Wine choice

[vhost]

Hello,
I was wondering if there are any guidelines for buying wine as a house-warming gift. We'd like to buy a bottle of wine for some friends when they move into their new house, but we're not sure what to get. Perhaps the thing to do is to find out what kind of wine they like to drink, and get that, but we don't really want to give away our plan. So we are thinking about a Chardonnay, or a Merlot, since most people seem to like these grapes. Suggestions welcome!!!

[Innkeeper]

Hi Vhost, and welcome to the Wine Board. Not knowing anything, I would opt for a sparkler. If Champagne is a little too expensive, there are excellent California Sparklers including Roederer Estate and Domaine Chandon. Incidentally chardonnay and merlot are among my least favorite wines.

[Kcwhippet]

Well, you really can't go wrong with those choices, as long as you get a very good example of either. For Chardonnay, there are many choices, such as Miner Family, Shafer, Patz & Hall and many others. If Merlot, maybe an Arrowood or perhaps the 1999 Grgich Hills Merlot. This is the first Merlot GH has ever bottled. The fruit comes from a well sited vineyard in the Carneros. It costs $38 and is hard to get because they only made about 500 cases. I've had it and it's about the best Merlot I've tasted in years.

[vhost]

Thanks for the tips! I was wondering if a sparkling wine would be an appropriate choice!

To be honest, I've never tried a Merlot myself, but I've been under the impression that it's quite popular. Thanks again!