Wine lovers are a picky bunch. After all, you guys know your stuff. You know the difference between a Cabernet and a Merlot, and for sure, you know the perfect glass to drink your Sauternes (not a large bowled glass a la Bordeaux. Think instead of a thin curved one, making sure that it accentuates the aromas typical of wines made from grapes affected by botrytis “noble rot” – but you already knew that, didn’t you?) Therefore, when it comes to getting the perfect gift for the wine lover in your life, it can be a minefield. Something for their cellar? A new set of glasses? How about a lovely bottle stopper – assuming that there is any wine left in the bottle that is …
We know that you know your wine. But do they know that we know that you know your wine? We hope not, as we have found some of the best gifts for wine lovers.
Gifts Ideas for Wine Lovers
Gifts for White Wine Lovers
White wine baskets, white wine glass
Well, this is a simple one. White wine lovers will clearly be Champagne lovers, so why not invest in a collection of good bubbles for that special someone? White wine baskets such as Vindome.net’s Champagne Collection are a gift that literally bubble with excitement. This fabulous collection of six bottles of 2012 Bollinger La Grande Annee and six bottles of 2012 Cristal Champagne is made for keeping. What’s more, it will reward the lucky recipient with an increase in rarity and value in the medium to long term (that’s 5-9 years, more or less).
If your intention is to give something a little more tangible, then we guarantee that you cannot go wrong with the perfect white white glass. Purists will know that every wine needs its glass, but if you’re looking for something that will cover all your white wine bases, then can we suggest a white Bordeaux glass? These glasses have a wide bowl and a tapered rim, to keep the aromas in, while allowing for maximum aeration. Looks like a Pinot Noir glass, only smaller. Gt it in crystal for extra ooh la la.
Gifts for Red Wine Lovers
Red wine baskets, red wine glass
Lovers of red wine, this is your time to shine! Because in the wine investment environment, red wine gives you a lot of bang for your buck. If your wallet doesn’t stretch to one of the fail safe five First Growths (Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux and Château Haut-Brion plus, of course, Château Mouton Rothschild) – surely a must have for any serious collector – then why not consider looking at one of the Super Seconds or even a superior third, fourth or fifth growth. With the vast improvements in modern winemaking, a fifth growth is not necessarily fifth best any more. Savvy wine investors should think outside the box here too – some of the SuperTuscans are not only delicious to drink, but superb investment opportunities too (Ornellaia for example showed one of the best ROI of 2020).
As with white wine, lovers of red wines will always be after the perfect glass. The traditional red wine glass will have a large bowl with a long stem to create distance between the wine and the drinker. The added height will make the ethanol dissipate on the nose and allow more oxygen in, so that the tannins will soften. Shiraz glasses will be taller and more tapered. Alaways look for a long stem so you do not have to hold the bowl in your hand (heating up the wine in the process).
Don’t know the difference between a Shiraz and a Sauvignon? Read our full article on Cabernet Sauvignon red wines here!
Rose Wine Gifts
Rose wine baskets
Ah rosé. Its very name conjures up images of blues skies reaching to even bluer seas; the sound of cicadas and warm, sunny days. Rosé wine is all of France’s southern summers in a bottle – and offers some of the country’s most drinkable, although sadly not yet most investable, wines. But investors, don’t panic just yet. Exports of Provencal wine – notably rosé – have risen by 500% in 15 years. So this is definitely a wine colour to watch.
But if you’re thinking of drinking, rather than keeping your rosé, then our fantasy rosé wine basket would be made up of a 2018 Domaine Tempier Bandol, a 2016 Château Barbanau Côtes de Provence ‘La Girafe Verte’, and just for its star status, a 2020 Côtes de Provence Château Miraval. Not only is this last vineyard owned by none other than Mr Brad Pitt, but it was ranked among the hundred best wines of the world by Wine Spectator.
Italian Wine Gifts
Nothing says la dolce vita more than sipping on a cool chianti in a piazza. From Prosecco to Pinot Grigio, Barolo to Brunello, and Vaneto to Valpolicella we’ve found the perfect Italian wine basket for you.
Italy should not be overlooked when it comes to amazing wines to drink and invest in. The country’s traditional tricolore – the famous red, white and green of the national flag – flies high when it comes to choosing the perfect gift for the Italophile wine lover in your life. If you need a crash course in Italian wine types, then have a look at our in-depth article, but if you’re already familiar with the country’s astounding abundance of wine grapes and styles then read on.
Wine collections are a great way to give a taste of Italy without breaking the bank. Something like the Bafforano Collection from Vindome is ideal if you don’t know where to start. The six bottle collection offers two superb vintages (3 x 75 cl bottles of 2015 and 3 x 75 cl bottles of 2016), and is presented in their original wooden cases. And if you want to drink, rather than keep the vino, then expect a rich, powerful and intense red wine that will knock you off your feet.
French Wine Gifts
Bordeaux wines, En Primeur
We expect everyone is familiar with the benefits of investable Bordeaux wine – not only does it have long lasting appeal for inventors and enthusiasts alike, many wines offer drinking windows of 20 plus years, meaning that the best Bordeaux wines are literally the gift that keeps on giving. But while we are all familiar with the first-fifth growths, what about those that didn’t make the cut in the 1855 classification?
With only 61 properties named in the (in)famous classification, it would be foolish to stick to only the named and famed when it comes to giving French wine as a gift. With over 8,000 châteaux in the region, it’s time to think beyond the classification when it comes to giving red wine as a gift. Underrated châteaux such as Château Calon-Ségur, St Estèphe, Château Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac and Château d’Armailhac, Pauillac offer a lot of bang for their buck and even very good vintaged can be found for under €100.
But if you really want to think outside the box when it comes to French wine, then we suggest there is nothing better than En Primeur.
If you are not familiar with this process then allow us to give you a quick recap: En Primeur – or EP, or futures in English – is wine that has been fermented and transferred to its aging barrels but has not yet completed its initial maturation. Fine wines tend to be matured between 14-20 months. Around six months after the harvest (usually in late spring), barrel samples of the new wine will be tasted for the first time by a select few. These critics and connoisseurs are the first to taste the new vintage and will base their initial opinion on this barrel tasting session. From this an opinion will be formed on the wine and a price can be determined. Preliminary scores will be given and published in the professional press. It’s at this point when the fine wine investor can really clean up. Because of the uncertainty around the vintage, traditionally, EP prices are around 30% lower than release prices. Yes, you are taking a gamble but let’s look at it another way. We prefer to call it an educated guess – sites such as Saturnalia (see here how their predictions compare to critic’s scores) will provide you with all the information you might need to know whether a wine is worth investing in or not. Armed with enough information, we think you’ll make the right choice. Now, that’s a gift worth giving.
With Vindome you can make an unforgettable gift – an investment wine that only increases with value. Check out our special wine collections.