From prestigious brands with long histories to boutique, family-owned vineyards producing incredible wines, there is something for everyone to enjoy at home this holiday season. Here are some ideas for Christmas gifts for wine lovers.
Wine Advent Calendars
Gold Hill Estate Winery: limited availability 2020 Advent Calendars featuring twelve bottles (six cellar-worthy reds and six bright, crisp whites). $299 plus tax and shipping.
Road 13 Vineyards: annual Advent Calendar features a beautifully packaged case of 12 wines, delivered just in time for the holiday countdown. A mix of old favourites, new releases and special occasion wines pulled from the winery’s vault. $440 plus tax.
Stoneboat Vineyards: limited availability of Advent Calendar Packs feature 12 surprise wines, including rare library releases, previously sold-out wines, sparkling for holiday celebrations and a dessert wine. $363 plus tax, shipping included.
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards: limited availability 12 Days of Tinhorn Advent Calendars features 12 bottles of their award-winning wines. $285 plus tax (must be collected from the winery).
Wines for Food Pairing
From North America’s first Indigenous-owned and operated winery, the Nk’Mip Merlot 2018 is a perfect blend of several different blocks of Merlot all located on Osoyoos Indian Band vineyards in south Okanagan. This wine pairs beautifully with pork or veal roasts, stuffed peppers and bean dishes. Available online, MSRP: $21.99/750mL.
When the festive season comes, there’s nothing better than a spiced, warming glass of mulled wine. Sumac Ridge’s Cabernet Merlot 2018 is perfect for mulled wine recipes with flavours of dark fruits, baking spices and a hint of mocha. Available online. MSRP: $15.49/750mL.
The See Ya Later Ranch – Chardonnay 2019 is an easy go-to wine to serve at your holiday wine and cheese party or pairs perfectly with roast turkey dinner. This wine features tastes of citrus, toffee and caramel while notes of vanilla, coconut, pineapple, round it out. Available online, MSRP: $17.49/750mL.
Looking for the perfect after dinner tipple? Black Sage Vineyard – Pipe is a wine blend made to reflect the time-honoured tradition of Port producers. Partway through fermentation, the process is stopped by adding high-alcohol spirits, bringing the alcohol up to 19-20% and leaving behind residual sugar. Best enjoyed alone or with strong cheeses and makes the perfect gift for the man on your list who has everything. Available online, MSRP: $25.99/500mL
Ruffino Modus 2017 is a Super Tuscan that delivers super value and stands up to other wines in the category priced at three times more. Modus is a silky wine that features ripe fruit flavours and pairs well with grilled meat, holiday roasts, truffle-infused dishes or simply pizza. While this wine is delicious and ready to drink, it will cellar well and get more complex with time so it’s perfect for your favourite wine collector. MSRP: $29.95/750mL
Kim Crawford Wines offer different varietals perfect for any holiday party, imported all the way from New Zealand. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is vivid and refreshing and is the #1 selling wine in Canada; it pairs well with steamed clams or mussels with asparagus risotto, or grilled chicken. MSRP: $21.95/750mL
For the person who loves a bit of bubbly, the Steller’s Jay Brut is hand crafted in the Okanagan Valley using the traditional French “methode classique”, which is when the wine is produced in the same manner that Champagne from France is made. This bottle of sparkling wine is also perfect to pop at a holiday brunch or on New Year’s Eve to ring in the much-anticipated new year. Available online, MSRP: $22.99/750mL
Gift Wines by Personality
A classic Cabernet Sauvignon from the iconic, award-winning Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley is an impressive gift for anyone on your list. The Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of cassis, blackberry and cedar. And, Robert Mondavi Winery was recently named the Best Vineyard in North America and the 5th Best Vineyard Worldwide so you know it’s a quality pick for someone you might be trying to impress. MSRP: $44.95/750mL.
For the friend or family member who doesn’t always play by the rules – or better yet, makes up their own rules, The Prisoner red blend is now the most recognized in Napa Valley, leading the resurgence of interesting blends by incorporating Zinfandel with unlikely mixes of other red varietals. This red blend features aromas of cherry, dark chocolate, clove and roasted fig – it will warm you up on a cold winter’s day. The artwork on the label is edgy and intriguing for the unconventional art enthusiast on your list. MSRP: $54.95/750mL
Holiday Gift Packs and Wine Baskets
CheckMate Artisanal Winery: elegant, limited edition Gift Sets are available including a four bottle vertical of their 100 point Little Pawn Chardonnay ($440 + tax, shipping is complimentary).
Covert Farm Family Estate: offering two themed gift baskets for the Wine Aficionado (choose from two, three or four-bottle gift sets from the Covert Farms portfolio of 100% estate-grown, organic wines) and the Culinary Lover (curated selections featuring local preserves, honey, small-batch spices alongside Covert Farm’s award-winning wines). Gift baskets start from $65.
Culmina Family Estate Winery: offering three holiday gift box sets featuring multi-vintage verticles of their most notable wines, from $175 plus tax. Complimentary shipping is offered on all box sets.
River Stone Estate Winery: offering Holiday Wine Packs in multiples of two, six or twelve, featuring newly released vintages of their coveted Stones Throw and Corner Stone reds and brand new 2017 Reflections, a fortified red wine produced from a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Wine Packs start at $70.
Road 13 Vineyards: choose from five festive themed wine gift sets packaged in stylish gift boxes. Options include All is Bright (2018 Viognier, Roussanne and VRM), T’is the Season (2016 Sparkling Chenin and Sparkling Syrah) and Deck the Halls (2018 Viognier, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2019 Gamay Noir). Gift sets start from $66.98 plus tax and shipping is complimentary.
Virtual Wine Tastings
- Church & State: offering Very Virtual Online Christmas Parties: guided and personalized tasting packages for holiday parties via Zoom. Package includes two bottles of wine, a crystal Riedel glass and a one hour private virtual tasting with the wine shop manager. From $69 to $99 plus tax and shipping.
- Kismet Estate Winery: complimentary with a purchase of three wines or more, a member of the Kismet team will host a 45 minute virtual tasting tailored to the customer’s choices.
Complimentary or Discounted shipping
- Bordertown Estate Winery: free shipping to BC residents on orders of six bottles or more.
- CC Jentsch Cellars: free shipping on orders of twelve bottles or more.
- Castoro de Oro Estate Winery: mention “winter with wine country” to receive 10% off all online wine orders, including their popular wines in a can, and receive $25 towards shipping costs.
- Covert Farms Family Estate Winery: Canada-wide free shipping on all orders over $100 (use promo FREESHIP100 at check-out).
- Maverick Estate Winery: free shipping for all orders of six bottles or more, including the delicious, small celebration-worthy Ella sparkling wine ($30.98 + tax).
- Moon Curser Estate Winery: free shipping on orders of six bottles or more.
- Road 13 Vineyards: free shipping on all orders plus a complimentary gift box and personalized card with purchases of two bottles or more.
- Tinhorn Creek Vineyards: free delivery for wine purchases of six bottles or more.
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