cocktails, books and even some tea.
Vacu Vin Wine Saver(Vacu Vin)
Amid the pandemic, we’re all shopping smarter, making lists instead of combing store aisles for inspiration. The Dallas Morning News Wine Panel’s gift guide targets the the wine and spirits lovers on your list. From stocking stuffers to a wine-geek splurge, with lots of affordable elegance in between, we’ve got you covered. Our picks include fine wines, bottled cocktails, books, and nifty wine gear. There’s even a tea and candy pairing. Read on for 15 great gift ideas and don’t forget to shop for yourself.
ALLEN R. BALIK
My first exposure to Australian wines came in the early- to mid-1980s when they began to appear in local markets. Overall, with a few noteworthy exceptions, I found them overly extracted, alcoholic and more like chewing on oak than enjoying the fragrance and subtlety of other wines I was accustomed to at the time. This was a period when elegance and grace still reigned in our North Coast and much of Europe, so Australian wines represented a counterpoint to what I felt was a pleasurable vinous experience.
My thoughts changed in 1993 when my wife, Barbara and I visited our son Randy during his semester abroad at the University of Sydney. I was determined to explore the wines of Australia with a fresh approach as we ventured through Australiaâs eastern coast from Sydney to Lizard Island along with a timely visit to the Barossa Valley. By coincidence, we arrived there on the day local vintners were hosting their annual celebration and tasting events thro