Finding suitable gifts for a serious wine lover can be tricky. If they’re serious enough, they’ve already got most of what they want or need when it comes to wine. That’s why I put together a gift guide each year filled with things that are excellent gifts for the wine lover who already has everything.
There are always two things noticeably absent from this guide, and very much on purpose. The first is any recommendation of specific bottles of wine. People shake their heads at me when I say it, but I really don’t recommend buying bottles of wine for the wine lovers in your life unless you are absolutely, positively, 100% sure that it’s a wine they adore.
When it comes to special bottles, most wine lovers would prefer to shop for themselves (which is why gift cards for wine are on my list below). Of course, if you know for sure that bottle of Soldera Brunello is going to bring tears to their eyes, go for it. But otherwise, stay away from specific bottles.
It almost (but not quite) goes without saying that wine club subscriptions are to be entirely avoided. And don’t get me started about wine aerators. Please, for the love of all things holy, don’t ever buy a wine aerator.
The second thing you’ll notice missing from the list below is a fancy crystal wine decanter. That’s because while they’re easy gifts to give, generally they suck. They can be expensive as hell, they take up a ton of cabinet space, they’re a pain in the ass to clean, and most of them lack the most basic of ergonomic affordances that would make them easy to use (handles, anyone?).
As far as I’m concerned the world’s best decanter is a lemonade pitcher or a simple carafe (even a vase) that you can actually get your arm inside with a sponge and can replace easily if you drop it or chip it.
But enough about what’s not in here. Let’s talk about what I have included. I’ve got you covered from the simplest and least expensive wine stocking stuffers, to solid, moderately-priced wine gifts, to some of the fanciest, most exclusive and stylish wine-related accessories on the planet. And everything else in between.
In the list below you’ll find gifts that even the fussiest and most well-stocked wine lovers in your life will appreciate.
Happy holidays.
Stocking Stuffers
When you’re looking for something inexpensive, here’s a range of gift ideas from $5 to $50 that aren’t run of the mill.
The BEST SPARKLING BOTTLE STOPPER
Now, finishing a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine, once opened, should not be that much of a problem, but occasionally everyone ends up with a bottle you want to save for another day. You could shove a regular wine cork into that bottle, but there’s no guarantee it will fit, or if it does, that it will seal very well. That’s where sparkling bottle stoppers come in handy. However, not all these devices are created equal, and in particular, not all of them will fit every bottle you come across. But this one will. Rather than having a rubber piece that goes into the neck of the bottle, this one has a small rubber pad that seals the top of the bottle, as the spring-loaded side clamps grab hold of the bottle securely. It offers a tight seal that does an excellent job of preserving the bubbles. Every bubbly lover should have at least one. $18.95 each. Buy them at Amazon.
Filtering Wine Funnel
I don’t use it all that often, but there are times when I absolutely need this little sucker, usually after a cork has disintegrated into the bottle. It’s billed as an aerating funnel, which is a little ridiculous since the action of pouring wine through it would aerate the wine just fine, even if it didn’t have the little sideways holes at the end. But I love the fact that the screen and the funnel are separate, which makes the whole contraption easy to clean. You can buy it on Amazon for $13.33
Simple Wine Carriers
I’ve got more stylish (and far more…
Source : https://www.vinography.com/2024/11/the-ultimate-gift-guide-for-discerning-wine-lovers-2024-edition
