Holiday Wine Gift Ideas

Different Holiday Wine Gift Ideas

There isn't anything wrong with buying a nice bottle of wine as a gift, but why not come up with some holiday wine gift ideas that will still be around once that nice bottle of wine is gone? Here are a few gift ideas that will please any wine lover.

Wine Glasses

Every wine drinker knows that you can never have too many wine glasses. It seems like no matter how careful you are when enjoying wine with the people you love and no matter how gently you handle the glasses when washing them, at least one will inevitably get broken. Here are a few merchants that design wine glasses beautiful enough to give as a gift.

• Riedel – This company is considered the quintessential wine glass company. They offer 10 different collections of crystal wine glasses, all of which are elegantly designed. Read through their Wine Glass Guide to buy wine glasses made for a specific varietal of wine.
• Wine Enthusiast – This website offers a wide array of wine glasses from Riedel, U Wine Tumblers and Fusion.

Wine Books

Wine books are a great gift for those just beginning to enjoy wine and those who have been enjoying it for years. Consider the following fantastic wine books:

• Wine Spectator's Little Book of Wine by M. Shanken – You can't go wrong with a book from Wine Spectator.
• Red, White and Drunk All Over by N. MacLean – This book has been described as "A Year in Provence meets Kitchen Confidential and then goes Sideways." This enjoyable and fun read makes a perfect gift for those that already know a lot about wine and those who do not.
• The Oxford Companion to Wine by J. Robinson – Jancis Robinson takes you on an 840-page journey of all things wine.
• The Little Black Book of Wine by E. Poyet – This book includes all the basic information about wine "minus the pretense" and "absent the arrogance".

Wine Accessories

If the wine lover for which you are buying a gift already has all the books and a slew of pretty wine glasses, how about giving him or her the latest and greatest in wine accessories?

• Corkscrews – Just like wine glasses, you can never have too many corkscrews. Consider having the corkscrew personalized for that extra-special touch.
• Wine charms – It is very easy for wine glasses to become mixed up during a holiday gathering leaving everyone asking "Is this my glass?" Buy wine charms as a small gift to be paired with a beautiful set of wine glasses.
• Wine stoppers – Consider purchasing a set of metal or glass wine stoppers to be given as a companion gift with a nice bottle of wine.
• Decanters – Decanters come in all shapes and sizes and offer a beautiful presentation of wine at any type of gathering, even if the wine does not necessarily need decanting.

Wine Gift Baskets

If you are running short on time, wine gift baskets are the easiest and fastest way to get your holiday wine shopping done. Many local grocery stores carry holiday gift baskets, but if yours does not, here are a few places to find the perfect wine gift basket:

• Wine Country Gift Baskets – This website offers plenty of gift baskets at reasonable prices.
• Wine.com – Take advantage of their 1-cent shipping promotion throughout the holiday season. Check out their "94-Point Australian Wine Tasting Kit" or their "Quintessential Reds" gift basket that includes wine from France, Italy, California, South America, Australia and Spain.
• Wine Globe – Tailor your gift basket specifically to the tastes of the gift recipient.

Get Creative!

There are a number a ways to get creative with wine gifts. Try pairing a wine book with a bottle of wine that the book recommends or make a gift basket with various wine accessories you can purchase at your local wine merchant or department store. So, take some of the above mentioned suggestions, add your own twist and have fun with it!