A wine lover is both the hardest and easiest person to shop for. They probably already have opinions — lots of them — which makes them seem tough to please. But give them something that makes their love affair with wine burn brighter and they’ll light up like Clark Griswold’s house in “Christmas Vacation.” Here are six gifts that do exactly that.
For preserving bubbles
If you drink Champagne — or sparkling wine of any kind — you need one of these stoppers. It maintains effervescence while providing a proper seal. A simple cork either won’t fit or won’t withstand the pressure and can end up launching itself across the kitchen at 3 a.m. This Champagne stopper gets the job done without the drama. When your recipient has leftover bubbly, they can pop this in and it will keep that sparkle alive for up to three days in the fridge.
For the sparkliest wine glasses
As someone who cleans stemware daily, I think this set can’t be beat. The soft linen, woven on traditional Italian looms, dries and polishes glassware beautifully. And the long, watercolour brush absorbs that last droplet of water at the stem — preventing limescale buildup. If I let a glass air-dry and it has water marks, I simply steam it over a pot of simmering water for a moment, then polish with this linen. The glass becomes sparkling clean quickly every time. It’s a simple, effective cleaning kit that any wine lover will love.
For conversation-starting glass marking
Face it, wine charms are a thing. They keep others (not you or me, of course) from misplacing their glasses at a party. With so many tacky versions out there, giving this clever set keeps things both smart and fun instead of resorting to masking tape and a Sharpie. Each charm features one of six classic character archetypes — the hero, the love interest, the unreliable narrator, the best friend, the villain and the mentor. Imagine the conversations they’ll spark when guests quietly claim their roles. One gift, endless plot twists.
For Improving your wine knowledge
With more than 4,000 entries, this extensively updated edition provides clear, reliable information about wine styles, regions, grape varieties and more. It’s the bible for industry insiders and curious enthusiasts alike, allowing quick access to trustworthy information without falling down an internet rabbit hole. Sure, there’s ChatGPT and Google, but leafing through this hefty volume is so much more satisfying — by the fire, glass in hand, while studying a label or planning a bottle purchase. It’s also a handsome book — substantial and authoritative — making it a thoughtful addition to a wine lover’s home.
For chic and easy wine chilling
If the wine lover in your life throws parties, give them a beverage tub to chill several bottles on ice at once for effortless hosting. An ice bucket for large gatherings is simply too small. While you can find many beverage tub options on the market, this hand-hammered one is attractive, durable and holds up to six wine bottles. It also comes in four finishes — silver, copper, graphite and gold — and is a stylish, practical piece that’s basically a VIP lounge for bottles. They’ll use it for years to come.
For single-serve wine from your favourite bottle
You know those times when you just want one glass of wine but don’t want to open a whole bottle that may go waste? This is tool for those moments. Coravin lets you extract wine through a needle from a bottle without removing the cork, so you can enjoy a single glass and save the rest for weeks, months — even years. It was invented by a medical device engineer who developed ultra-gentle needles for pediatric chemotherapy. When his wife was pregnant in the ’90s, he was stuck either drinking an entire bottle of wine or pouring it out a few days later when it oxidized. So he combined his expertise and love of wine to create this system trusted by experts and collectors worldwide.
