If US President Thomas Jefferson, who was an avowed epicurean of wines, had known that his 787 Chateau Lafitte would be the most expensive wine ever sold just because the bottle had his initials on it, he probably would have put his image on its leather wine carrier, if there was any.

You have to marvel at how an individual can purchase a single bottle of wine for $156,000 (and that was in 1985!) when it is way beyond the epicurean tastes of Thomas Jefferson, if he was alive today. Then again, avid wine collectors take bacchanalian pleasures differently from simple wine drinkers – the rarer the bottle of wine, the more desirable it becomes, and hence, the more need to display rather than drink. Besides, that undrinkable 1787 Lafitte is vinegar by now, not even fit for cooking gourmet food for your fancy poodle.

But some people never can let a good thing left alone. The authenticity of the Thomas Jefferson 1787 Lafitte is questioned in a new book “The Billionaire’s Vinegar” by debuting author Benjamin Wallace. It is said that he traveled the world to interview the many participants in the alleged hoax, which will prove beyond embarrassing for many people. The hundreds of thousands of dollars is a drop in the sea for billionaires but the knowledge of being taken for a fool’s ride is a punch to the solar plexus.

You have to read the book to decide if the Thomas Jefferson bottle is really a hoax. Just be sure to read it with a clear (read: alcohol- free) mind especially as the vintages mentioned in the book can make you reach out for the Shiraz in the cellar.

Thus, when giving gifts of wine to friends and family, you should opt for reliable vintages. These might not be as expensive or as illustrious as the undrinkable Thomas Jefferson bottle or the dearly expensive 1945 Mouton but you will be rewarded with a warm smile, maybe even a big hug. Perhaps a Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz will do the trick.

Whatever you decide on as a gift, always be sure that you hand it over in a good package. A leather wine carrier or a Japanese furoshiki are best; throw that brown paper bag away! A good wine deserves a good carrier, both in terms of bottle and palate.