Holiday Shopping in Montclair: 10 Great Gift Ideas From Amanti Vino

Amanti Vino in Montclair is more than just a wine store. The shop at 30 Church Street caters to wine lovers, no doubt, with some 900 handpicked labels.

But Amanti Vino is also well-stocked with 200 craft beers, top-shelf liquors, and a wide assortment of cocktail fixings. So you can truly find something for all the “grown-ups” on your Christmas list here.

Proprietor Sharon Sevrens recently walked Montclair Patch around the store pointing out her Top 10 gift ideas.

1. The can't-miss wine gift of the season is the Coravin, Sevrens shared. The gadget, which just came on the market, is already revolutionizing wine drinking. The system lets you pour a glass of wine without pulling the cork. The remaining wine is preserved with a spray of argon gas. At $300, it’s sure to impress the boss, the in-laws you are meeting for the first time, and the serious wine collector in your life. Amanti Vino is an exclusive North Jersey retailer.

2. Want to give a gift that keeps on giving? Purchase a wine club membership for a family member or close friend. Memberships are available at $40 (Club Goda) and $90 (Club Collettore) monthly levels, which includes two hand-selected bottles of wine. Or give a Club Birra membership, a selection of craft brews for $20/month, or a Club Liquore membership, one small batch producer of spirits a month, for between $40 and $60 a month.

3. Many people come in the shop saying the want to spend $100. So Sevrens created The “Hundred Thanks” Gift, a perfect way to say thank you without breaking the budget: The gift wrapped bottle of 2009 Pierson Meyer Cabernet Sauvignon costs $104.99.

4. Need a gift and need it fast? Pick up pre-packaged and ready-to-go Holiday Survival Kit, six bottles for $184.99 (a $205 value). Or choose the Holiday Survival “Lite” Kit two bottles for $89 ($99 value).

5. For that friend who likes to play bartender, customize a basket of fine cocktail fixings, from olives to bitters to tasty sodas. Items range from $6.99 to $30.

6. Bringing wine to a restaurant or party does not need to be a brown bag affair. Built makes a fashion statement with its Origami Wine Bottle Carrier that collapses to fit in a pocketbook. At $25, it’s perfect for your stylish friend or sister.

7. Does the person on your list love wine as much as tee time? A golf bag bottle carrier makes a fun novelty gift at $30.

8. Food gifts are a no-fail way to thank your host or hostess. Sevrens says domestic and imported Artisanal cheeses are delivered to the store weekly and are the “best quality.”

9. Decanters are a gorgeous gift for that person on your list who just moved into a new home. They range in price from about $60 to $82.50.

10. For the budding oenophile on your list, Amanti Vino is the only approved provider of Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Classes in the state. Students will dive into the world of wine, learning about winemaking, classic growing regions, varietals, the business/marketing aspects and numerous cultures from around the world. Classes begin at $348 and take place in the Amanti Vino Classroom.

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