How to Choose Wine as a Gift

Wine is very subjective and trying to determine how much someone will enjoy a specific bottle can be very difficult. You will need to consider a variety of factors that will help ease your difficult decision but just know, it really is the thought that counts! Here are some tips to guide you along your wine selection journey.

Pay attention to wines or beverages they typically order at a restaurant

Most people have a preference when it comes to wines, whether it's red or white or sweet or dry. When you go out with this individual, pay attention to what they typically order to drink. You can see which wines are their favorite or you can see which flavors and notes they gravitate towards. Perhaps they ordered a fruit-forward cocktail, you can safely assume they prefer fruity flavors and perhaps a very particular fruit flavor. You can apply this analysis to choosing a fruit-forward wine for them including those fruits. Do they tend to go toward sweet beverages? Then, perhaps you want to select a sweet wine.

Select popular varieties, if you don't know this person well or their wine preferences

It's always a safer bet when you don't know the person well, to go with popular wine varieties. You are more likely to select an enjoyable wine because these wine varieties tend to be universally appealing. Popular wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Gift Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine is always a great choice for the holidays because it is a great festive and celebratory beverage for anyone. Even if your recipient isn't a huge fan of sparkling, they can enjoy it as a mimosa or use it in a cocktail. We have a full guide on sparkling wines here and a guide for purchasing sparkling wine here.

Gift them a wine you love

Maybe your gift recipient doesn't know much about wine or you don't know their wine preferences. Gifting them your favorite wines is a great way to give a little piece of yourself to someone. This is a good option if you know your recipient has a similar taste in wine to yourself.

Gift them a special vintage

It doesn't have to be a very old vintage but it could be a wine from a year when they got married, got a promotion, had their child, or numerous other big milestones in life. It really shows all the thought you put into this gift when it commemorates a special year.

Give a wine that will compliment their favorite foods

Perhaps your recipient loves to cook or you know their favorite dishes, gifting them a bottle that will complement their foods is a very thoughtful gift. Wine and food go hand in hand. For the person who always has a sweet tooth, get them a bottle of port or dessert wine. Maybe they love the barbecue, a bottle of zinfandel or merlot will complement the smokey meats really well.

How Much Should You Spend on a Bottle of Wine?

Keep in mind a price range that you feel comfortable with. Don't feel pressured to purchase a more expensive bottle just for the name or label. The more expensive wines don't always make the best gifts. The appropriate amount to spend on a bottle for someone is the amount you were going to spend on a tech gadget, kitchen tool, gift card or anything else you were thinking of giving that person.

Properly Storing Your Gift

Shopping early for the holidays is so important! There's nothing worse than scrambling to find a good gift or running out of time to pick up a special bottle for your friend. We recommend getting your wines for gifting at least several weeks ahead, if not earlier since wine doesn't spoil when properly stored. Speaking of proper storage, it is important to keep your wines in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. The ideal means to store your wines and ensure they will stay protected from premature spoilage is using a wine refrigerator. Wine refrigerators are designed specifically to maintain a consistent temperature and humidity that is ideal for wine preservation. This ensures your wines, no matter the vintage, will stay well preserved until you are ready to enjoy them. Your wines should also be stored in a dark place to avoid UV damage, a wine refrigerator typically has a UV light filtering glass door to prevent sunlight from breaking down your wines. You can learn more about factors that ruin wine as it ages here.

Festive Finishing Touches

The perfect gift isn't perfect until you've wrapped it nicely for your recipient. Here are a few ways we like to dress up a bottle for a gift that isn't just a wine bag. It'll show you put a lot more thought into your gift and the wine bottle will feel more customized.

Custom wine labels

You can make your own or you can buy fun wine labels for your bottles. Custom wine labels offer you the ability to customize your gift and message to your recipient. Whether it's a thoughtful note or a funny inside joke, you can create something just for them and your recipient will have a one of a kind bottle!

Wrap it with a fun tea or hand towel

A festive or fun personal design on a towel is a great way to customize your gift and wrap it up nicely! Plus, your recipient will receive a little bonus gift for their kitchen. Simply fold your towel in half over the wine, fold up the right and left bottom corners to meet the body of the bottle, fold up the right side, then the left side, gather the top fabric together with a ribbon, tie the ribbon and your gift is complete!

Add an ornament

Is there anything more festive than an ornament? Tie a festive or personal ornament to the bottle to show them you're thinking of them. This is a fun way to dress up a bottle for the holidays and you can give them something that will last longer than just a bottle of wine.

Upcycle a sweater

Do you have an old holiday sweater that doesn't fit or is just getting a little old? Cut the sleeves off and sew them into little bottle cozies! You can tie the top with a festive ribbon and you have a beautifully wrapped bottle for anyone in your life. Plus, you get to recycle a sweater you may have thrown away.

Slip it in a sock

Grab a pair of festive holiday socks or maybe just a fun pair of socks you know they'll love and slip the wine bottle inside. This way your recipient can sip on some wine and keep their toes cozy this holiday season!

Create a mulled wine kit

Grab a little drawstring pouch and add some festive dried fruits and spices to tie to the bottle. Your recipient can warm everything together and enjoy a cozy cup of mulled wine this winter! We have a full guide on how to make mulled wine here.

Pack a basket

This may seem like an obvious one but instead of buying a wine basket, customize your gift by creating your own gift basket. You can choose a theme like, cheese and wine, chocolate and wine, pasta night, or another theme that will suit your recipient. Building a basket just for them shows how much you care and how much thought you put into creating a gift just for them.

Happier Holidays Ahead

The holidays can be a stressful time, which is why we want to make it easier on you with amazing deals and great holiday tips! Having trouble choosing a gift? Contact our team of experts and they can help you find the perfect gift for even the pickiest person! Give our team a call at 800-710-9939 for help on all your holiday shopping. Happy Holidays!