Sometimes a gift needs to make a statement.
A statement like: “Money is no object.”
Or: “I know this is ridiculously extravagant, my love, but you’re worth it.”
Or: “You can never spend too much on wine.”
6 Over the Top Gift Ideas for Those Who Care To Spend the Very Best
If any of the above sound like something you’d say, you may be interested in the following.
1. Classic Guitars from Replay Guitar Exchange
South Tampa’s Britton Plaza is mecca for guitarists from all over the Southeast U.S. and beyond, because it’s the home of Replay Guitar Exchange, a treasure trove of electric guitars in all price ranges. If you’re really looking to be a guitar hero this season, give the would-be Jimmy Page or Jimi Hendrix in your life one of the beauties pictured above (left to right): a 1966 Epiphone Sheraton in Cherry with a USA-made Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard; a Taylor PS14ce Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Lutz spruce top, Milagro Brazilian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck with satin finish, ebony fingerboard and binding, and abalone trim; or a 1966 Epiphone Sheraton Blonde, with a USA-made Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and Bigsby Bridge. Each guitar $14,999, replayguitar.com.
2. Barnstable Pool Table with Dining Top
Have you seen Charlize Theron playing pool in those Bud commercials? This would be the ideal gift for a classy shark like Charlize: a pool table that does double duty as an elegant formal dining table. Crafted from Douglas fir with a Silver Mist finish by Imperial Billiards, the 8-foot table features leather internal drop pockets, metal rail sites, K66 cushion rubber for true rebound, and 1-inch backed K pattern slate for true roll. The pedestal leg design with iron bar crossbeam provides stability, and the price includes a matching dining top for when Charlize is through potting the 8-ball and wants to throw a big dinner party. $4,839.99. Also available in 7-foot model for $4,619.99. elitehomegamerooms.com.
3. Carine Roitfeld Parfums
The former editor of Vogue Paris, Carine Roitfeld is the epitome of Parisian chic, and now she’s come up with the sexiest promotion for a line of perfumes — excuse me, parfums — since Charlize Theron purred Je t’Adore. (I know, Charlize again, but c’mon — she’s Charlize Theron!) One cool thing is that Roitfeld’s line of “7 Lovers” fragrances is genderless — mom, dad, mom’s lover, grandpa’s mistress — they could all wear ‘em! The seven scents do have a gender of sorts, though; they’re named after seven different men — “fictional paramours” of Roitfeld’s in seven different cities — so there’s lots of glimpses of couples rolling about in seductive black and white videos on the website, accompanied by musings reminiscent of those J. Peterman catalogue blurbs: “Your ardor outweighed my reason… I remember you slipping an osmanthus flower into the open front of my dress.” That would be Kar-Wai (Hong Kong), and he smells like “smoked Longjing tea, osmanthus, vetiver, bergamot, cardamom, turkish rose, jasmine, musks, saffiano.” You can get him by himself or buy all seven in a travel set: George (London), Sebastian (Buenos Aires), Vladimir (the other St. Petersburg) — oh, the places you’ll go! 7 Lovers 7 Cities Travel Set in a vegan leather pouch w. TSA compliant-sized bottles, 10 ml each, $275. Single bottle (90 ml), $285. Available on carineroitfeld.com and NET-A-PORTER.
4. Orlando Wine Festival Grand Cru Package for Two
The 2nd Orlando Wine Festival & Auction on March 13-14, 2020 benefits the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. So that means whoever makes a gift to some lucky couple of this deluxe package — accommodations at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando and access to all events, including private vintner dinners with celebrity chefs and wineries — is also helping at-risk children in Central Florida. Last year’s inaugural event raised $900,000 for the foundation, which gives funds to non-profit organizations offering youth-based programs in areas of education, health & wellness, homelessness and the arts. Grand Cru Package for Two, $9,250; Premier Cru Package, $6,500; Reserve Package, $2,500. wineauctionorlando.com.
5. The Ultimate Vineration Gift Package
Readers of dRTB already know about Vineration, the subscription-based wine club that gives oenophiles an edge in finding wines that would otherwise be unavailable to Florida consumers. Founded by Brian Seel (a professional sommelier and the son of Pinellas County Commissioner Karen Seel),Vineration is a kind of wine matchmaker — scouting, vetting and creating an opportunity for Floridians to learn about wines from California, Oregon and Washington boutique wineries they might never have discovered. With this package, you can give a six-month club membership PLUS a weeklong stay at the Seels’ home in Healdsburg, in the heart of Sonoma wine country. The house was not damaged by the recent wildfires, but here’s something to remember; Sonoma needs wine tourism more than ever, and this package deal offers a chance to help and have a wonderful wine country vacation. $3,500 (subject to seasonal rates and availability). Standalone gift memberships are also available in 1-, 3- and 6-month durations. vineration.com.
6. Coravin Model Eleven Wine Preservation System
What, you’re still pulling out your wine corks with a Rabbit? That’s so last-century! The Coravin Model Eleven not only enables you to pour without removing the cork. meaning you can keep your wine fresh if you don’t finish the bottle (I mean, that could happen), it’s also the first Bluetooth-connected and fully automatic wine preservation system. It also connects to the Coravin Moments App, which is kind of a cool app that pairs wines with movies and music. For instance, the wine/movie pairing for the end of Daylight Savings Time? Altagracia Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2015, and Back to the Future (the date set in the DeLorean, doncha know.) $649.95, coravin.com.