Holiday Gifting Guide, Wine-Style 2024
Wines, Books, and Accessories for the Wine Lover
Every holiday season I am asked, “What wine should I give as a gift for friends, colleagues, or customers?”. The answer: “Give the gift of their favorite wine or a wine book or wine accessory.” Always ask preferences on wine. “Will it be a sparkling domestic wine, a Champagne, a famous Napa Valley or Sonoma wine, a specialty Italian or Spanish Wine, or a traditional Bordeaux red or Provence Rosé?” You’ll notice I am focusing on sparkling/Champagne/hearty reds this year.
“What about a Wine Wanderings newsletter Gift Subscription?” “How about a celebrated wine book?” “What about a Wine Carrier, pouring aid, or Champagne Stopper?” “How about 12 or 24 Nights of Wine” samples…a great Advent gift. Depending on your budget and their preferences, here are some suggested wines and my favorite wine books for the wine lover on your holiday gift list. Be sure to take a look at the Wine Wanderings Travel Opportunities below. I am pleased to now be a part of the Bluesky community. See Links for Bluesky, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Gift Subscription to Wine Wanderings
I have had several business associates give this as a holiday gift, with great comments from the recipients. The paid subscription (5% off with this link) includes one-on-one consulting with me. This year I assisted with a wine tasting party, gave recommendations for a trip to Italy, and quizzed a student who was taking the Level 2 WSET® exam. She passed with honors!
Sparkling Wines and Champagne
Pommery Brut Apanage 1874, Champagne, France $99
I love the creaminess of this 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier Champagne which is a blend of three vintages: 2018, 2015, 2012. Ranked 28 of the top 260 NV Champagnes.
Perrier-Jouet Blason Rose, Champagne, France, $80
Decanter Magazine, 96 Points
This is one of my new favorite Champagnes from Epernay. The color is medium salmon, and the aromas are bright red raspberry, pink ginger, and ripe strawberry…perfect with smoked salmon or wild pork. 50% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Meunier.
2015 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut with Gift Box, Champagne, France $390
Wine Enthusiast, 97 Points
Tasting/Gifting Note: This vintage Champagne was created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II for his personal use with its clear stylish bottle, designed to prevent his poisoning. The 2009 Vintage is a crisp balance of ripe fruit and silky texture that make it alive and bright. As it matures in the next 20 years, it will deepen and become more intense.
2020 Schramsberg Brut Rose, North Coast, CA $52
Wine Spectator, 96 points
Tasting Note: A hearty 80% Pinot Noir grapes dominate in this sparkler and is rounded out with 20% Chardonnay. With a pink-salmon hue, it offers peach and wild strawberry aromas with flavors of succulent plum. One of the best value rosé sparklers on the market today.
Domestic Wines
2022 Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc, St. Helena, Napa Valley, $23
The most historic winery (1st) in Napa Valley,
Wine Enthusiast, 93 Points
See Interview: “Charles Krug: Napa Valley’s First Winery, 4th Generation-Driven,” Nov. 28, 2023
2019 Davies Vineyards, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, $80
Wine Spectator, 92 Points
This still red wine is made by the Davies family of Schramsberg sparkling wine fame, with celebrated winemaker Celia Welch as a consultant. See: “Celia Welch, Celebrated Napa Valley Winemaker – An Interview,” April 16, 2024.
2019 Gary Farrell Hallberg Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Russian River, Sonoma $70
Wine Enthusiast, 93 Points
This has been perennially, my favorite Russian River winery.
See: “Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery: A Stunning Russian River Wine Experience,” December 12, 2023.
2018 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $85
Wine Enthusiast, 93 Points
A fan favorite from Napa Valley, this is a great choice with holiday prime rib.
2019 Bending Branch Winery Texas Tannat, $30
A silver medal winner, Lone Star International Wine Competition, with grapes from premium vineyards in the Texas Hill Country and Texas High Plains. A full-bodied wine that pairs perfectly with Texas barbeque brisket or a blue cheese burger.
Rest of the World Wine Recommendations
2019 Clos Mogador, Priorat, Spain Red Blend, $1100
Wine Enthusiast, 96 Points
Tasting Note: A celebrated Spanish wine from the renowned Priorat region, this is an old-vine blend of Garnacha and Cariñena grapes with a touch of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. This plush red wine delivers alluring flavors of cherry, kirsch, licorice, espresso and mineral with well-integrated tannins and vibrant orange peel acidity. Drink now through 2030.
2020 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux. $123
Perhaps I am slightly biased about this wine as I interviewed their GM/Owner, Oliver Bernard, August last year. See “Domaine de Chevalier: An Interview with Olivier Bernard”, August 29, 2023. This is one of the finest White Bordeaux wines in existence…. lush and elegant.
Wine Enthusiast, 98 points
70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon
2022 Chateau d’Esclans Rock Angel Rosé Cotes de Provence, France $45
Decanter, 92 Points
Tasting Note: This rosé is a lightly oaked Chateau d’Esclans brand featuring fresh, bright strawberry and white raspberry fruit, rose water notes, and a hint of spice. Powerful and elegant.
Wine Accessories and Sampling Kits
Champagne/Sparkling Wine Stoppers
I have collected (above) stoppers as I visited Champagne and domestic sparkler wineries. They remind me about those memorable trips and how much I love bubbles. I can’t tell you the number of parties I have attended where there is no Champagne stopper. Yes, it’s true we love our sparkers, but seriously, if you want to enjoy the remainder the following day, you need one of these pressure stoppers. Remember, sparkling wine has between 4 and 5 bars/atmospheres of pressure inside, with Prosecco between 1 and 4 bars, so we want to retain those bubbles. We also want to be careful opening the bottles and not break any chandeliers or put out anyone’s eye from the flying cork. Amazon (pack of 6) and Crate & Barrel have stoppers available. Try to find one of your favorite stoppers in person like those from Schramsberg Winery, Champagne Pommery, Champagne Moet & Chandon, and Champagne Veuve Clicquot.
Wine Carriers
I have two of these carriers which I originally bought at wineries. I save $150-$300 in shipping per wine tasting trip by airline-checking these bags empty and returning with 2 mixed cases of wine. Over time these bags have saved me over $3000 in shipping.
12 Nights of Wine
Vinebox does a superb job at these samples. I was given this gift a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the samples similar to an Advent 1-a-day tradition. Vinebox $129
Wine Barrel Stave Accessories
Wine Bottle and Glass Holder, Etsy, $25
My Hatfield friends in Fredericksburg, Texas wine country swear by having this cool accessory: Wine barrel stave bottle and glass holder from Etsy. Take your wine to the back patio and enjoy.
Barrel Stave Candle Holder for Votives, Etsy, $59
Select this centerpiece for your next wine tasting or wine pairing dinner: Barrel Stave Candle Holder – 7 candles.
Wine Books for the Wine Lover
Strong Water: Tales of a Master Sommelier’s Life in Food, Wine and Restaurants, Tim Gaiser, MS, Kindle price $0.99
One of my favorite Master Sommeliers and former teacher at the Culinary Institute of America wine studies program, Tim has experienced the hardships, trials, tests, and joys of the profession. I will soon do a formal book review here on Wine Wanderings.
The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil, 3rd Edition, Hardcover $25, Paperback $11
Karen MacNeil, another Culinary Institute of America professor, and one of the foremost wine experts in the United States, offers her latest edition of this famous wine book. Her story telling about the making of wine and the world’s wine regions keeps the novice and the wine connoisseur alike engaged. Her unique voice notes: “in the great years, Pétrus is ravishing, elegant, and rich – Ingrid Bergman in red satin.”
Karen is the creator and Chairman Emeritus of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America, Napa Valley, which has been called the “Harvard” of wine education. She is a friend and was one of my first wine instructors. See: “An Interview with the Author of The Wine Bible: Karen MacNeil, March, 2021.
Big Macs & Burgundy, Wine Pairings for the Real World, Vanessa Price with Adam Laukhuf, $14
This is a great gift for any wine drinker. Vanessa’s sense of humor and down to earth pairings for the real world that range from mozzarella sticks to you guessed it, Big Macks, is an easy must read.
Wine Wanderings Editorial Calendar 2024 -2025
Sparkling Wine and Champagne Gift Guide 2024
UNICEF and Feeding America – Thank you Paid Subscribers
Curious About Wine? Language, Terms, Pronunciation Explained
Book Review and Interview: “Strong Water: On Food, Wine, and Restaurants,” by Tim Gaiser, MS
Return to Beringer, a Napa Valley Pioneer
What is the Custom Crush Business of Wine?
Understanding Right Bank Bordeaux: Pomerol and St. Emilion
Travel Opportunities
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Cruise with Wine Wanderings: Cruise Travel Reminder: River Seine – Paris – Normandy – Giverny on AmaWaterways
Lisbon, Portugal Meet-up: Join the subscribers of Substack newsletters Wine Wanderings and Our Portugal Journey for a Happy Hour, mid-April 2025 Date and Location TBA.
Cruise the Danube on AmaWaterways with Wine Wanderings and Wölffer Estate Winery, April 20, 2026, Romantic Danube.
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So glad you liked it. Hope it gave you some ideas. Tricia
Great article on gift giving!