Getting gifts for the enophile in your life can be bewildering: What gadgets are just going to gather dust? What do they already have? What’s actually useful versus a bunch of marketing hype? To cut through the blather, Wine Spectator asked 14 top sommeliers across the United States and Canada which items they think make fabulous gifts. They came back with ideas that any wine lover would greatly appreciate, from stunning decanters to practical wine bags to top-notch wine openers.
Chillers, Corkscrews and Wine Preservers
Crate and Barrel Rapid Beverage Chiller
“We've all been there—hosting guests for the holidays and suddenly realizing you haven't chilled a bottle of wine! The Crate & Barrel Rapid Beverage Chiller ($105) is a great gift for wine lovers and your friend group’s perennial hosts. It will chill a bottle of wine from room temperature to 50 degrees in less than five minutes, and its low-profile design fits right into any kitchen.”—Mika Carlin, wine director of 2023 Award of Excellence winner Irregardless, Washington, D.C.
Durand Wine Opener
“One of my favorite wine gifts is a Durand wine opener ($135). It is something I use regularly and can be useful in multiple situations. I use it for anything 15 years or older or for anything that has a brittle or soft-feeling cork! It is a guarantee that the cork will come out in one piece every time!”—Derek Stevenson, wine director of 2023 Best of Award of Excellence winner Auro, Calistoga, Calif.
Laguiole en Aubrac Waiter’s Corkscrew
“I’ve always been fascinated and puzzled by the sheer number of wine-opening tools on the market. In my experience, the standard waiter’s corkscrew is the most simple and perfect tool for pulling corks. When visiting friends and family, I’m always slightly amused when I’m inevitably asked to assist with serving the wine and I’m presented with an array of gimmicky devices to extract the cork. To me, they’re all textbook examples of ‘a solution in search of a problem.’ In my opinion, when considering both function and aesthetics, the best waiter’s corkscrews are made by Laguiole en Aubrac ($180). They’re stunning, handcrafted tools that are thoughtfully designed and a pleasure to use. They fit right in along with the finest cutlery and china in the house.”—Ryan Kraemer, wine director of 2023 Award of Excellence winner Majordōmo, Los Angeles
Coravin System
“For any wine lover that has quite a selection in their cellar, I highly recommend getting them a Coravin system. Yes, it may not be the cheapest wine gift out there, but it allows you to create a by-the-glass program at your home without fully opening the bottles. You can enjoy one glass of your high-end wine or tasting your back-vintage bottles and save the rest for the weeks or so.”—Jean-Simon Rioux-Ranger, wine director of Grand Award winner Le Coureur des Bois, Beloeil, Québec, Canada
“In today’s world, everyone has a corkscrew, a decanter and a wine rack. And yes, all those gifts are really nice and valuable. But in my opinion, one thing that’s trending right now is a Coravin. I was given one recently, and it’s absolutely flabbergasting! Coravin helps you preserve wine for two to three weeks without getting oxidized; you’re not pressured to have to finish the whole bottle (even though I like that kind of pressure). But speaking to the masses, it’s handy, it’s efficient and, as a style statement in front of your guests, it really makes you look very wine savvy!”—Ashish Jolly, wine director of 2023 Best of Award of Excellence winner Walliser Stube, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
“One of the great gifts for wine lovers is the Coravin Sparkling ($279); it turns any night of the week into a celebration. It preserves a bottle of sparkling wine after opening for up to a month. I can now have multiple bottles of Champagne open in my fridge at once, unlocking the ability to try them side by side or change up my rotation based on my mood.”—Sabato Sagaria, co-founder of Apres Cru Hospitality, partner of Best of Award of Excellence Winners One Fifth and Restaurant Marc Forgione and Award of Excellence winner Peasant, New York City
Glassware
Decanters
“The best wine gift is something that feels special, like a bit of a splurge, but still has a practical or everyday use. A beautiful decanter, for example the Zalto Denk’Art Axium ($107) or the Riedel Amadeo ($650), is not only great for helping wine to open up more quickly, but is also a piece of art when displayed in a glassware cabinet or credenza. Two gifts in one!”—Suzanne DiStio, wine director of 2023 Best of Award of Excellence winner One White Street, New York City
Lenox Signature Series Glassware
“I feel like the average person rarely splurges on great matching glassware for their own home. I believe the proper stemware really lends to the entire wine-drinking experience. I recommend Lenox’s Signature Series ($80 for four glasses), a collaboration with sommelier Victoria James. I think her idea of creating warm- and cool-climate glasses helps to alleviate the pressure of having to know which glass to choose for each variety. This also allows for another conversation to happen about the wine, like where it’s from! Pro tip: Add a pack of flour-sack towels, and you’re sure to change the game! They’re the perfect polishing tool, leaving no residue or lint!”—Wellie Liao, wine director of 2023 Award of Excellence winner Obscure Wine Company, Winter Haven, Fla.
Sophienwald Stemware
“All our stemware at Silver Apricot is made by Sophienwald ($60 per glass), whose glasses are all hand-blown, unique pieces of art. Since they’re all mouth-blown, each glass is a snowflake of sorts, with ever-so-slight differences from one to the next. They feel paper-thin and feather-light, but are quite sturdy, and their angularity offers an elegance with just the right amount of surface area to aerate and experience your wine. They’re also operated by true “hospitalitarians” who are kind, generous and go the extra mile. How can you not support a company like that? Even better: They inscribe logos and names, so they make for an absolutely gorgeous and thoughtful personalized gift.”—Emmeline Zhao, wine director of Silver Apricot, New York City
Miscellaneous Wine Gifts
Wine Bags
“I love the idea of gifting a wine bag, something leather and sturdy that can carry four to six bottles. So often, I find myself needing to bring wine to a dinner or a restaurant and, instead of lugging a cardboard box, a nice leather carry-on bag makes life that much easier. A quality bag will only look better with time and adds a bit of romanticism to the experience of traveling with wine. Once you have one, you can’t go anywhere without it.”—Ben Chesna, wine director of 2023 Best of Award of Excellence winner Bistro du Midi, Boston
“One of my favorite wine gifts to give, and to receive, is a high-quality wine tote. There are excellent options in both leather and waxed canvas, and they are available in a wide variety of price ranges. The best part about this gift is that you can never have too many wine totes. Make sure you order them early as sometimes the lead time can be longer than with other kinds of items.”—Stephen Hallenbeck, wine director of 2023 Award of Excellence winner Heirloom Café, San Francisco
Make Scents of Wine Aroma Kit
“For those looking to expand their knowledge, the Make Scents of Wine 54-Aroma Master Kit ($400, with smaller sizes available) is a beautiful way to understand the aromas of wine. The ability to decode smell can really enhance your experience and appreciation for what you’re drinking. If you can decode what you smell, you awaken your senses.”—Kyle South, lead sommelier at Grand Award winner Addison, San Diego
Wine Books
“I think The New French Wine ($135) by Jon Bonné should be in every home kitchen and on every bookshelf. This book is truly a gem, finally capturing a new and refreshing vision of writing about French wine, offering a different approach and a fresh perspective, highlighting the winemaker and reflecting their love, devotion and respect for the terroir. [They are creating] purple gold! A beautiful book, aesthetically pleasing and catches the eye and the palate! The perfect gift for all levels of curiosity and knowledge—vino lover or not.”—Lauren Caro, sommelier of 2023 Best of Award of Excellence winner Juliet, Culver City
“I am always excited to add more books to my wine book collection. The world of wine is constantly evolving, and the level of detail and attention authors are giving to specific topics is very exciting. For an all-time go-to, I love Jancis Robinson’s World Atlas of Wine ($65). It is great for people at all levels of wine knowledge. But tailoring a book to a person’s specific interest is always a very thoughtful way to go. For instance, I love Joe Campanale’s book on Italian wine, Vino ($35), and Peter Liem’s Champagne ($90).”—Catherine Fanelli, wine director of 2023 Best of Award of Excellence winner Al Coro, New York City
Bottles of Wine
“If you’re trying to come up with a wine-related gift for a wine professional [or wine lover], be warned: We’re already covered with the openers, decanters, funnels, stoppers, wine-glass tags, etc., etc., etc.—and we don’t use preservation systems because we never seem to have any wine left over. So, unless you’ve got Durand money to spend, stick to consumables. A nice bottle of grower Champagne or cru Beaujolais will always be appreciated. And we tend to break a lot of stemware…”—Dan Davis, wine director of Grand Award winner Commander’s Palace, New Orleans
“Gadgets and doodads don't really do it for me, I’d prefer to just receive wine! Something from a local, independent retailer is always welcome, and even better if the gift giver and I get to share the experience of drinking it together.”—Alex Ring, wine director of Best of Award of Excellence winner Sepia, Chicago
