all about Wine

Article Navigation

Click Here for more articles

Gift of the month clubs: The lazy man's guide to gift giving

by: Allen Shaw

If you are like me and are a very lousy shopper and always end up getting everyone the wrong gift at Christmas time, think about a Gift-of-the-Month Club. G.O.M Clubs have all the things the lazy gift giver requires: Ease of purchase, no shopping at the dreaded mall and an almost guaranteed positive response accompanied by a monthly "At-A-Boy" from the recipient. And there are plenty of clubs to choose from for everyone on your gift-giving list.

First, you have to know your giftee. For instance, my dad is an avid coffee drinker. For him a coffee of the month club would be perfect�and there are plenty of choices. At www.coffeecoffee.com there are 12 different coffee clubs. You can choose anything from flavored coffees to dark roasts to a monthly sampler. Prices range from $60 to $100.

However, coffee clubs aren't the only types of gift of the month clubs. You can get Fruit-of-the-Month clubs for the vegetarian in your life. Flower-of-the-Month clubs are popular with husbands and boyfriends who are constantly screwing up. Sign up your significant other for any of the many Flower-of-the-Month clubs and you have a ready set apology landing at her doorstep every 30 days.

There are a number of other clubs for everyone in your life: Gag-of-the-Month clubs for the prankster in your life; Wine-of-the-Month clubs for the wannabe wine connoisseur; Beer-of-the-Month clubs for the sports fan; Chocolate-of-the-Month clubs for the addicted; Pizza-of-the-Month clubs for the teen or college student; and Cigar-of-the-Month clubs for Granddad.

But how do you decide the best club? The Internet is always a good place to start your research. Go to any search engine and type in Gift of the Month clubs. You will find nearly 1,000 sites trying to sell you everything from DVDs to practical jokes�all shipped monthly to the recipient of your choice.

However, you need to read the payment and delivery plans carefully. Many DVD and CD plans require that you put in a lot of work, sending back a card every month telling them if you want their monthly selection. If you forget, you are stuck with whatever they send. But worse than that, the recipient of your "gift" is stuck with the bill. Is that really a gift?

About the author:
You may use this article on your site as long as the 2 URL's are hyperlinked.

Allen Shaw is a successful author who provides information on gift of the month clubs and wine clubs.

Circulated by Article Emporium

Read Articles:

How to Store Wine

Guide To Buying Wine Glasses

One Chef, or a Bevy of Chefs?

Culinary Traditions Of France

How Wine is Made

Cantonese Regional Cuisine

The Art Of Coffee Roasting

Merlot: A Quick Guide

HOW TO LAY DINNERWARE

Kitchen Pantry - A Cook's Secret Weapon

Coffee: Is It Getting Too Complicated?

8 Important Facts About the Mediterranean Diet

What puts the sparkle in sparkling wine?

Experience The Joy Of Eating At A Restaurant

Satisfy Your Wine Desires - Join a Wine Club

Tools For Your Gourmet Kitchen

A guide to gourmet coffee

THREE RULES FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT DINNER WINE

How to Begin Wine Collecting

Are you in search of the best sourced help pert...

Raise A Glass To The Best Wine Of The Month Gifts!

History of the Coffee and Espresso machines

Gift of the month clubs: The lazy man's guide t...

Italian Cuisine: In The Heart Of Tuscany

Regional Cuisine � New England Clam Chowder

Champagne Wine

American Fast Food Restaurants

What Should You Serve If Some Of Your Dinner Pa...

What wine really is (just in case you thought y...

Is Acai the world's most powerful superfood?

Foods To Avoid That Cause Bad Breath

More Article Pages 1 - 2

Choosing Wine on a First Date
by: Neil Best

First dates are nerve wracking enough without having to worry about what wine to choose to impress your new friend!

One of the great things about wine on a date is that one bottle is a defined amount, normally about five glasses. If shared equally it is unlikely that you will fall off your chair drunk after half a bottle of wine!

However, there are some other social sins that can be committed whilst choosing wine on a date.

Getting Started

First, you need to decide whether you want white, red, ros� or sparkling wine. This is perhaps the most important decision. As a general rule, red wine is more of an acquired taste and it can be harder to select a good red. Therefore, when you do not know your companion's tastes it may be wise to steer clear of the red wine section.

Sparkling wine can make you appear a little pretentious or if you go for a cheaper version, a tightwad; so this is usually best avoided. If you are not sure whether your companion likes wine at all, ros� wine is often a safe option as it often lacks the sharpness that people commonly dislike in wines.

How Much to Spend?

Remember more money doesn't always mean more quality. If you are very new to wine, go for a house white. A house white is unlikely to be extremely imaginative or unusual, but is almost always perfectly drinkable. For this reason it is a safe, middle of the road option.

If you want to impress, look for something other than the house white. Keep away from extremes until you know your companion a little better, so don't go for bone dry whites. Instead, opt for a fruity dry wine that appeals to those who like both dry and medium whites.

Whilst neutral wines may seem like a bit of a cop-out, bear in mind that you simply want a drinkable wine that does not offend.

If you are really not sure what to choose, why not offer your companion a choice of glasses as an aperitif while you have a beer or spirit. This way you can judge your companion's taste. Even if they select a spirit, you can still get a measure of whether they prefer sweet or dry wines.

Of course, you could always give your companion the choice�

This Static Spot is open for sponsor

This Static Spot is open for sponsor