Food and Drink: Gifts of Wine

Thinking of giving someone a bottle of wine as a holiday present? Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of public radio's The Splendid Table, a fabulous program about food produced by American Public Media, and her guest Joshua Wesson, Senior Director of Wine, Beer and Spirits at the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, recently discussed what wine to give as a gift.

Mr. Wesson's recommendations are below. For an explanation on each item, check out the podcast. I particularly like Mr. Wesson's suggestion of giving a bottle of Hardy's Whiskers Blake Tawny Port NV. This is good port and a great idea for a present. For someone special go one step further: Add to the port a chunk of nice Stilton and a package of walnuts and you have created a fantastic gift.

• For your supervisor/boss/partner: Estancia Meritage 2005, a California Bordeaux blend "Meritage" in a tall, heavy bottle. In the $25 to $30 range.

• For the parking attendant or mail carrier: An Argentinean red or white. About $6.

• Friends looking to try the next new thing: Sicilian Nero d'Avola such as Rapitale Campo Reale Nero d'Avola 2005. About $15.

• For people who buy wine frequently: Hardy's Whiskers Blake Tawny Port NV for about $14.