A Holiday Gift Guide for Wine Lovers
Buying a gift for the wine lover on your list may seem difficult, or even intimidating, especially if you don’t drink wine yourself, or know what they prefer. Should you even attempt to select a bottle they might like? This list offers some thoughtful ideas that are friendly for any budget, and are a sure way to impress your wine loving loved one, complete with a list of pro tips on the do’s and don’ts of wine centered gift giving.
Riedel Veloce
For wine professionals, or even avid tasters, the quality of a glass is essential! A proper glass will lift the experience of the wine by showcasing the important aspects of aromas, flavours, and structure to provide optimum tasting conditions. Beyond that, a well-designed glass will allow any wine lover a more enjoyable wine moment by adding a sense of elegance, comfort, and chicness when used.
The Veloce line offers fine, light crystal glass that is machine blown using the world’s most sophisticated glass blowing machines to create the finest glasses that bring elegance along with functionality. There are 9 varietal specific glasses (all dishwasher safe!) in the Veloce collection. They are Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Syrah, Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, Chardonnay, Champagne, and even a water glass!
These glasses are sure to be on any serious wine lover’s list. You just can’t go wrong gifting a Riedel Veloce glass, or better yet, a whole set!
Westcott Wine Club Membership
A wine club membership is a gift that gives long after Christmas! With Carolyn and Grant Westcott’s family values, business savviness, and determination, along with winemaker Casey Kulczyk’s dedication to crafting wines from some of the most elite sites in Niagara, Westcott produces a portfolio that represents some of Canada’s best. Their rapid road to success has paved a way of highly decorated wines, with a strong focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. No matter what wine comes in a shipment, you’re guaranteed to receive delicious, quality wine.
Westcott offers two wine club options. One is a bi-monthly wine club where two bottles are shipped to your door every two months, the other is a semi-annual with 6 bottles being shipped twice a year. The best part - these wines can be customized! Wine club members also receive great perks, like special access to exclusive small-lot member-only wines and library wines, 2 complimentary guided wine tastings, access to member exclusive wine events, and 15% off all wine purchased. You can’t beat this wine club, and you can’t beat their wine!
Wines for the Cellar
It can be intimidating buying wine for the wine lover on your list, but it doesn’t have to be. Wine is always a welcomed gift with a little guidance. From Cali Cab connoisseurs to local lovers, I have some recos for you, and my latest can always be found on my Instagram page. And while it doesn’t have to be my own, it’s a great idea to accompany a bottle with a review and aging time from an expert.
Unless your wine loving friend or family member has specific taste, I recommend a set of three different, age worthy wines. A sparkling, a white, and a red. Here are a four worthy of a wine experts cellar that show excellent quality per price. Click on the pics below for full reviews.
Walk Around Tasting
With wine events back in full swing, a walk-around tasting makes the perfect gift for a day/night out of entertainment. It’s the most ideal way to develop your palate by tasting and exploring lots of wine at one time. A social experience to learn and taste…what more could a wine lover ask for?
There are plenty of tastings happening for all budgets, so keep an eye out on your Eventbrite app for tickets on a walk around tasting happening close to you!
Pro Tips
Don’t buy fancy bottle opening gizmos. Most wine lovers just prefer a simple waiter’s corkscrew or an ah-so for aged bottles. Either of these would make a thoughtful gift. While the new mechanized openers seem simple and granted can be ergonomically friendly, they simply don’t last as long and are more susceptible to break.
Do invest in experiences. Wine clubs, events, tutored tastings, etc. These are gifts the wine lover in your life may be less likely to purchase themselves, and would make for a memorable gift.
Don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path to pick out an actual bottle of wine. Some store staff may opt to direct you to the most popular wine selection, which may not always be the best or most interesting. Look for something stylistically different, ie. a unique wine region, or grape.
Do support local. There are plenty of wine experts offering professional experiences, and there are a plethora of amazing local wineries and wines to experience!