Finding a gift for a wine lover can be a daunting task. Much like choosing the right pipe tobacco or cigars for a smoker, wine connoisseurs can be a picky group. In my experience, it’s often better to go for something inexpensive and fun rather than something pricey that might never leave the box. There are plenty of options that I would classify as “stocking stuffers” that are both fun and functional.
If the wine lover in your life is also a techno-geek, they’ll surely appreciate Metrocane’s Electric Wine Bottle Opener. It features a backlit LED readout that tells you how many more uses it has before needing a recharge. Its slim tube design allows for smooth operation and makes it easy to handle, even for those with smaller hands. The opener can uncork a bottle in 5 seconds or less and is much easier to use than a traditional corkscrew. At less than $50.00, it’s a bargain.
Great Gifts for Wine Lovers
When it comes to appreciating the great wines of France, Michael Broadbent literally wrote the book. Michael Broadbent’s Vintage Wine: 50 Years of Tasting Three Centuries of Wine is a 560-page literary journey through the great châteaux of Bordeaux, offering detailed notes on wines and vintages. Broadbent’s decades of experience and extensive wine knowledge are matched by his witty and very readable writing style. This should be required reading for anyone wanting to build a wine collection. At $35.00, it’s well worth the money.
Most of us hate it when a white wine or champagne is served too warm. This issue can be easily solved with a Vacuvin Prestige Wine Cooler. These nifty little units use a reusable cooling element that you keep in the freezer until ready to use. The Wine Cooler chills a bottle to the perfect temperature in just 5 minutes and keeps it at that temperature for hours. No electricity, cords, or batteries are needed, and there’s no watery mess to clean up afterward. At only $19.00, no wine lover should be without one.
Every wine connoisseur needs at least one nice decanter. While lead crystal is beautiful, recent studies show that lead can leach into the wine during long-term storage, creating a potential health risk. The solution? Ravenscroft Sommelier’s exquisite lead-free crystal decanters. The Breathing Decanter is 8” tall by 7” wide and holds 40 ounces—perfect for a standard 750ml bottle. The crystal has an otherworldly sheen that showcases both the color and clarity of your wine. At $45.00, it’s an excellent gift choice.
Have you ever considered giving someone a Wine Club membership? Wine clubs offer a great way to sample exceptional wines with the convenience of home delivery. There are red wine clubs, white wine clubs, French wine clubs, California wine clubs, and more. Most clubs send you one or two bottles of wine each month, along with a first-class newsletter, tasting notes, recipes, and food pairing suggestions. Memberships are available for all budgets, and wine experts ensure every bottle is top-notch. For someone new to the world of wine, this is a great way to learn quickly.
For those who wish to develop a professional ability to evaluate wine, consider the Think Like a Genius Wine Master DVD. Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser walks you through each step of wine tasting, with tips on recognizing key components, mental recall strategies, and paradigm shifts. By breaking down the wine-tasting process into visual, olfactory, and taste sections, then rebuilding them into intuitive habits, tasters will be able to properly evaluate and remember wines for the long term. The package includes a 25-minute high-quality DVD and an accompanying instructional book. The information is invaluable, and the DVD is priced at just $29.00.
A subscription to a wine magazine is a thoughtful gift that can be enjoyed all year. Wine magazines contain valuable information about wines, wineries, accessories, wine reviews, food pairings, tasting events, and much more. Some of the best publications include Quarterly Review of Wines, Wine and Spirits Magazine, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Wine Spectator Magazine, Food and Wine, and Wine Maker. All are available for under $20.00 per year.
For wine to be at its best, it needs to be stored in the right position and at the right temperature. The best way to do this is with your own personal wine cellar. The Sky Enterprises 16-Bottle Wine Cooler stores wine properly on its side. It features an adjustable temperature control, a digital LED display, a light control button, quiet internal fans to maintain an even temperature, and ultra-quiet operation. Compact in design, it can fit into almost any room. The best part? It’s just $84.95 + shipping and handling from Amazon.com.
Lastly, for the connoisseur who enjoys attending wine festivals and visiting wineries, consider the Neoprene Wine Tote Bag from Wine Enthusiast. This insulated messenger-style bag holds three bottles of wine and keeps them cool. Transporting wine from home or a winery has never been easier. The bag securely holds the bottles to prevent clinking, and there’s an outside pocket for wine journals or other important items. It also comes with a detachable shoulder strap and two gel ice packs. The only drawback is that it’s not suitable for air travel, but for domestic transport, at just $29.00, it’s hard to beat.
These are just a few gift ideas for wine lovers. The only real limitation is your imagination!
