It's that time of year again. Gifting-time! You need to get your act together before more snow appears. So what do you give to those who only look at the white section of a wine list?
Transport them to the Wairau Valley in the North of New Zealand. OK, it's not snowing there at the moment as it's summer, but the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2017's vibrant, citrussy aromas of lime leaf, lemon zest and nectarine, bring a distinctive wintery touch to the scene. Get them a magnum and you may even be luckily enough to try some.
Magnify his near irreproachable style with an Edwin Plain Slim Fit Double Cuff Shirt by Thomas Pink. He'll love the soft, silky fabric and lean cut. White is the safest option, but he'll look seriously dashing in pink or mauve too.
Bring them something exceptional. Perfection, perhaps, from Sauternes? This is how Robert Parker described Château d'Yquem 2011: “Gold in color, restrained but pure and noble, it offers an intense bouquet of honeysuckle, caramelized apricot and white peach with a subtle hint of toasty oak”. Well, it would be rude not to after that.
Send her on a journey to the elegant Arcachon Bay on the French Atlantic coast. This is perfumer Francis Kurkdjian's home town and where he took his inspiration for the Les Tamaris candle. With elegant notes of helichrysum – an everlasting, deeply scented flower- blended with the woody undertones of acacias trees, you can shut your eyes and almost feel the warm, summer breeze.
Let them soak in the sun and seashore vibes of California’s Carneros region, which are infused into Newton Vineyard's Unfiltered Chardonnay 2014. The wine's complex flavours and a rich texture arise from the way Newton Vineyard bottles the wine without filtration.
Let her have fun with a new white and gold watch. A connected one, of course. Marc Jacobs' Riley Hybrid smartwatch is a great compromise between looks and practicality. Activity training, sleep monitor, remote for music control... It’s all there. There's even a selfie remote too! A smartwatch to match her style.
Make it bright. Forget the traditional black bag or sequin clutch as cocktail attire; go for saffron yellow. The Mini-Vanity Perforated by Moynat bridges the gap between elegance and originality. It's pretty tiny (just 12x12x12cm) but it’s the perfect size for a phone, card and lipstick, if nothing else.
