A bottle of wine is one of the easiest gifts to give, but standing in front of a wall of labels, it can also feel like one of the hardest to get right. The good news is that you don’t need to be an expert to choose well. Here’s how to pick the right bottle for anyone, plus our favourite wine gift ideas beyond the bottle, from glasses to a Coravin.
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How do you choose a bottle of wine as a gift?
The best wine gift is one that suits the person, not the one with the fanciest label. Asking yourself three simple questions will narrow down the choice very quickly.
Think about what they already drink
Start with what you know. If they always order a glass of red, stay with red. If they love a crisp white in summer, choose a white in a similar style. You can then make the gift a little more special by going one step up from their usual bottle, or by choosing a different region for the same grape. For example, a Sauvignon Blanc lover could try a Sancerre from the Loire Valley as well as their usual New Zealand bottle.
Consider the occasion
The occasion often tells you what to give:
- A dinner party: a bottle that’s ready to drink now, in case your host decides to open it. A chilled sparkling wine is always welcome.
- A thank you: something they can enjoy whenever they like, such as a classic red or a good white.
- A birthday or a celebration: bubbles are hard to beat.
- Christmas: Port, a sweet wine or a festive sparkling wine. Our Christmas wine pairing guide has more ideas for every course.
- Someone who rarely drinks: a half bottle, or a fortified or sweet wine, which keeps for longer once opened. Find out how long wine lasts once opened in our guide.
Set your budget
You don’t need to spend a lot to give a good bottle. A well-chosen everyday wine from a good producer will often taste better than an expensive bottle from a famous name. Decide on your budget first, then ask the staff at an independent wine shop for their recommendation: they know their range and are usually happy to help.
What wine makes a good gift if you’re not sure?
If you don’t know their taste, choose a style that pleases almost everyone. These are our safest bets:
- A sparkling wine: Champagne, Crémant or an English sparkling wine. Bubbles feel festive, and very few people say no to a glass.
- A classic red: a Rioja, a Bordeaux or a Pinot Noir. These are familiar, food-friendly styles with plenty of fruit.
- A fresh white: a Sauvignon Blanc or an Albariño, lively and easy to enjoy with or without food.
- A richer white: an oaked Chardonnay from Burgundy or a white Rhône, with a rounder, creamier style, perfect for a cosy winter evening.
- Port or a sweet wine: a Tawny Port or an ice wine feels like a treat, and keeps well once opened.
What wine should you give a wine lover?
Choosing for someone who knows a lot about wine can feel intimidating, but they’re often the easiest people to surprise. Rather than trying to impress with a famous name, go for something they’re less likely to have tried:
- A lesser-known region, such as the Jura in France, Greece or the Douro Valley in Portugal
- A grower Champagne, made by a family who grows its own grapes, rather than one of the big houses
- An English sparkling wine, if they haven’t explored it yet
- A bottle from a special year, such as their birth year or the year of their wedding (see our FAQ below for a few tips)
They’ll appreciate the thought behind the choice as much as the wine itself.
How do you present a bottle of wine as a gift?
A little presentation goes a long way. Here are a few simple ideas:
- Wrap it: a wine gift bag, a box or simple paper and ribbon make any bottle feel special.
- Add a note: write why you chose it, and a food it would go well with.
- Mention the temperature: a quick tip on how to serve it will help them enjoy it at its best. Our wine serving temperature guide has the ideal temperature for each style.
- Bring it chilled: if you’re taking a white or sparkling wine to a party, chill it beforehand so it’s ready to open.
And if you’d rather give something that lasts beyond the bottle, a wine accessory or experience can make an even more memorable gift.
What wine accessories make good gifts?
Wine accessories are great gifts for anyone who enjoys a glass, from beginners to keen collectors.
Coravin
A Coravin is a wine preservation system that lets you pour a glass without removing the cork. A thin needle goes through the cork, the wine is poured out, and the space left in the bottle is filled with argon, a gas that protects the wine from oxygen. The cork then closes again, so the rest of the bottle keeps for much longer than an opened bottle. It’s the perfect gift for someone who likes to enjoy a single glass of a good wine, or to taste several bottles side by side.
Wine glasses
A good glass really does make wine taste better, as its shape helps to release the aromas. A pair of quality all-purpose glasses is a gift that will be used again and again. Our guide on how to choose your wine glasses explains which shapes suit each style.
Decanter
A decanter is both beautiful and useful. It helps young red wines open up with a little air, and it separates older wines from their sediment. It also makes any bottle feel like an occasion.
Corkscrew
Every wine lover needs a reliable corkscrew. A waiter’s friend, with a small knife to cut the foil, a screw and a lever, is the choice of most professionals and slips easily into a pocket or a drawer. Our guide on how to serve wine properly shows how to use one.
Stoppers and vacuum pumps
These are small, affordable gifts that help an opened bottle last longer. A vacuum pump removes some of the air from a still wine, while a sparkling wine stopper, with clips that grip the neck of the bottle, keeps the bubbles in for a day or two.
Wine cooler
A wine cooler sleeve, kept in the freezer, chills a bottle in a few minutes, which is perfect for impromptu guests. A double-walled cooler keeps a bottle at the right temperature on the table, all through the meal.
Wine aroma kit
An aroma kit is a lovely gift for a curious wine lover. Le Nez du Vin is the best-known: each small bottle holds a single aroma found in wine, so they can train their nose at home and learn to recognise those aromas in their glass. Our guide on how to taste wine properly is the perfect companion.
What wine experiences make good gifts?
For the person who already has everything, an experience can be the most memorable gift of all.
- A wine course: for a wine lover who wants to learn more, a WSET course makes a generous gift. WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) qualifications are the best known in the world, with courses run by approved providers in many countries, in person or online. There are four levels, from Level 1 for beginners to the Level 4 Diploma, so there’s a course for every stage.
- A tasting event: many independent wine shops and wine bars run regular tastings, a relaxed way to discover new wines. Our guide on how to taste wine properly is a great way to prepare.
- A vineyard visit: a tour and tasting at a local winery makes a lovely day out.
- A wine subscription: a monthly or seasonal box delivers a selection of bottles to try at home.
What wine books make good gifts?
A good wine book is one of the most popular wine gifts, and there’s one for every level.
For beginners
- Wine Folly: Magnum Edition by Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack: a colourful, visual guide to wine.
- Wine Simple by Aldo Sohm: a relaxed introduction from a sommelier.
For curious wine lovers
- The 24-Hour Wine Expert by Jancis Robinson: short and to the point.
- The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil: a complete tour of the wine world.
For food lovers
- What to Drink with What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page: a classic guide to pairings, dish by dish and wine by wine.
- Wine Simple: Perfect Pairings by Aldo Sohm: the follow-up to Wine Simple, all about enjoying wine with food.
- Which Wine When by Bert Blaize and Claire Strickett: a fun, practical guide to what to drink with the food you love.
For experts
- The World Atlas of Wine by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson: the reference for wine regions.
- The Oxford Companion to Wine, edited by Jancis Robinson: the encyclopaedia of wine.
- The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste by Rajat Parr and Jordan Mackay: a field guide to the great wines of Europe, told through taste.
For the wine geek
- Flawless: Understanding Faults in Wine by Jamie Goode: everything that can go wrong in a bottle.
- The Science of Wine by Jamie Goode: the science behind wine, from vine to glass.
- Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and José Vouillamoz: more than a thousand grape varieties in detail.
FAQ
Should the host open the wine you bring?
Not necessarily. A bottle brought to a dinner party is a gift, so your host is free to keep it for another time, especially if they’ve already chosen wines for the meal.
Is red or white wine a better gift?
Neither is better: it all depends on the person’s taste. If you’re not sure, a sparkling wine is the safest choice, as it suits almost any occasion.
How much should you spend on a bottle of wine as a gift?
There’s no rule, and a thoughtful choice matters more than the price. Set a budget you’re comfortable with and ask a wine merchant for the best bottle in that range.
Is a bottle from someone’s birth year a good gift?
It can be a wonderful gift, but only some wines are made to age for many years, such as vintage Port, Madeira or fine Bordeaux. Buy it from a reputable merchant, so you know it has been stored well.
