If you are purchasing directly from the winery, they can probably arrange to ship it to your home in the the USA. The operative word here is "winery." Each winery has shipping laws dictated by their province. This would be my top recommendation
If you have purchased the wines already, you might try contacting FedEx. Some time back they initiated a program for shipping wine across the US/CA borders. Since you are prepared to declare the shipping contents and willing to pay any necessary duty/tax, FedEx should be able to get it done.
Two approaches come to mind.
Feel free to contact me in the meantime if you have additional questions.
]]>Contrary to popular belief, last minute gift delivery doesn’t need to be a stressful process. Let's say your wife is out of town on business and you want to treat her to a nice bottle of wine today without breaking the bank. Getting that bottle of wine delivered ASAP to her the hotel room can be absoutely painless if you follow these helpful tips.
]]>Contrary to popular belief, last minute gift delivery doesn’t need to be a stressful process. Let's say your wife is out of town on business and you want to treat her to a nice bottle of wine today without breaking the bank. Getting that bottle of wine delivered ASAP to her the hotel room can be absolutely painless if you follow these helpful tips:
Everyone has a different palate. I repeat, everyone has a different palate. A wine that tastes incredible to you might not be as adored by your next door neighbor and vice versa. Therefore, it’s best to have at least a general idea of the type of wine the person likes before sending a wine gift. Have you heard her say “I only drink red wine” or “buttery Chardonnay is my go-to drink”? Whatever information you remember will help steer you in the right direction, and prevent you from going with your own personal preferences.
Is this person pretty easy going or do you have no idea what she enjoys drinking? There are sommeliers and wine critics who truly know their wine and can aid you in this process of finding the best wine gift. Particularly, there are a handful of aficionados whose advice I wholeheartedly trust. For example, let’s say I’m in the mood for a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. I’ll look for any high ratings, tasting notes, or reviews of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from respected wine experts. Their palates are exceptionally refined and therefore it’s plain hard to go wrong with a recommendation from a well known wine aficionado.
Okay, so you’ve narrowed down the type, maybe varietal, and, if lucky, appellation of the wine. Now what? Have as much specific information as possible ready before you call up the concierge of the hotel where the gift recipient is staying.
Surprisingly, not many people utilize this incredible resource when traveling. The concierge assists with sightseeing recommendations, restaurant reservations, any local arrangements, and more. When sending a wine gift to someone staying at the hotel, the concierge is really your go-to man. As soon as you have the concierge on the phone, explain to him that today you’d like to send a wine gift to a guest of the hotel. Reveal any specifics you have regarding direction, including your budget, gift note, room number, and type of wine. It can even be as simple as saying “a bottle of Zinfandel or Merlot that's under $50 and that one of the top wine critics highly recommends.”
After the specific direction, the concierge will then be able to arrange a courier to pick up the wine at a local wine shop and bring it back to the hotel for delivery to the gift recipient. Alternatively, depending on the hotel, there might be an in-house sommelier with the hotel restaurant who can further assist in this process and won’t require any outside arrangements.
This easy wine gift delivery to a hotel room won’t break the bank either. Be clear about your spending threshold for the wine and make sure you factor in a tip for the concierge outside of that amount. When charging your credit card for the wine and service, simply mention to the concierge that you’d like to leave them a tip for their wonderful assistance and give them the specific additional amount. As a rule of thumb, $20 is usually a perfect amount for wine gift delivery to a hotel guest. But if the concierge truly went above and beyond, feel free to raise that number so that they’re well compensated for their time and energy.
PrimeWines provides quick, easy, and all-inclusive wine gift delivery across Canada & USA. Whether it's for a business contact, family member, or an old friend, we offer the best selection of high quality wines with simple flat-rate delivery on all orders. If faster delivery is preferred, we offer same day and next day options.
We are committed to providing superior customer service with our staff available to answer questions 7 days a week. By combining the unique and hard to find wines in a down to earth atmosphere, we are creating the ultimate wine shopping experience that offers much more than any fancy nose-in-the-air store.
]]>There are only so many bottles of port that you can gift in a given year. Sure, you can vary according to country and appellation, but it’s fun to switch it up every once in a while with a stand out present. When you’re looking for that truly unique wine gift, look no further than these 3 ideas.
]]>There are only so many bottles of port that you can gift in a given year. Sure, you can vary according to country and appellation, but it’s fun to switch it up every once in a while with a stand out present. When you’re looking for that truly unique wine gift, look no further than these 3 ideas:
For the avid wine taster, this wine opener is a godsend. Instead of always being committed to finishing a bottle within a few days of opening, the Coravin allows you to pour glass by glass without actually removing the cork. But how does Coravin work, you ask? When using the Coravin, a small needle pushes through the cork to slowly pour wine into a glass. While the needle pushes through the cork, harmless argan gas is simultaneously pushed into the bottle so that the wine inside the bottle isn’t exposed to oxygen. It’s a phenomenal invention and frequently touted as a “game changer” by the expert wine community.
Even though this sounds so simple, personalizing anything is an excellent gift idea. It instantly makes an average gift more interesting and incredibly special for the receiver of the gift. In terms of personalized wine gifts, this can cover a myriad of options, but these three are my top recommendations:
Wine bottles with custom labels
Celebrity wines are popping up left and right but nothing hits the mark quite like adored couple Brangelina’s new wine. Miraval Rose has impressed wine experts near and far as it’s a refreshing and delicate blush wine. Unlike most celebrity wines, vintner Joe Bastianich says Miraval Rose should be taken seriously: “Brad and Angelina are real vintners. They hired a real wine-maker, they waited until the wine was good, they released it properly—this is a legitimate wine. (Vanity Fair)”
With the celebrity appeal and beautiful blush blend, Miraval Rose is a fun and unique wine gift for your always-in-the-know friend. Better yet: add a personalized gift note to your PrimeWines order of Miraval Rose and they’ll be thoroughly impressed!
PrimeWines provides quick, easy, and all-inclusive wine gift delivery across Canada & USA. Whether it's for a business contact, family member, or an old friend, we offer the best selection of high quality wines with simple flat-rate delivery on all orders. If faster delivery is preferred, we offer same day and next day options.
We are committed to providing superior customer service with our staff available to answer questions 7 days a week. By combining the unique and hard to find wines in a down to earth atmosphere, we are creating the ultimate wine shopping experience that offers much more than any fancy nose-in-the-air store.
There’s nothing quite as exquisite as savoring a fine wine and a decadent piece of chocolate. The rich, divine, and smooth flavors of the chocolate excite your taste buds as the wine complements the dessert perfectly. C'est magnifique! While I certainly love trying a variety of combinations within wine and chocolate pairings, I’ve finally discovered two that stand high above the rest.
]]>There’s nothing quite as exquisite as savoring a fine wine and a decadent piece of chocolate. The rich, divine, and smooth flavors of the chocolate excite your taste buds as the wine complements the dessert perfectly. C'est magnifique!
While I certainly love trying a variety of combinations within wine and chocolate pairings, I’ve finally discovered two that stand high above the rest:
These tasty chocolate treats are perfect for the refined and adventurous palate. Chicago-based chocolate company Vosges, produces luxury chocolates with fascinating flavors from around the globe. Plus, these delightful treasures are just begging to be paired with fine wine. My favorite truffle collection of theirs is Mo’s Chocolate Bacon Bar with an outrageous combination of smooth, sweet chocolate and salty bacon. I love to pair this mouth-watering chocolate bar with a nice riesling of balanced acidity, like the Inniskillin Late Autumn Riesling. As Wine Folly simply demonstrates in this handy pairing guide, balanced acidity in wine is best with fat, sugar and salt. In terms of the chocolate bacon bar and the riesling, the just-right acidity cuts through the bacon fat while the light fruit flavors perfectly compliment both the salt and sugar. Trust me: it’s an explosion in your mouth!
In my opinion, Godiva is the standard for upscale dessert. Godiva crafts high-end Belgian chocolates that are sure to please the pickiest people. This specific rich truffle collection comes in a beautiful and sophisticated gold gift box and is a perfect match to the delectable Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec Champagne. The acidity of champagne is ideal against the classic buttery Belgian truffles and, in particular, the delicately sweet demi-sec won’t overpower the flavor of the sugary chocolates.
This combination is a sure-fire crowd pleaser; it really doesn’t get better than superb chocolates and festive high-end bubbly. Plus, PrimeWines pairs these two together in a luxury gift package that’s perfect for gift delivery to friends, family, or business colleagues. So, go ahead: knock their socks off with this winning duo!
PrimeWines
PrimeWines provides quick, easy, and all-inclusive wine gift delivery across Canada & USA. Whether it's for a business contact, family member, or an old friend, we offer the best selection of high quality wines with simple flat-rate delivery on all orders. If faster delivery is preferred, we offer same day and next day options.
We are committed to providing superior customer service with our staff available to answer questions 7 days a week. By combining the unique and hard to find wines in a down to earth atmosphere, we are creating the ultimate wine shopping experience that offers much more than any fancy nose-in-the-air store.
]]>Finding the right wine gift for a wine expert seems like a daunting task. An aficionados' vast knowledge, advanced palate, and even personal preference can overwhelm just about anyone! But instead of glazing over all of the various vino selections available, follow these four steps to make your search easy and enjoyable.
]]>Finding the right wine gift for a wine expert can seem like a daunting task. Quite honestly, an aficionados' vast knowledge, advanced palate, and even personal preference can overwhelm just about anyone! But instead of glazing over all of the various vino selections available, follow these four steps to make your search easy and enjoyable:
As you begin your search, your first task is to find out what wine this person enjoys or tends to order on a regular basis. He/she may collect sweet dessert wines, possibly prefer full-bodied reds, or only drink French Chardonnay. Whatever their preference may be, I recommend finding this information by contacting the person’s Executive Assistant, friends, or spouse.
A wine score is an incredibly helpful tool that is determined by the world’s top wine experts, such as Robert Parker and the editors of Wine Spectator. After evaluating a particular wine, a wine expert will assign a value within the 100 point scale to reflect the quality of the wine. Similar to the 100 point scale, although less widely used, is the 20 point scale which also indicates the distinction of the wine.
Frankly, there are many wonderful bottles around the 85 point range and above or 16 point range and above, but buying for a wine expert is very strategic. My advice? Don’t buy a wine below 90 points or 17 points for an aficionado. For example, a lover of fine champagne will certainly adore Dom Perignon Vintage 2004 which scored a 95 by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 95 by Wine Spectator, and 97 by Decanter. Alternatively, this person probably won’t be as wowed by an 85 point bottle of sparkling wine.
After limiting your search by particular varietal and point value, I suggest reading the detailed reviews and tasting notes of the particular wines on your short list. The full review by esteemed wine experts will give you great insight into how it compares against other vintages, its nose, the full explanation of quality beyond just the point value, and much more. Some of the top reviews to follow include those by Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson, Wine Spectator, Decanter, Antonio Galloni, and Wine and Spirits Magazine.
Do you really want to knock their socks off? Try adding a phenomenal pairing to your gift. Along with the full review, you’ll often discover top pairing recommendations such as with gourmet cheeses, meats and particular dishes.
If you’re not able to find a clear pairing recommendation for your chosen wine, consult a wine pairing guide for helpful direction or purchase a full wine pairing gift instead. This Veuve Clicquot Champagne Basket includes a bottle of the 90 point Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne along with the perfect pairing combination of Godiva chocolates, Lindt truffles, camembert cheese, rosemary garlic crispbread, almonds and more. Your recipient will both appreciate your thoughtfulness and be impressed by their premium gift!
PrimeWines provides quick, easy, and all-inclusive wine gift delivery across Canada & USA. Whether it's for a business contact, family member, or an old friend, we offer the best selection of high quality wines with simple flat-rate delivery on all orders. If faster delivery is preferred, we offer same day and next day options.
We are committed to providing superior customer service with our staff available to answer questions 7 days a week. By combining the unique and hard to find wines in a down to earth atmosphere, we are creating the ultimate wine shopping experience that offers much more than any fancy nose-in-the-air store.
]]>With its effervescent nature and convivial connotations, sparkling wine simply screams “let’s celebrate!” If your friend just got married, colleague just closed a huge business deal, or someone in your family announced any significant event, sparkling wine is the perfect way to say congratulations.
]]>With its effervescent nature and convivial connotations, sparkling wine simply screams “let’s celebrate!” If your friend just got married, colleague just closed a huge business deal, or someone in your family announced any significant event, sparkling wine is the perfect way to say congratulations.
In simple terms, all wine goes through a traditional fermentation process with sugar and yeast which in turn produces both alcohol and carbon dioxide. With non-sparkling wine, the carbon dioxide escapes before being bottled. But with sparkling wine, the carbon dioxide isn’t released; it’s kept in the bottle and produces a fun fizz when opened.
Sparkling wine is the general term for bubbly wine, and it includes the famous Prosecco, Cava, and Champagne. Champagne happens to be the most well known sparkling wine and it comes from the region of Champagne, France. Also from famed wine regions, Cava hails from Spain and Prosecco from Italy. So, what's the difference between these delicious fizzy wines?
Generally, Champagne is dryer, complex, and often considered more of a luxury than the other two forms of sparkling wine. Champagne wines can be produced with single year grapes (vintage) or a blend of grapes from multiple years (non-vintage). In particular, vintage Champagne has a reputation of being much higher quality than non-vintage due to the consistent higher quality within a batch of single grapes.
Spanish Cava is dry, earthy and pretty similar to non-vintage Champagne. In fact, Cava wine makers use the same production method (the Classic Method) as used for Champagne, but it is often not considered as high-end as most Champagnes. Using a blend of three Spanish grapes and faster production methods keep the cost at a minimum for Cava wine producers.
Prosecco, on the other hand, is known for being lighter, sweeter, and slightly frothy. Although this is a sparkling wine, Prosecco wine makers don’t use the Classic Method of production. Prosecco is made using the Tank Method, which is much more affordable and less involved. As a result, Prosecco is considered more budget friendly and perfect for those wanting a sweeter drink.
When choosing a sparkling wine gift to bring to an event, you have a couple options. For a casual backyard celebration of any sort, Cava and Prosecco are ideal. Both are still very celebratory, they don’t need to break the bank, and they’re appropriate for the relaxed atmosphere. On the other hand, for a formal affair, significant milestone, or major occasion, Champagne should always be your go-to gift!
If you’re searching for the perfect sparkling wine gift online, I encourage you to browse our extensive selection of sparkling wines. For your convenience, you can even search by varietal, country, and price. But if you need to make a quick and high-quality decision, these two fine Champagnes are guaranteed winners:
Cristal is a legendary and coveted 100-point French Champagne. Beginning as a fine palace wine for King William, this vintage Champagne is known for its superbly aged golden color and blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Royalty, celebrities and wine experts alike praise this wine for being one of the top wines around the world.
Dom Perignon is similarly astounding. Purported to be the father of all Champagne, Dom Perignon continues to impress generation after generation. In fact, every vintage of Dom Perignon Champagne that Robert Parker has reviewed since 1982 has received scores in the high range of 92 to 98 points. It’s simple: expect to be impressed.
So, you’re all set with your sparkling wine gift, but you need to leave in 5 minutes and chill the bubbly stat? Follow Dr. Vino’s tip for the fastest way to chill your sparkling wine. For this plan, you’ll need 4 items (plus the wine): a bucket, ice, cold water, and salt. Fill up your bucket halfway with the ice, sprinkle in a handful of salt, add cold water until the bucket is ¾ to the top, place the wine bottle in the bucket and...voilà!
PrimeWines provides quick, easy, and all-inclusive wine gift delivery across Canada & USA. Whether it's for a business contact, family member, or an old friend, we offer the best selection of high quality wines with simple flat-rate delivery on all orders. If faster delivery is preferred, we offer same day and next day options.
We are committed to providing superior customer service with our staff available to answer questions 7 days a week. By combining the unique and hard to find wines in a down to earth atmosphere, we are creating the ultimate wine shopping experience that offers much more than any fancy nose-in-the-air store.
]]>It’s Friday, you have a million tasks to complete before you clock out for the weekend, and your boss just asked you to send a high-end gift to his business colleague in New York ASAP. No need to panic! Last minute gift delivery doesn’t need to be time consuming or overwhelming if you follow these 4 rules.
]]>It’s Friday, you have a million tasks to complete before you clock out for the weekend, and your boss just asked you to send a high-end gift to a business colleague in New York ASAP. No need to panic! Last minute gift delivery doesn’t need to be time consuming or overwhelming if you follow these 4 rules:
Although it’s helpful to know what your gift receiver likes, you don’t need to know anything about his preferences in order to send an incredible gift that he will enjoy. For business executives and entrepreneurs, anything high-quality, consumable, and that pleases the palate will be a winner. In particular, gourmet food baskets, high-end restaurant gift certificates, and fine wines are the top choices for pleasing a wide range of individuals.
Ratings and reviews are your best friends when shopping for high-quality items, especially gifts. Thankfully, this process doesn’t need to require hours and hours of research; utilize search filters to narrow your results considerably. If you’re looking for a high-end restaurant in the gift receiver’s region, consult the Zagat guide for the best rated restaurants. You can narrow your results by price, cuisine, neighborhood, decor, and service. Once you’ve chosen your restaurant, simply call the host to arrange a gift certificate that includes a personalized wine selection from their in-house sommelier.
If you’re searching specifically for fine wines, look for popular varietals that are rated above 90 points (out of 100) by the following wine experts and resources: Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, and Wine Enthusiast. These wine experts know incredible wines as soon as they taste them; they’re well-respected around the world as the top wine authorities. Receiving a wine gift that’s loved by a wine expert is a guaranteed win for anyone.
Speaking of wine expert recommendations, here’s a very fast and fool-proof strategy. Select one of these 100-point rated wines by Robert Parker and you’ll be gifting only the best of the best. You simply can’t go wrong with a selection from that list!
Make sure you understand the reasoning behind your boss’ gift. Did he just close a deal? Is he thanking a colleague for their hard work on a project? Whatever it may be, make sure the gift delivery service or restaurant offers personalized gift messaging with every order. In your gift message, make sure you clearly reference your boss’ reasoning.
This is the final and probably most important rule when ordering a last minute gift. When budgeting for a gift that needs to be sent immediately, it is almost always necessary to expect a slightly higher delivery price. Most gift delivery services have a variety of expedited delivery options -- usually next day or 2nd day -- at different price points. It's important to always choose the fastest available option when you're short on time and, if you're unsure, call the company to ask about any faster options. At PrimeWines, we have unbeatable delivery turnaround. We offer both same day and next day delivery options for gifts being sent anywhere in the USA and Canada.