Find the perfect gift for any wine aficionado on your list with these wine-themed must-haves at every price point.
By Matthew DeBord
HQ 128 | Winter 2025
The giving season is officially upon us, and I’m here to tell you that for the wine lover on your list, the giving should be easy. That’s because there is a real abundance of options for gifts in the wine world, at a wide range of prices, even for people who might seem like they already have everything.
I’m not talking about $1,000 wine storage systems – although if your husband or wife or life partner has been coveting one, go for it! Below, I’ve listed what I think are some great gifts that should bring joy and delight to the wine enthusiasts in your world.
Laguiole wood-handle corkscrew ($260)
These handmade-in-France waiter’s-style folding corkscrews are the gold standard of the design. Laguiole makes them by using a variety of materials, and I recommend the lovely olive wood model. You do need to learn how to properly use a waiter’s-style corkscrew, but the ritual of pulling corks with one of these will be well worth it to the wine lover on your list.
Rabbit corkscrew ($35)
This failsafe corkscrew will reliably extract corks for, well, a lifetime. When I was at Wine Spectator magazine, every cork from literally thousands of bottles was deftly and swiftly yanked with a Rabbit. Never a broken cork, and when we wore them out, we sent them back under warranty. This truly is the last corkscrew you’ll ever buy – but not the last one you’ll gift!
RIEDEL Veloce tasting set stemware ($178)
RIEDEL is the biggest name in wine glasses for a reason: their designs work, enhancing the tasting experience by optimizing aroma and flavors. This set makes a great gift due to the inclusion of two designs for red and two for white. You get a Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir glass, – as well as a Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc glass. Right there you have about 75% of wine your gift-getter is likely to taste, and they can always press the Cab or Chard glass into service for the more offbeat stuff.
Silver Oak Alexander Cabernet Sauvignon with personalized label ($225)
Silver Oak is a fantastic California Cabernet on its own – but for the Cab-o-phile on your list, the winery will personalize the label for an extra $125 over the $100 bottle price. You do need to put in an order by the end of November to make the holiday season. Miss that deadline? No biggie – the wine alone is a great gift.
Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne ($55)
Yes, you could shoot the moon and gift a high-prestige, quite expensive bottle of bubbly. But remember, there is no bad Champagne, so this superb – and superbly affordable – bottle is a perfect choice. Feel ambivalent about the price? Give two bottles! Or a case!
West Elm double bottle insulated travel tote ($38)
Having toted wine to hundreds of dinner parties in everything from plastic bags to knapsacks, I would say that $38 for a good-quality insulated wine carrier is a steal. Go for the two-bottle model, as that’s the classy way to arrive at a party: with a bottle of red and a bottle of white.
Yeti Rambler wine chiller ($70)
I am an unabashed fan of Yeti’s wonderful products; I’ve been using a stainless-steel tumbler as my go-to beverage vessel for years. When I spotted this sporty, reasonably priced chiller I filed it away for future gifting duty. There’s no reason why one in a more conservative color couldn’t replace an ice bucket at the dinner table; and of course, because it’s a Yeti, you can take it into the wilderness with the confidence that it will perform. Bonus: it can be monogrammed for $6!
Moleskine wine journal ($26)
The famous notebook company has created a special “passion journal” for wine enthusiasts (easily available on Amazon, by the way). Sure, many people now use an online wine tracker or their cell phone for notes about what they taste, drink, store, etc. But it never hurts to have good old-fashioned paper on hand, and this journal offers a nicely organized design that should delight the wine lover on your list. Extra points for the “wine dark” burgundy-colored cover!
Williams-Sonoma bar set ($150)
As a mixer of exactly six classic cocktails – martini, Manhattan, Rob Roy, Negroni, gin and tonic, margarita – I can get by with a shot glass, a cocktail shaker and a spoon. But for more sophisticated mixologists, a great bar set is essential. Williams-Sonoma does a fine job with these sets, which are both attractive and well-made.
Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch ($25)
What? No single malt recommendation? That’s correct. Remember, those who mix cocktails don’t necessarily want to contribute a splash of Macallan 12 to the concoction. Being a good giver of gifts entails considering your recipient’s real-world needs, and we all know that the holidays put pressure on the liquor cabinet. I’ve been a fan of Johnnie Black for decades. Yes, it’s a blended Scotch. But it’s also the best blended Scotch, and the right price. Trust me – nobody is ever disappointed to unwrap a bottle.
