Best wines to gift 2021: 10 bottles for wine lovers on your list

2021-12-24 02:17:12 By : Ms. Olivia Duan

I’ve heard tell that everyone has a so-called “superpower,” an uncanny ability that can’t be explained by science. For some it’s gifting, always finding the perfect present, even for the person who has everything.

For others, the process of shopping for co-workers, friends and family is anything but exciting. It’s downright stressful. It’s hard to go wrong with a bottle of wine but even that choice can cause anxiety.

Red or white? What grape? What country?

Staring down rows of bottle-filled shelves can be overwhelming. Unless you’re at a local wine shop staffed with experts, where you can take advantage of their knowledge and guidance to help make your selections.

If you only have time to grab a bottle while at the grocery store, or prefer to shop for hard-to-find, limited-production wines online, these 10 ideas cover every budget and every wine lover on your list.

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For the golfing wine lover, these limited-edition wines were made by Baileyana Winery in partnership with the PGA for this year’s Ryder Cup which took place at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. The package includes two bottles each of tropical, toasty Chardonnay from San Luis Obispo, California, and a juicy, silky cabernet sauvignon from Paso Robles. ($70)

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Forget an apple for the teacher, give them a bottle of Napa Valley's Textbook Vineyards cabernet sauvignon. ​​This wine has a lush mouthfeel with lots of dark fruit, plums and a touch of spice and cocoa. The tannins are balanced nicely to create a “textbook” style Napa cab. Even better, it’s a great value. ($33)

Affordable, sustainable and on most grocer’s shelves, these are feel-good wines that also taste good. They’re vegan, organic and have no detectable sulfites, making them a good choice for the plant-based and planet friendly person in your circle. The Our Daily Red has ripe, fresh raspberry and cherry, while the cabernet has toasty vanilla, plum and blackberry. ($12.99)

This is for the wine collector on your list. The new reserve, estate cab from Cakebread’s Suscol Springs estate vineyard in Napa, can only be acquired direct from the winery. It has a complex nose of blackberry and violets. Blackberry also shows up on the palate with black cherry. It has fresh acidity, strong tannins and is well suited for aging. ($140)

For the fashionista, this new rose comes from famed Whispering Angel creator, Sacha Lichine. The eye-catching label was inspired by illustrations from The New Yorker, depicting the glamour of the Roaring '20s. A hostess gift that will stand out on a bar cart, it’s a dry yet fruity Provencal-style rose that's good for sipping and also very food friendly. ($16.99)

Ideal for chocolate lovers, Justin Vineyards’ culinary team has created a stunning line of truffles to complement their wines. Both are available for shipping. The rose of syrah is substantial and phenomenal with the strawberry-basil truffle. Try Justification, the winery’s Bordeaux-style wine blend, with sea salt caramel, and sip the Isosceles red blend with the dark chocolate or hazelnut praline. (pairing combos from $41)

A truly sparkling gift, this iconic Champagne comes with a mouth-blown glass decanter inspired by the famous shape of Billecart-Salmon bottles. While Champagne is not typically decanted, the wine used to make this is vinified in wood and aged for six to seven years, creating layers of flavors. To really experience its complexity, winemakers encourage letting it breathe in this decanter. ($220)

Stocking stuffers for those on the go. These single-serve bottles are tall, slim and manufactured with a low carbon footprint. The wine is from boutique producers throughout France who focus on organic, biodynamic and ethical practices. The results are quite pleasing. In addition, most of the vintners are women. A special variety pack has been assembled for holiday giving. ($39.99)

Giving to a foodie? This Bordeaux from 50-year-old vines and a seventh-generation winemaking family is the ticket. Its bouquet has notes of violet. The palate is silky with red and black fruits, and the finish has nice round tannins. It’s a fantastic food wine so, for an extra touch, print the winemaking family’s recipe for Armagnac Spiced Pears, a holiday dish that pairs perfectly with the wine. ($60)

This wine flight is made of wax, not fermented juice. Available as a candle subscription or a one-time purchase, Vella Box's latest scents are wine inspired. The flight of three includes white blend, red blend and sangria, all made with soy wax and essential oils. ($38, box of three)

Don’t delay ordering these gifts as many are small production items and the clock is ticking for timely holiday deliveries. Cheers.

Gina Birch writes about food, wine and spirits for The News-Press and at thebirchbeat.blogspot.com. Follow her as @ginabirch on Twitter and find her on Facebook. 

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