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The Ultimate in Regifting

Posted on | December 29, 2009 | Written by Jackie Corso | 1 Comment

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Regifting. The first time I confronted the concept was many years ago before it even had a name.  A long-lost cousin showed up on Christmas Eve and my mom asked, “Don’t you have a gift for Anna?”  “Uh, no,” I said, “I haven’t seen her in ten years and didn’t even know she was coming!”   However, Mom had a plan.  “Follow me,” she said and went up to her closet to pull out a scarf still snug in its box.

“Here, wrap this and give it to Anna,” she said.  My eyes were wide with horror. I couldn’t believe she was even suggesting such a thing.  Realizing protest was futile, being a dutiful daughter, and knowing that no one could come into the house and not have a present under the tree, I wrapped the box in fresh Christmas paper, put a card on it, and snuck it under the tree with no one being the wiser.   Anna loved the gift, and all was well for one more holiday at home. Regifting has since been christened with a name, and the practice seems to have actually developed some modicum of respect.

This past weekend I was faced with the problem anew.  Friends I didn’t know would be in town called to have lunch.  It being Christmas, I knew I couldn’t show up without a gift for all three of them. Not having any time to shop for that perfect gift—I am of the mindset that a gift must be well thought out and personal—I had to think fast.  I then realized I had sent two cases of wine to my dad from Italian Wine Merchants and I decided to cull from that stock.   For Phil, the cook and carnivore and a purist at heart, I chose the Massolino Barolo 2004, a perfect wine for his next roasted fillet with shallots and red wine reduction.  For Christy, who always wants to try something she hasn’t had before, I chose something new: Primofiore 2005, a wine from the Master of the Veneto, Giuseppe Quintarelli.  Primofiore means “first press,” which seems very appropriate for the New Year, and these grapes complete their ripening during a storage time in wooden boxes.  Even in winter, Christy loves to grill outdoors and this is the ideal wine.  And for Pat, the white wine drinker in the group, I plucked the 2007 Bruna Pigato Le Russeghine out of my dad’s cases.  Refreshing and clean, lemony, peachy, with great minerality, it will be a delight with all of her seafood favorites.

Having chosen my gifts, all I needed now were fabulous and chic wine bags.  I found them at my favorite papier; these were constructed from layered newsprint, food sections actually, covered with a top layer of clear vellum, all sewn together and topped with a great rope handle. Great wine wrapped in a little gold tissue, and tucked into the amazing wine bags—everyone thought I had spent much time and effort in finding the perfect gift.  I even suggested that the wine bags would work to hold flowers and (very) tall bread sticks.  As for Dad, I haven’t told him about my foraging through his wine for my re-gifting—I will just send him even more replacements.

Although this recent regifting was highly successful, my best episode of re-gifting came ten years ago when I was faced with giving a milestone birthday gift for my dear cousin Mike, a wine collector himself and one of those men who is impossible to buy for. I took to looking for a gift until I spied one sitting in my apartment in my own little wine collection.  My eyes landed on a bottle of 1961 Chateau Haut Brion Grand Cru, a gift given to me a few years previously from a very good friend.   I admit I had second thoughts about giving this bottle away, but as we all know, giving and sharing comes back to us in spades, and wine especially is for sharing.  I wrapped the bottle and presented it to Mike.  When he unwrapped the bottle, his face shone with a priceless look. Remembering, I still feel so much pleasure to have been able to give him such a glorious (re)gift.   This year is another milestone for Mike—and I am hoping he will finally open that bottle (and invite me to the party).

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Comments

One Response to “The Ultimate in Regifting”

  1. Frank Sansotta
    December 30th, 2009 @ 10:00 am

    Wine is always a wonderful gift – I love recieving and giving it. It’s great to recieve wine and share it with the friends or family who gave it to you. I hope your friend shares the ’61 !

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