Question about Anniversary wines

[girlneffy]

Sorry, I will admit I know NOTHING about this subject. I need a some good advice and hopefully you all will be kind enough to offer it.

I am looking for two wines or champagnes (either or, maybe both) that I could put in a gift basket for a wedding. One for a first year anniversary and one for a 5 year anniversary. I really don't want to spend over $20 a bottle. The cheaper the better.

Thanks in advance!

[wondersofwine]

Welcome to the board. (Madison is in a beautiful setting with Lake Mendota--do I have that right?)
At $20 a bottle you may have to look at
Spanish Cava wines or something from California rather than a French Champagne.

I had the same idea for a wedding that never came about. It helps if you know what kind of wines the couple prefer. I went for a premier cru red Burgundy and got two bottles of 1999 Chambolle-Musigny Les Fuees (@$65 a bottle) from a good producer. The 1999 is quite fruity (fruit forward as they say) and doesn't need to be aged a long time to be drinkable although it may go through a closed down period later on. I thought the couple could have one bottle on the honeymoon (or shortly after) and one bottle on the fifth anniversary. However, since the wedding was called off, I still have the wines.


[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 05-19-2003).]

[Innkeeper]

E-mail WineExpo@earthlink.net and ask for their latest Hot List. They had some excellent "real" Champagne for under $20.

[stevebody]

Hey, Girl!

Iron Horse Vintners in CA makes a wonderful bubbly called Wedding Cuvee. It's a really nice bottle of bubbles and, of course, perfect as a wedding gift. Spend a bit more: it's about $27.

A bottle that I recommend to my customers a lot as a gift is the Ferrari-Carano Siena, a California "super-Tuscan" made by a solid winery that knows what they're doing. It's a BEAUTIFUL package and a very drinkable wine and should cost you about $20.

Hope these help.