How to wrap a wine bottle?

How you present a gift wine shapes the recipient's perception as much as the wine itself. Here are the methods, from simplest to most elaborate.

The gift bag is the quickest option. Choose natural kraft paper, linen, or jute over shiny plastic. Add crumpled tissue paper poking out the top and a satin or raffia ribbon. Cost: €2-5.

Tissue paper with ribbon gives a more polished look. Wrap the bottle in 2-3 sheets of tissue paper (white, gold, or burgundy), twist the ends, and tie a ribbon around the neck. Attach a small card with a food pairing suggestion for extra charm. Cost: €1-3.

Furoshiki (Japanese fabric wrapping) is showstopping. Place the bottle in the centre of a 70x70cm fabric square, fold the corners up, and knot at the neck. The bottle technique creates an elegant knot at the top. Bonus: the fabric itself becomes a reusable gift. Cost: €5-15 for nice fabric.

A wooden or rigid cardboard box is the premium presentation. Single-bottle wooden boxes with sliding lids cost €5-10 and add serious cachet. For 2-3 bottles, compartmented boxes both protect and impress.

Tips: never wrap wine in newspaper (ink transfer, smells). Avoid tying knots too tight around the neck — you'll dent the capsule. And if you're adding a corkscrew, go for a professional sommelier knife (Laguiole, Pulltap's) rather than a novelty gadget.