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.
Top Christmas gifts for the wine lover in your life
‘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
Ruinart Blanc de Blancs x David Shrigley
‘The celebration will begin as soon as the bottle is opened’: that’s according to scribblings by artist David Shrigley, who’s collaborated on this limited-edition, tongue-in-cheek design of plastic-free ‘second skin’ packaging for the historic Champagne house. The only downside it that you might not want to pop that cork at all, in favour of keeping this as a permanent exhibit on your mantelpiece instead.
£76, www.clos19.com
Coravin Pivot
If you had a pound for every time you heard the word ‘pivot’ over the course of the last year-and-a-bit, you’d be rich. Luckily, you won’t have to be rolling in it in order to purchase this gadget from wine preservation masters Coravin. Unlike its more expensive needle-through-cork contraptions, 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.
£99, www.coravin.co.uk
Riedel Decanter Cabernet
Shopping for somebody who, in the middle of lockdown, when they couldn’t go elsewhere, went on a voyage of wine discovery? Make sure they’re now 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.
£40, 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 2022.
£110, Sohohome.com
2016 Own Selection Brunello di Montalcino gift box, Berry Bros & Rudd
Forget the glittery gift bag: London merchant Berry Bros & Rudd makes single-bottle gifting seem all the more thoughtful with luxurious wooden cases used for its own selection wines. They’re ideal for lying down something special. For example, this Brunello di Montalcino might be drinking well now, but BBR wine buyer Davy Żyw says it’ll continue to do so until 2036.
£45, www.bbr.com
Wineries of the world: Architecture and viniculture
Here at Club Oenologique, we’re big believers in the fact that design and wine go hand in hand. It appears that New York publishing house Rizzoli shares the sentiment with the recent release of this tome dedicated to the world’s most stylish wineries. The book takes you inside 25 estates, which should offer a nice (and maybe necessary) bit of escapism during the holidays.
£40, www.bookshop.org
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 new 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 its newly launched service, which 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 10 just hit the shelves and takes a deep dive into Spanish wine – 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.
