Your wine-loving friends can be tough to buy presents for. They have a lot of wine already-and particular tastes-and they don’t go for gewgaws. So what do you get them? We’ve rounded up some new items for enophiles, from handy storage tools to wine-centric board games.

This game brings Monopoly to the wine world. There are chips, funny money of various denominations. real-estate cards and bottle-shaped game pieces to move around the board. Luckily for people who prefer drinking ine to asset management. there are also trivia cards in two skill levels (although they’re not crucial for achieving victory). ThiS will appeal to a group that mixes enophiles and civilians.

I own this game. The nice publicist for Karafe sent me a free copy and I’ve yet to play it. My weekends have been filled and this game doesn’t appear to be quick. From glancing at it and reading the instructions, it seems like an adult version of Life, Monopoly, and Trivial Pursuit, all rolled into one.

Truthfully, I’m rather eager to play it, although slightly fearful that my wine knowledge is lacking. The object of the game is to make the most money through the process of producing and selling wine. Yep, in this game, you get to be a winemaker. It starts with acquiring cash, then land, then growing and harvesting, bottling, and finally selling the wine.

To move forward, you the dice. Each space has a monetary amount or instruction. You can acquire cash or buy more acres. Eventually, you can start bottling, harvesting, or selling per the instructions on the space. You must answer a question correctly before you can recieve the asset (acres, bottles, cash, etc).

There are two levels of questions: Sippers and Connoisseurs. Sippers have slightly easier questions. (This is helpful if you’re playing with a sommelier. They have less of an advantage this way.)

• Example Sippers question: When decanting a younger red wine, it is best to pour quickly in order to allow the wine to splash against the side of the glass. True or false? (True)
• Example Connoisseurs question: What is the term for the flaky deposit sometimes found in the older, bottle-aged wines, particularly port, which requires the wine to be decanted to remove it?
• A) beeswing B) dust C) fermentos D) foliage (A beeswing)

Occasionally, a player will receive a Wine Taste Test question. Ah yes, there is drinking in this game too. The player must turn their heads while someone else pours the wine. The drinker must then identify the wine. It’s recommended for everyone to taste each wine and make a note of them before the game begins. For more difficult tastings, you could have four similar wines; for easier tastings, you can use four starkly different wines.
When we do get around to playing this game, we’ll definitely let you know.

So there you go. Two completely different approaches to wine  games, but both educational and fun.

PERMALINK:
http://www.wine-girl.net/2008/08/game-on.html

“Many people who enjoy wine and are interested in learning more about it don’t know where to start,” said Jeff Cohen, creator and inventor of Karafe. “Karafe, the game, was designed to help novice wine consumers better understand and appreciate the wide variety of wines available in the comfort of their homes, among friends and family. The new Web site is an extension of the game and makes learning about wine, and sharing experiences, easy in a friendly online social community. I think everyone can toast to that,” said Cohen.

Karafe.com is more than a Web site, it’s an interactive experience that caters to anyone with a taste for wine – from beginners to connoisseurs. Among the many unique features of the site, plans in development include electronic wine cellars, wine message boards, peer and editorial wine reviews, local wine events searchable via zip codes and much more. Visitors can also purchase the board game for $45.99, and engage in audio as well as video instructions outlining each stage of the game, which makes enjoying Karafe as effortless as enjoying a glass of wine.

Karafe.com will consistently refresh its content to bring visitors the latest wine news and events in their area. Visitors are guaranteed to gain knowledge and confidence as they build and refine their wine IQ. For more information, visit www.karafe.com.

About Karafe

Karafe is a spirited board game about wine. Participants are able to put their palates to the test and learn the intricacies of wine in the comfort of their homes among friends and family. Created by Jeff Cohen, published author of numerous books about personal finance, Karafe was fueled by his passion for wine and is a true labor of love. Karafe is not just a game…it’s an event.

Contact: Natasha Nelson

NN Public Relations

949-548-2227

For answers to general questions: Karafe FAQ’s