As Italian wines increasingly get the respect they deserve from American consumers, many of you may be considering gifts of this delicious juice for holiday gifts.  But what to buy?  Italian wines are some of the most daunting to learn, at least in this writer's experience. 

Italian Wine Merchants (IWM) in New York suggests several gifts that certainly aren't cheap, but do sound appealing for consumers with the right budget.  Sergio Esposito heads IWM, and he is joined by celebrity chef Mario Batali and successful restaurateur and Italian wine expert Joe Bastianich.

If you or someone you know is just getting into Italian wine, then IWM's "Cellar Builder Kit" may be what you need.  It may not help you construct a physical cellar, but it will get your Italian wine collection started with a dozen bottles covering various regions and styles of Italian wine.  For $960, it also comes with a membership in the IWM's Online Wine Tracking program to help you manage your budding collection.

For those who do not consider money to be an object, the "Legendary Collector's Case" could be just the ticket.  Priced at a nice round $10,000 (don't you love how they don't even bother with pretense here by pricing it at $9,995 like many others might do?), these 12 bottles are sure to impress even the most discerning Italian wine collector.  It includes a number of personal favorites (though not necessarily the same vintages this writer has tasted) like Sassicaia and Gaja.  For those considering this purchase, the complete bottle list follows:

1. Quintarelli 1990 Alzero
2. Tua Rita 2000 Redigaffi
3. Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2001 Masseto
4. Tenuta San Guido 1990 Sassicaia
5. Tenuta San Guido 1985 Sassicaia
6. Biondi-Santi 1982 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
7. Case Basse di Soldera 1990 Brunello Riserva Intistieti
8. Gaja 1985 Barbaresco
9. Bruno Giacosa 2000 Barolo Falletto Riserva
10. Giacomo Conterno 2000 Barolo Monfortino Riserva
11. Aldo Conterno 1990 Barolo Riserva Granbussia
12. Romano Dal Forno 2000 Amarone

For more information on either of these items, visit www.italianwinemerchantstore.com.