If you’ve got wine lovers in your life, you’ve come to the right place. Usually, it’s easy to give a bottle of wine and call it a day which is perfectly fine! They’ll appreciate the bottle of wine because it gives them a chance to try something entirely new or if it’s something they’ve tried before, they can pair it with their favorite meal. If you want to give a bottle of wine, check out this guide; however, if you’re looking for different ideas on what to give this year, keep reading!
Wine Glasses
Every wine lover should have a set of glasses that serve a purpose. Some wine lovers prefer glasses that are functional and help them analyze wine a lot better. Some love aesthetically pleasing glasses whether they have fun patterns or the bowl of the glass is in an interesting shape. As a wine drinker, I have a bunch of glasses to choose from. My favorite glasses are my all-purpose Schott Zwiesel glasses. They’re so sleek and lightweight, which is perfect for tasting and sensory analysis. I also have a set of fun glasses with floral patterns for brunch parties or any other events that require cute glasses. I found some really cute ones on Amazon. This year I have my eye on a set of black glasses, which can be used for blind tastings. Imagine having a party where each guest brings their own bottle of wine and they’re poured into black glasses for everyone to try to guess what’s what. The Ravenscroft Double Blind glasses are so sleek and beautiful. LOVE.
Electric Wine Opener
I have no idea how I survived without an electric wine opener. Like yes, I did use a manual corkscrew, but after receiving my Oster Electric Wine Opener for Christmas in 2019, I literally never went back to opening wine manually. There are a ton of brands to choose from, but Oster is an affordable option and it comes with a foil cutter which is a GODSEND. The wine snobs might think this tool is lazy and unprofessional, but in my house, time is money and this thing has saved so much time. I honestly think all wineries should have this handy tool because I’ve seen some tasting room associates struggle with a corkscrew when they’re in a rush.
Wine Luggage
Another gift I received for Christmas and absolutely love is my VinGardeValise Wine Luggage. I used it in Napa when I went even though I live an hour away, but it kept all of my wine safe in my trunk. These are a bit pricey, so you might want to find people to split the cost with or find an alternative to the wine luggage. I wish I had this suitcase when I was abroad in 2018 because I could’ve brought home so many more bottles of wine. The two bottles of wine I did manage to bring home were stuffed in slipper socks, wrapped in a bunch of dark colored clothes, and then I zipped it in a giant parka I bought for my friend at the flea market. In my defense, it was hard to find bubble wrap anywhere. Anyway, I highly recommend the wine luggage because it’s such a practical gift.
Wine Sleeves
Speaking of wine luggage alternatives, wine sleeves are a more affordable option for protecting wine while traveling. The Wine Angel Wine Sleeves are super easy to use. All you have to do is put a bottle in a sleeve, seal it up, and then pack it in your luggage. Even if the bottle broke, I think it’s sealed enough to drink the wine out of the bag. Not that anyone would, but you could…
Coravin
A Coravin is perfect for that wine lover you know who either lives alone or has a partner that doesn’t drink wine. What a Coravin does is help you drink wine without wasting it. It pierces a hole through the cork and then you press a trigger that pours the wine into your glass. Then it releases argon into the bottle to replace the wine and prevent the wine from oxidation. It’s great for those nights where you don’t want to open a bottle of wine, but you still want a glass. The Timeless Three Model is pretty affordable out of all the available options. There’s also a Coravin Pivot for $99 and if you want to get real fancy, the Model Eleven is on the Coravin website for $500.
Wine Games
I’ve played quite a few wine-related games and they are a lot of fun. One game that I like to play is called Viticulture. It’s a game where you plant vines, expand your winery, and make wines to win victory points. The player with the most victory points wins the game! There are some other fun games like Sommify, Wine Wars (another one of my favorites), The Wine Game, Read Between the Wines, and many more. Plus, this is like buying a gift for yourself since the wine lover in your life will probably want to play with you.
Wine Journal
It’s always a good idea to have a wine journal, but most wine lovers have a basic notebook that you can buy from the dollar section of Target. An official wine journal is a thoughtful gift and helps keep wine notes nice and neat. Sometimes reading tasting notes can be a nightmare, but a journal like Wine Folly’s journal has a layout that’s easy to follow and keeps notes organized. Moleskine also makes a beautiful wine journal as well. There are also cheaper options available as well!
Whatever you choose to get for the wine lover in your life, they’re going to love it. After all, the best gift is being able to share a good bottle of wine with great company.
