Which wine is good for a dinner party gift?

I want to take a bottle of wine for a dinner party gift. Which one is good? I am looking for something that's cheap and a reasonable quality. It's basically for a friend's dad. It's just a very informal party, a get-together rather.





Also when I present the bottle to the host, is it considered ok to give it with the paper wrap or it doesn't matter?|||A standard wine is California cabernet sauvignon. Pick up a bottle for ten to twenty dollars. A major brand that is acceptable is Robert Mondavi. Most liquor stores have little wine rating cards near the bottles. Just pick a highly rated cabernet that is in the ten to twenty dollar range.





Take the bottle out of the paper bag before you give it to the person.|||Any sparkling wine(champagne) will go well with the evening supper.But do not gift wrap it as it is for use shortly as also for the receiver to admire it for the sheer love of handling a bottle of wine.|||Go for something semi-dry or semy-sweet. Usually a reisling is an all-around favorite.





Go to a "Dollar Store". Most have cute bags that fit around the wine bottle perfectly.|||a good red wine, wolf blass is nice and not expensive.|||Believe it or not, it's actually a BAD idea to take a bottle of wine or a food as a gift.





Why?





Because your host\hostess already has their menu planned out and how many people will attend. When you present them with a bottle of wine or a food item, you make them feel obliged to use it. It may clash with their menu, or there may not be enough for all of the guests.





It is better to bring something the host\hostess can enjoy by themselves, but not permanently such as flowers, or a nice stationary package. Just enough to say thank you, but not so that they feel they have to hold onto the item.|||If it's cheap do NOT give it away as a gift to anybody you like. Take Bolla Amarone with you. It's not cheap and it's a great wine.|||Go with a Riesling. It's a good, sweet, generally well-liked white, but not so common as a Chardonnay as to be boring. The only time I wouldn't suggest it is if you know the dish being served will be salty (eg. an alfredo dish or something else with a lot of cheese in it) as the sweet wine will further bring out the salt in the dish.





Or, play the safe route and get a more common wine (Chardonnay for white, Pinot Noir or Merlot for Red) but from a different country or vineyard than you would normally try. My friends and I have had great success in restaurants trying wines by the glass by the name of the vineyard (the stranger the better!).





Either way, in my experience a gift bottle of wine is typically not used at the meal as the cook has already decided what to serve with his or her meal, though the last dinner I went to we brought a bottle of white and a bottle of red, but so had the hosts, so we drank their bottle of white and our bottle of red.|||If I were taking a bottle of wine, I'd pick something the host would like for later as you should not expect them to serve it at the party, they have their party planned including the drinks. Also "cheap" is bad. A wine bag or not wrapped at all would be okay. A simple comment like, "thought I'd bring you something for when you're relaxing" will let the host know you don't expect it to be opened for the get-together. P.S. you don't have to mention that it's cheap - the host will know.|||Choose a dessert wine. This way, the host/hostess can stick with their original plan for dinner drinks, and the dessert wine will simply compliment her dessert!|||if u know whats' for supper, u want red for meat and white for fish or chicken.


cedar creek is a fine new inexpensive wine. Put out a buck or 2 more and get a presentable wine sack.|||You didn't say if you were looking for a Red, Rose, or White.


I'll give you some less expensive/moderate $$ for each. When you present it, state that you brought it for them as a gift, and you don't necesarily mind if it's not used for supper, this way the host won't feel obligated if it doesn't fit the meal.


Reds


Alamos - Malbec


Banfi - Centine - Cab/Sang/Merlot blend


Gabbiano - Chianti


Gnarley Head - Old Vine Zinfandel


Mouton Cadet - Bordeaux


Toasted Head - Cabernet





Rose (I prefer dry rose, not "white zins"


Church Creek Rose


Francis Coppola - Sophia





Whites


Acacia - Chardonnay


Bandrock Station - Riesling


Chateau St. Jean - Chardonnay


Greg Norman - Chardonnay


Taz - Pinot Gris


Wente - Sauvignon Blanc





These are all good for me. I'm a dry wine person, so these reflect my palate.|||For birthdays, anniversarys, Christmas, etc, a $1-$2 wine bag is a nice touch...but for a dinner party where the wine is expected to be opened...tt doesn't matter whether the wine is wrapped, bagged or not. Though it is generally best when giving wine that the cork is still in the bottle.





I think a wine with a story makes the best gift for a dinner party or otherwise. Local wines or wines from a recent trip are always good. Wines that you've tasted and liked are a good story. Even, wines recommended by someone is a little bit of a story. "There was this guy on Yahoo and he recommend the "2002 Columbia Crest 2 Vines Merlot" as the best wine under $6 available anywhere today....better than Columbia Crest's $20 Merlot...there you go.|||If you do not know what the Host likes...Bring one that you do like, because there's a chance it will be opened on your behalf :)