How do I decline homemade wine without offending my boss? Need answer asap!?

A while back my boss mentioned that he made wine. I mentioned that I like Riesling. A few months later, he gave me a bottle of homemade Riesling that he made. Normally I would be happy to try it, but my boss is kind of a gross person. I don't mean to be rude, because he's a nice person, its just that his office is always filthy, he has used tissues all over the place, crumbs, left over food, wears strange clothes, he is always coughing and breathing heavily, constantly sounds congested... he's just the kind of person that you don't want to share a cup with. Anyway he just asked me (via IM) how I enjoyed the wine, and said that he was making more and would be happy to set some aside for me. How do I decline the gift without hurting his feelings? Shoud I lie and say I loved it? I haven't even tried it. I should mention that the wine looks all murky and cloudy... I'm scared.

A difficult question. Proceed very carefully.

First, although your boss has some generally "untidy" habits, making homemade wine can be quite a chore--I've done it. With that in mind, perhaps he does it with much more cleanliness and care than he uses to dispose of his tissues.

You say his office is filthy--does that mean he literally has garbage and dirt laying around? Is there black mold growing up the walls, or have you seen cockroaches in his office? If so, I can't imagine that he's still in business, or that his bosses have not done something about it. If you mean he has books and papers everywhere, many people are like that. It's messy, but it is not filthy. And is certainly not dangerous. As for his being congested, that could be simple allergies. If he was contagious, you would probably know it by now. Crumbs are just a bit messy--not dangerous, and his clothes have nothing to do with the subject at all.

Also, in my experience, homemade wine has quite a potent alcohol level. I would think that few germs would survive in that environment, although of course, I can't be sure.

So, assuming that your boss is a nice person, and really not a health hazard, but is just untidy and unique in his approach to style and organization--if it were me--I would graciously accept his gift, and I would drink some of it. (Remember, you can be sure that he's been drinking it himself, as have his friends and family, and they're all ok, right?) And then find a way to compliment him on it. You might love the flavor, and if so, it will be easy. Even if you don't like it, you'll find a way. What if someone gave you a pie that tasted terrible--you wouldn't say that, would you? You'd find a way to compliment it because you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

Homemade wine can be more murky and cloudy by nature. Not a big deal unless you see bugs floating in it or something.

Offending your boss could have permanent consequences, even if he is very nice, that sort of thing is difficult to forget. He is obviously very proud of his wine and wants to share it with you. Just be gracious about it.

ah... hard one.... just thank him. you have to be careful with telling him you loved it because he might give you more... try a little of it. it might actually be good.

Just say you had a great time and your friends loved it - and accept each and every bottle he gives you. And each time tell him it was great. Even make up some silly things you did when tipsy and giggle about it to him.

Dont you want a promotion?

What harm can it do to take it home and dump it out? So what? He's your boss. It's your job to humor him. :)

Well you can either play office politics and keep accepting the gift again and again, which doesn't put you in a position to actually drink the stuff. Then just tell him the next time that it's nice that he offers, but you only drink on occasion you are all stocked up.

Or you can easily deflect it by saying that it isn't ethical for you to accept gifts-and while it is very nice of him and you know that there is nothing reproachable in his offer, you'd rather just play it safe.

Either way, I wouldn't say you drank it-tell him you put it on the shelf for a special occasion. Good luck

you know, it doesn't hurt to lie. Just simply tell him it was great. he doesn't have to know the way you really feel. and if he asked you if you want another bottle, tell him you don't like to drink much because you get headaches. well, hope that works.

This is touchy but lieing about it would be worse.

Don't tell him you loved it.

Tell him you appreciated his giving you the wine but that when you tasted it, you really didn't care for it but never said anything because you didn't want to hurt his feeling and that you really did appreciate the gift. Then tell him that you have very fickle taste in wine and that you prefer him not waisting his wine on you because you do have such fickle taste.

Just chug it. May not be good but it still hits.

Tell him that as much as you appreciated the first bottle, you are not much of a drinker and you'll let him know if you need more. that way you don't have to even taste it and you don't feel obligated to him to accept another bottle.

Just accept the bottles of wine and then discard them when you get home. If he asks just tell him that you really enjoyed it or something along those lines.

Even if he is an unclean person his wine making would have to be correct in order for the wine to turn out correctly. And given the amount of alcohol it is sure to be sterile. The murkiness probably due to the fact it was from near the bottom of the barrel. He should have filtered it in some cheesecloth.

If you are uncomfortable drinking it straight then maybe you can use it in cooking. I think that is what I would do in your situation.

But if you don't want any more of it then say, yes you liked it but you don't drink often enough to need another bottle.

you could throw it out if you accept it or your could just decline and say that your not much of an alcohol drinker because it "gives you a headache" then he might stop offering it to u. hope i helped!

i think i would simply reply with something like, life has been busy at home recently, and while you are interested you havent had a chance to try the first one. i would definitely NOT talk to him about it at work. i would wait until he is not on im, but send a message short and sweet for him to read next time he is online. the only other thing that i might include would be something to the effect of when you get a chance to try the first one, you'll get back to him with your opinion of it, in order to limit him from offering another bottle.