The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

Best gifts for wine lovers, from vino subscriptions to wine tasting for two

Whether they love red or white, they’ll want to raise a toast to these brilliant boozy gifts

Siobhan Grogan
Monday 04 December 2023 17:06 GMT
<p>Looking beyond supermarket plonk? We’ve got you covered with some special present picks </p>

Looking beyond supermarket plonk? We’ve got you covered with some special present picks

Our Top Picks

There’s more to selecting wine-based gifts than grabbing a half-decent bottle from the supermarket. While it feels like a no-brainer present to sort at the last minute, a little extra effort is needed to satisfy the wine lover in your life.

Any real wine connoisseur will appreciate you going the extra mile when it comes to choosing their gift this year. There are plenty of vino-related presents to choose from that will enhance their favourite tipple, whether they’re fanatical about fizz or rave about reds.

Swerve the standard buys and choose interesting or unusual bottles instead, perhaps as a monthly subscription or in a gift case. In our tests, we largely avoided including single bottles unless there was something special about them that merited inclusion.

Of course, any oenophile will always love the outright indulgence of a case or collection of wine. Just make it even more interesting by considering if they’d prefer to sample new wines they’ve never heard of, would like them all from a country they love to visit, or are just a little more decadent than usual.

It’s worth thinking practically too. If your gift recipient is dedicated to wine, they’ll appreciate anything that makes their favourite drink feel extra-indulgent, from a high-tech corkscrew to a gorgeous glass or tasting journal. Look for anything that will turn that well-deserved glass of vino into even more of a treat, whether they’re experts in fine wine or are happy with a bottle from the corner shop.

How we tested

We’re wine lovers, so we know these will be a hit with any oenophile

As keen wine lovers ourselves, we looked for gifts that we’d be happy to see under the tree on Christmas morning. We also searched for presents we’d be proud to hand over, knowing the recipient would realise that we’d put thought and effort into finding the perfect pressie. We considered presentation and value for money as well as whether the gift felt like an indulgence or was particularly useful in the long term. When selecting wine itself, we tasted every bottle to guarantee it would be gratefully received this December.

The best Christmas gifts for wine lovers in 2023 are:

  • Best gift for wine lovers overall – The Partner in Nine journal: £29.50, Partnerinwine.co.uk
  • Best budget gift for wine lovers – Vinca wine tasting cracker: £15, Vincawine.com
  • Best gift that keeps on giving – Perfect Cellar tasting box monthly subscription: £20, Perfectcellar.com
  • Best gift for champagne drinkers – Hielo gunmetal grey: £29.95, Icecooldesign.com
  • Best personalised gift – Chapel Down personalised brut: £39, Chapeldown.com

The Partner in Wine journal

The Partner in Wine journal
  • Best: Gift for wine lovers overall
  • Why we love it
    • An unexpected wine-related gift
    • Can be kept forever
    • Useful
    • Made in the UK
  • Take note
    • May not be best suited to a casual wine drinker

If you really want to avoid buying wine itself, this is a great original choice. A wine journal that comes in dark red, midnight blue or sand, it’s an oenophile’s dream and makes a lovely present. Inside, there are all sorts of useful guides and tips including advice on how to taste and serve wine, how to read a wine label and a list of over 100 recommended wine bars worldwide. There’s a space to record a wine wish list of vinos to try and wine recommendations so they can discover something new too.

Most importantly, there are over 140 pages where they can keep track of any wines they taste – including whether they’d drink them again – so they can always track down their favourite. Printed and bound in London, it’s a thoughtful but useful gift they’ll love to keep forever.

Back to top

Vinca wine tasting cracker

best gifts for wine lovers Vinca wine tasting cracker
  • Best: Budget gift for wine-lovers
  • Why we love it
    • The price includes postage
    • Festive packaging
    • It’s eco-friendly
  • Take note
    • Not suited to rosé haters

It’s not easy to make a wine-themed gift look festive but this oversized cracker ticks all the boxes. With no extra wrapping required, the cracker is filled with three cans of organic wine all produced by family-owned vineyards in Sicily, that are part of a co-operative that guarantees fair pay to the growers.

There’s a pale rosé made from 100 per cent syrah grapes, a crisp, citrus-infused white made from catarrato grapes and a fruit-forward red which blends nero d’avola and frappato. Each can – and the outer cracker – is fully recyclable and the price includes carbon-offset shipping so there are no hidden extra costs at checkout. It’s the perfect Secret Santa gift – especially as it will actually be used rather than thrown straight in the bin by Boxing Day.

Back to top

Perfect Cellar tasting box monthly subscription

perfect-cellar-tasting-box-indybest
  • Best: Gift that keeps on giving
  • Why we love it
    • High quality wine
    • Access to online wine tasting experience
    • Can be cancelled at any time
    • Free delivery
  • Take note
    • Will renew automatically if not cancelled

Treat someone to a Michelin-star quality experience in their own home with this high-end subscription that promises wines to wow. Letterbox-sized tasting boxes are delivered monthly, can be cancelled at any time and include either three or six 100ml servings of wine, all from bottles that cost between £20 and £35 each.

Each one is exceptional. We sampled the fresh but complex Albert Bichot mâcon milly-lamartine 2019 from Burgundy and the powerful, full-bodied Thelema cabernet sauvignon 2019, packed with notes of blackcurrant and dark chocolate. Our favourite was the oak-aged Lauverjat Moulin Des Vrillères sancerre rouge 2021, a light, ruby-red rich in red berry flavours and supple tannins. Better still, each box comes with an invite to join a monthly online tasting session held by master sommelier Christopher Delalonde, which really makes this subscription a fine wine lover’s dream this Christmas.

Back to top

Zalto Denk’Art universal

best gifts for wine lovers Zalto Denk’Art universal
  • Best: Gift for serious wine drinkers
  • Why we love it
    • Suits all wine
    • Highly coveted
  • Take note
    • Fragil

Anyone who really knows wine knows about Zalto glasses. Handblown in Austria, this tall, paper-thin glass is renowned as the sommelier’s preferred choice and is used in Michelin-starred restaurants around the world. It’s even appeared in TV series Succession as the wealthy Roy family’s go-to glass.

Though Zalto makes a whole range of glasses to suit every drink, the universal is the best all-rounder which can be used for any type of wine. So light and thin, we panicked that it would shatter at any second and felt extremely nervous about drinking from it but were stunned by the way this glass transformed our wine. The glass felt like it almost disappeared as we sipped so that nothing interfered with the wine’s flavours and complexities. Even the most ordinary plonk seemed to taste better. This s a dream come true for someone who really values fine wine, although the fragile glass might not be best suited to those prone to clumsiness.

Back to top

Coravin limited edition: timeless six+ mist preservation system

best gift for wine lovers Coravin limited edition: timeless six+ mist preservation system
  • Best: Wine gift with wow factor
  • Why we love it
    • An indulgent gift they may not buy themselves
    • Perfect for those who like to drink one glass
  • Take note
    • Expensive
    • Capsules need to be replaced
    • Only works on bottles with a cork

Serious wine fans like every glass to be served in tip-top condition. But not everyone wants to finish the whole bottle every time it’s opened. If you have cash to splash, this is the perfect solution that will revolutionise any dedicated drinker’s life by ensuring they won’t have to save those special bottles and can enjoy a glass whenever they fancy.

This is no standard wine stopper though. Incredibly, it allows the user to pour a glass of wine without actually pulling the cork so they can come back to it again months – or even years! – later. We were a little apprehensive so tried the appliance on a cheaper bottle first but found it simple to use – just remember this system only works on still, cork-sealed wines. It clamps to the top of the bottle, then a needle goes through the cork allowing you to pour normally. When removed, the cork reseals naturally so the wine will be as good as new next time.

Just bear in mind that the argon gas capsule inside which powers the system will only allow you to pour up to 15 glasses before it needs replacing – which does incur an ongoing cost. However, we loved the fact that we could switch between white and red without worrying about wasting the bottle, and yet, we noticed no deterioration at all in either wine after more than a week. It’s a real wine wonder.

Back to top

Wanderlust wine club subscription

best gifts for wine lovers Wanderlust wine club subscription
  • Best: Gift for the wine-drinker who has everything
  • Why we love it
    • Any wine drinker will love it
    • Gives them an ongoing present
    • Different levels to suit tastes and price points
    • Excellent and unusual wine choices

There are few better wine-related gifts than a box of top-notch bottles arriving regularly on the doorstep. The Wanderlust Wine Club has a membership for every keen wine drinker, so you can decide how much you want to spend and tailor the deliveries to suit the recipient. Silver membership is the most affordable and includes four bottles of red, white and sparkling wines every two months. These come with a really useful book of tasting notes and food pairing ideas, and a free ticket to a tasting event. Plus, the subscription has no minimum term, so you cancel at any time – even after one box.

The gold membership costs £116 per shipment and includes eight bottles every two months, while they’ll receive ten bottles of exclusive and rare vinos every two months on the pricey platinum option for £200 per shipment. We were genuinely wowed by the wine too, which included a selection of organic and biodynamic wines from innovative producers and emerging regions. Stand-out bottles were the juicy Vina Vieja garnacha, a surprisingly fruity pinot noir from Pierres Dorées and a wonderfully complex beaujolais made in Lyon’s first-ever urban winery. Sign them up for this and you’ll score major brownie points that will last long after Christmas.

Back to top

Peugeot line reverse rechargeable electric aluminium corkscrew

best gift for wine lovers Peugeot line reverse rechargeable electric aluminium corkscrew
  • Best: Gadget gift for wine lovers
  • Why we love it
    • Can be used every time you open a bottle
    • Something they might not buy themselves
    • Looks stylish
  • Take note
    • Expensive compared to a regular corkscrew
    • Some may prefer the traditional method of opening

One thing you can guarantee a wine lover will always use is a corkscrew. But as it’s Christmas, don’t even consider giving them a bog standard one to chuck in their kitchen drawer. This one will seriously raise their bottle opening game. Available in dark carbon grey or the gleaming ridged silver we tested, it’s so chic they’ll want to leave this corkscrew on the kitchen counter.

It couldn’t be easier to use either, even if they struggle with mobility in their hands. Simply press the corkscrew to the top of the bottle and it does the rest – we especially liked the oddly satisfying way it automatically pushes the cork out afterwards. There’s a foil cutter included and a wire for recharging, but it should open 80 bottles on a single charge. Trust us, it’s the wine gift they don’t even know they want.

Back to top

Hielo gunmetal grey

best gifts for wine lovers Hielo gunmetal grey
  • Best: Gift for champagne drinkers
  • Why we love it
    • Keeps white wine at fridge temperatures
    • There’s no mess
    • The design is sleek
    • Well priced
  • Take note
    • No useful for red wine drinkers

Warm white wine is always a no-no. End it for good by gifting someone this smart gunmetal grey cooler that keeps wine at fridge temperature for an hour, so they won’t have to keep getting up to refill their glass.

Also available in black, bronze and gold, it’s made from aluminium and needs just five ice cubes to keep wine perfectly chilled. These are added at the bottom of the cooler and the wine is slightly raised above them. This ensures that there’s no contact between the bottle and the ice meaning – rejoice! – it won’t drip water everywhere or be covered in condensation. Better still, the wide internal diameter of 105mm means it can be used for wider champagne bottles too. A cool present all round then.

Back to top

Kask DIY at-home wine tasting kit

best gifts for wine lovers Kask DIY at-home wine tasting kit
  • Best: Gift to liven up Christmas Day
  • Why we love it
    • A great chance to try new wines
    • Includes useful information cards
  • Take note
    • Delivery is a pricey £9.99 per kit

Any curious wine drinker should love this quirky present that will allow them to host a mini wine tasting experience in their own home. Each kit comes with five 100ml bottles of organic, vegan, and minimal intervention wines, plus remarkably detailed and informative tasting cards for each wine.

The current kit we tested is designed to be paired with typical Christmas Day food, but wannabe sommeliers will be thrilled to try it any time. It contains two reds, two whites and one rosé which the notes say should be served with turkey, a cheese board, a seafood starter, and vegetarian dishes – plus there’s one to sip in front of the fire after the washing up. Our favourite was the food-friendly gamay which bursts with red fruit flavours and the bright, floral falerio oris bianco with its tingling, tropical twist.

Back to top

Red Letter Days introduction to wine tasting evening voucher for two

best gifts for wine lovers Red Letter Days introduction to wine tasting evening voucher for two
  • Best: Gift for couples
  • Why we love it
    • Ideal for anyone who wants to boost their wine knowledge
    • Available in six locations
    • Valid for 12 months
    • Can be swapped for another experience if preferred
  • Take note
    • The location won’t be suitable for all

Buying for a wine-adoring couple? Sort both gifts in one with this wine tasting voucher that entitles them both to attend an evening sampling wines, learning about food matching and picking up tips from an experienced sommelier.

Held at six locations around the country on selected weekday evenings throughout the year, the session includes advice on correct tasting, wine regions and the differences between grapes and production methods. It’s a friendly but very informative evening any wine drinker will enjoy, even if they’re not wine-tasting beginners. Better still, if they really don’t fancy it – or live too far from the tasting locations – they can swap the voucher for any other of the same value from Red Letter Days, making this a risk-free gift we’d be delighted to receive ourselves.

Back to top

Chapel Down personalised brut

best gifts for wine lovers Chapel Down personalised brut
  • Best: Personalised gift
  • Why we love it
    • Great for any fizz fans
    • You can include any special message
  • Take note
    • A gift box costs an extra £3

A bottle of bubbles always goes down well, especially at Christmas. This one makes it a little more special as you can add up to three lines of text on the neck label, so the lucky recipient knows you went the extra mile when buying for them.

If they can bear to pop the cork, they’re in for a real treat too. This is Chapel Down’s award-wining English sparkling wine that’s every bit as good as any bottle of champers and is perfect served chilled on its own as a Christmas Day aperitif. Made from chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier and a touch of pinot blanc, it’s beautifully crisp with refined notes of apple and citrus on the palate, a distinctive floral flourish and an elegant finish that will add a sparkle to any festive celebration.

Back to top

Bar Douro case of mixed Portuguese whites

best gifts for wine lovers Bar Douro case of mixed Portuguese whites
  • Best: Gift for white wine drinkers
  • Why we love it
    • Good way to discover new whites
    • Suits those who love to visit Portugal
    • The wine is excellent

Dedicated white wine fans will be over the moon to unwrap this generous case of vino, knowing they’ll love every single bottle. It comes from the team behind Bar Douro, which has two London restaurants serving traditional Portuguese food and sells the UK’s biggest and best selection of Portuguese wines. It’s particularly well suited to anyone keen to sample new grapes or discover smaller producers – or even anyone who loves spending holidays in Portugal.

The whole case is a great introduction to the country’s wines, and we loved tasting bottles we had never tried before. We were particularly intrigued by the tropical, flavour-packed fernão pires from Tejo, a textured citrus-rich white straight from the mountains of Dão and the fruity, elegant bottle of implicit from Alentejo, which zings with ripe stone fruit and fresh floral undertones. It’s also worth noting that all-red and mixed cases are available instead if preferred (or if you want to treat yourself too…).

Back to top

Myrkl 4 dose trial pack

best gift for wine lovers Myrkl 4 dose trial pack
  • Best: Wine lovers’ quirky stocking filler
  • Why we love it
    • It could ease Christmas hangovers
    • Simple to use
  • Take note
    • Not everyone will want to take a supplement
    • Not very festive packaging

We realise that a pack of tablets aren’t exactly a standard Christmas gift but bear with us. This food supplement is touted as a hangover prevention pill and contains a mix of high-performing bacteria, l-cysteine, and vitamin B12, following over 30 years of research.

It’s said to help break down alcohol more quickly before it reaches the liver to ease those dreaded next day side effects – though it’s important to note that the makers warn that Myrkl should never be used as an excuse to drink more. We were sceptical when we took two tablets two hours before a night out drinking red wine as instructed but were entirely converted after waking up the next day feeling curiously fresh and without even a trace of the hangover we had feared. So, though you may get a funny look when they first tear the wrapping paper off this gift, we reckon it could be the best present they find under the tree this year.

  1. £10 from Myrkl.co.uk
Prices may vary
Back to top

The verdict: Wine gifts

To give a wine gift that will last beyond Christmas, the Partner in Wine journal is our top pick as it’s useful, attractive and can be consulted for years to come. If you really want to wow, you won’t go wrong with the Zalto Denk’Art universal glass, even if it needs treating with care. We also think the Vinca wine tasting cracker will put a smile on any wine drinker’s face this Christmas – and this one gets extra points for its focus on sustainability.

Wines featured are chosen on merit by our writers but The Independent works with Perfect Cellar to offer readers wine choices and will earn commission if readers choose to buy their wines via a link from this independent.co.uk article.

Really want to impress your vino lover? Check out this Michelin star wine tasting experience from the comfort of your own home

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
£100 off all bookings over £1000 - TUI discount code
ASOS Discount Code
20% off everything with this ASOS app discount code
Travelodge Discount Code
5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount code
The Body Shop Discount Code
20% off everything with The Body Shop discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
15% of all orders with The Perfume Shop birthday discount
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Up to 20% off all orders over £40 - Cult Beauty discount code

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in