Uncorked: Wine makes an excellent gift

Wine makes an excellent gift, especially if the person you're honoring is so delighted that he uncorks the bottle and lets you share.

What should you buy? Whatever he likes, of course, but do take heed of what some Chicago-area wine experts say are guaranteed best-sellers.

Don Sritong, corporate sommelier at Chicago's Just Grapes, was just one of many who said cabernet sauvignon always is popular around Father's Day.

"It's safe because they know their dad has had it and likes it," he said. "It's masculine ... big, bold and easy to identify by flavor and texture. Some of the most iconic and recognizable wines are cab-based. Brand recognition is the key here."

Charlene Pontrelli of WineStyles in Woodridge, Ill., agreed that cabs work. Still, she suggested other "bold" wines, like an Italian Barolo or a merlot if Dad is willing to try something different.

"Big reds are always big movers, especially California cabs and Bordeaux," reports Efrain Madrigal, wine director at Sam's Wines & Spirits. His F-Day pick: 2005 Chateau Lascombes from Margaux for $84.

"This is the type of wine that will clue you in about why there is so much hype around the 2005 Bordeaux. It's magic," he said.

Tracy Kellner of Provenance Food & Wine also pointed to big wines but hers are fortified, like Madeira and port. She recommends the Bual and Sercial Madeiras by the Rare Wine Co. and Burmester's 20-year tawny port.

Tom Trilla of The Wine Merchant in Crystal Lake, Ill., finds that an unusual sort of "name" wine is in demand for Father's Day.

"I tend to sell wines that mirror Dad's first name," he said. "Two wines in particular, Raymond Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley and Jim Jim Shiraz from McLaren Vale, South Australia, sell very well."

Another route to consider is buying a wine made by or named for some sports big-shot.

"Greg Norman has a limited release gift set that has a bottle of cab-merlot and golf accessories," reported Emmett Malloy III of Sav-Way Fine Wine & Spirits. He also suggested a wine series featuring such Blackhawks ice hockey legends as Bobby Hull and Tony Esposito. There's even an Ernie Banks 512 Chardonnay (the 512 references his home runs) named for the Chicago Cubs star. Last Father's Day, there was great interest in former Bears Coach Mike Ditka's wines, he said.

Golf is clearly a big wine theme. Denise Cody of Chicago's WineStyles Belmont sells a line of PGA (Professional Golfers' Association of America) themed wines called PGA Tour. She likes to put the bottles in gift baskets with pewter bottle stoppers shaped like golf balls. Pontrelli sells a miniature stylized golf club that doubles as a dramatic wine bottle holder. What's it called? A "Wine Club," of course.