Christmas gifts for wine lovers

Dec 18 10:34am

The easiest gift is a bottle of bubbly. From $10 local sparklers to $100 Champagnes, there’s something for all tastes. Or how about a special bottle of their favourite variety?

If you know they enjoy a modest chardonnay, buy them an upgrade. For example, instead of de Bortoli’s Sacred Hill Chardonnay, give them the Yarra Valley Chardonnay. If they drink Wolf Blass Red Label, buy them a Gold Label. Or move up from a Jacob’s Creek Cabernet Sauvignon to their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon or Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz to a Bin 28 or 128.

There are many accessories, such as corkscrews, stoppers, coolers and glasses, but they can be personal and hard to get right. A perfect gift is a book. There are goodies that come out each year, including Quaff by Peter Forrestal (Hardie Grant Publishing, $19.95), The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide by Huon Hooke (Penguin Books, $26.95) and Don’t Buy Wine Without Me by Stuart Gregor (Text Publishing, $24.95). And finally, there’s the bible – the essential guide – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion (HarperCollins Publishers, $29.95).

11 Comments Report Abuse

1. teganh1 - Dec 24 10:01am

A book is a terrible gift for a wine lover.
If they are a real wine drinker- get a shiraz and be done with it.

2. suvo81 - Dec 24 10:51am

If its whites they like then buy them a good semillon or sav blaunc from the Hunter Valley region. The Hunter really is one of the best for these varieties. One of my personal favourites is Sophies Ridge sav blaunc from the Arrowfield Estate Winery in Jerrys Plains in the Hunter Valley.

3. jakhing - Dec 24 11:39am

A few hundred acres of winery will be perfect.

4. danny.macdonald - Dec 24 01:55pm

Hey suvo81 you really know your wine hey! Thers is no u in blanc and every idiot knows sauvignon blanc is a cool climate varietal with best examples from N.Z. or Tassie. Merry Xmas, maybe take the time to do a little research.

5. mark57w - Dec 24 03:44pm

danny - those in glass houses shouldnt throw stones - check your spelling, not to mention grammar! By the way everyone knows that the best Sauv Blanc comes from the Adelaide Hills with some very good examples from NZ.

6. danny.macdonald - Dec 24 04:12pm

Mark oh please! Clearly a typo my son.
Unfortunately South Australia has pigeoned holed itself and will always be known for its big, bold Barossa Shiraz.

7. janinek44 - Dec 24 04:32pm

SA is renowned for its wine in many regions. Coonawarra, Mclaren Vale, Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley. No pigeon holeing. Just DAMM good wine. Sauvignon Blanc from NZ is the best in the world and that is coming from an Aussie.

8. janinek44 - Dec 24 04:35pm

9. kazz4us - Dec 24 06:24pm

The Hunter has some fantastic wines but really excellent Pinks from Petersons Champagne House. The Adelaide Hills have also some fantastic wines of various varieties depending on the winery. New Zealand do have some of the best Sauvignon Blancs and Margaret River is the second best region.
Settled.

10. dhodgson@y7mail.com - Dec 24 09:31pm

A few acres would be perfect for the grape vines that you can enjoy eating them, not drink with alcohol in the grapes..............yum yum with the grapes to eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.