Wine tastes can be so personal, and as such, wine lovers might have gained an unfair reputation as difficult to buy for. But don’t despair. We’ve pulled together a gift guide to help you find something fitting for the wine lover in your life this Christmas.
We’ve considered interests of all levels in order to gather this selection – from limited wine releases fit for opening on the big day to gadgets and glassware suited to those with a new-found passion for the drink, looking to expand their vinous horizons. The gift ideas listed below are stylish, practical and made with the oenologically inclined in mind.
Please note, all items in this wine gift guide include prices and stockists for those based in the UK – but should hopefully provide inspiration for wine lovers around the world this Christmas.
For more gift ideas for the drink lover in your life, see the full Club Oenologique Christmas gift guide.
Top Christmas gifts for the wine lover in your life
Bordeaux Advent Calendar by Jane Anson, 67 Pall Mall
Pull back the door on the Bordeaux region with this gorgeous way to discover wine: in luxury advent calendar form. Wine-themed members’ club 67 Pall Mall is selling a trio of vinous countdowns to Christmas. Behind each numbered window you’ll find a 75ml miniature bottle of red, white or still wine selected by an expert – with this particular version curated by leading Bordeaux wine critic Jane Anson.
£550, 67pallmall.com
‘Pinot’ print, Louise Sheeran
If you consider yourself a bit of a barfly, artist Louise Sheeran’s style might look awfully familiar to you. The France-based illustrator has collaborated with her fair share of London wine bars and brands after making her name on the walls of Terroirs. While plenty of her vinous-themed designs will suit the homes of wine lovers, it’s her Pinot print we’re most taken with – and it comes at a reduced rate when paired with Chardonnay.
45 euros (with 5 euro supplement for UK orders), www.coq-a-lane.co
Coravin Pivot
Unlike the more expensive needle-through-cork contraptions from wine preservation masters Coravin, The Pivot uses the same argon gas preserving method on bottles that have already been opened, offering up to four weeks of additional shelf life – which might be especially handy for any special Christmas wines that (by some miracle) don’t get finished.
£129.99, www.coravin.co.uk
Panama notebook, Smythson
Juggling pen, paper and wine glass can be a clumsy-looking act. But for those wine lovers who love to scribble down tasting notes, it’ll be hard not to look graceful when armed with a gilt-edged pocket notebook from Smythson of Bond Street. Its handcrafted cross-grain leather cover is durable and its lined pages are featherweight. Plus, it also comes in this appropriately named shade of ‘Champagne beige’.
£20, Smythson.com
Riedel Decanter Cabernet
Shopping for somebody who has a new passion for wine? Make sure they’re fully armed with the essentials. The Cabernet decanter from respected wine glass company Riedel is an ideal starting point – an affordable and versatile all-rounder suitable for young and old wines.
£45, www.riedel.com
Port. Club by Churchill’s
On Christmas day, all roads inevitably lead to port. But why let the fun stop there? With its quarterly deliveries, Churchill’s Port Club is determined to make sure that the fortified wine is for life, not just for Christmas. Each delivery offers three bottles of the estate’s own blends – buy as a one-time gift or sign up for a year-round subscription direct from the Douro producer.
£70 per delivery of three bottles every three months, www.port.club
Pavel Red Marble Wine Cooler, Soho Home
Rosso Levanto marble from Turkey cuts a striking figure for this piece from the very smart Soho Home range – which features favoured interior items from Soho House venues around the world. You can also add coasters cut from the same stone to your Christmas wish list, if you’re aiming for all-out ‘tablescape’ goals in 2023.
£110, Sohohome.com
Christmas wine pairing case, Trivet
While there might be some selfish motives behind giving this gift to your Christmas host, it’s sure to go down a storm with anyone who knows their wine. Michelin-Starred London restaurant Trivet has curated a case of six surprising selections to perfectly suit key moments of a typical Christmas celebration: we’re talking a 2019 Spatburgunder to pair with the roast bird and a Turkish red rested in French oak barrels to drink alongside game. All selected by Michelin’s Sommelier of the Year Isa Bal.
£360, Trivetrestaurant.co.uk
On Champagne: A Tapestry of Tales to Celebrate the Greatest Sparkling Wine of All
Plenty of exciting new wine books this Christmas, but this anthology could be the most festive. Academie du Vin Library has gathered a collection of stories on the subject of Champagne, fit for any fizz fan your might be shopping for. They can leaf through musings on the sparkling subject from the likes of Evelyn Waugh alongside articles written by some of the most respected Champagne writers in the world.
£30, Academieduvinlibrary.com
Wines of Spain and Portugal puzzle, Puzzle Cru
No more puzzling over what to get the wine lover in your life. They’ll be entertained over the Christmas period and might even pick up some expertise along the way with this 1,000-piece jigsaw that maps out the wine regions of the Iberian Peninsula, from the imagination of Master of Wine Rebecca Gibb.
£17.99, Gingerfox.co.uk
Banks Brothers Chardonnay No. 3
When it comes to stocking fillers, bottles take up far too much space. Luckily, the standard of wine in a can is on the up – witnessed in the range from acclaimed York restaurateurs and brothers James and Tommy Banks. They’ve sourced from small South African producers as with this Chardonnay from Newton Johnson, whose toasty notes are still singing despite time in the tin.
From £21 for three, www.banksbrothers.co.uk
Cheese Canteen, Provisions
Of course, not all wine lovers are cheese lovers, but hopefully the correlation is strong enough for us to suggest a monthly subscription to one whole kilo of cheese. North London wine and cheese importer Provisions is delivering the goods with a service that sends out boxes filled with five farmhouse offerings – available as a one-off purchase all the way up to a monthly year-round doorstep blessing.
From £32 for one month, www.provisionslondon.co.uk
Mulled Wine, Shop Cuvée
Mulled wine has a bad reputation and for very good reason. More often than not, you’ll be served a stewed house red absolutely clanging with cloves. But London’s Shop Cuvée has breathed new life into the traditional Christmas tipple thanks to a Rioja and Sicilian white blend at the base and a slow infusion process to incorporate those spices. Just gently warm up and enjoy.
£16.99, www.shopcuvee.com
Club Oenologique magazine
Might we suggest a subscription to our flagship quarterly print publication? Each issue covers the very best in fine wine and spirits, food and travel, which includes plenty of insights into world-class regions, collectable bottlings and winemaking personalities. Pick up a single copy for a glossy stocking filler – Issue 12 just hit the shelves and takes a deep dive into Chardonnay – or gift them a subscription that includes all four issues of the magazine throughout the year and at a preferential rate.
From £14 for a single issue, click here.
