Years ago before I really knew much about this hobby, the in laws gave me a bottle of 2005 Kapcsandy State Lane Vineyard. They knew I wanted to try Opus One and apparently got a recommendation from a local wine store they went shopping for my gift. Of course at the time, I had no idea what I just received and drank nothing but OR pinots. Few years later, I finally pulled the cork with the wife and thought, this is pretty good…
Nolan E wrote:
Not sure I’ve seen a wine opener with a cord…
“Cordless” is part of the product description on the outside of the box. I am not clever enough to think of that myself. 
Thanks,
Ed
My wife actually “gathers” everyone’s contributions in the family that wants to buy me gifts and gets me stuff that she knows I like (like a case of 2010 Cantemerle last year). This year, she got me four Riedel Sommelier glasses and a Coravin.
My fiance got me a nice '13 Williams Selyem Block 10 Mass Selection Pinot this year, she went to pick up some wine we ordered and stayed for a tasting came home with this as a gift (it’s now only available for purchase at the winery allegedly). She had to hide it for a few months because she knew there would be know where to hid it in either our actual wine fridge or racks without me noticing it…says a little something about our organization haha.
She’s learned my tastes and interests in the 2 years we’ve been together so it wasn’t a huge surprise but a nice one at that!
Received a bottle of Barefoot Moscato in a nice wooden wine box with glass see-through window…
But it was a joke to see my reaction. Then I opened the ‘real’ present - Chappellet.
‘A’ for effort and creativity!
My wife and I are so deep into this she usually gets me something spot on, this year it was 2 750s and a mag of 2011 Foillard Cote du Py and a 750 of the 2010 3.14. For my birthday it was half a case of Westerhold Syrah of various vintages.
Most surprising is a friend who usually plays it cool actually gives me quite considerate wine gifts, totally nailing my taste without any prompting, I think he’s just a good listener and keeps good mental notes of what I’m into. Last year he gave me a CdP and this year he gave me a '14 Foillard Cote du Py.
A friend who doesn’t really care about wine gets DeLille stuff for free all the time and he usually regifts it to us around the holidays.
Lauren’s parents usually give us a couple bottles of PepperBridge Cab or Merlot on holidays, and my folks give us Gift Cards to Total.
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a misguided wine gift come to think of it. I think people that know what they’re doing give wine and those that don’t know I have lots of other way easier to buy for interests and go that direction.
A sister & BIL are ITB so they always gift well!
I am going to whisper…two friends both bought Wolf Blass Yellow Label Shiraz.
I’ve been giving our neighbors young children toys for Christmas and birthdays the past several years. A year ago they gave me a bottle of $15 Napa cab as a gift. Ok. That’s nice. It’s the thought that counts.
Moments ago, I brought a small box of toys over for the children. The mid 30 something mommy knows I like wine, and she hands me a bottle from a small local shop. I couldn’t help myself, so I took the bottle out of the bag and looked at the wine. It was a '12 Freemark Abbey Napa Cab. I responded with a that’s a nice bottle. I was surprised in a good way.
Got a couple of freebie bottles from reps: 2009 Terredora Taurasi, something already on the list, but I’m looking forward to enjoying it with some short ribs, and the other was a Peachy Canyon Malbec which I popped open for the staff.
Not wine, but bourbon from the in-laws this year - a fifth of Elmer T Lee and a fifth of Widow Jane 10 yr