It’s the same every year. You rack your brain for the ultimate gift for your grape-loving friend but all you end up buying is a new bottle of something nice, an arty-type bottle opener or a set of new glasses.
Now don’t get me wrong, these gifts are still great but what about something a little more creative this year? Something to really tempt your friend’s taste buds and that oozes that ‘wow’ factor.
Buying gifts for the wine enthusiast doesn’t just have to be a nice bottle of red or a selection of fancy glasses. No doubt they’re thirsty for something different this year, so we’ve put together the ultimate gift list. Whether it is your best friend, work colleague, sister or dad – there’s a gift in here that’ll quench all thirsts.
1. Wearing Memories
For any sparkling wine lover, the sound of a champagne bottle opening – that ‘pop’ – tends to be associated with a very special memory. For a gift that’s truly exclusive, Wearing Memoriesbottle those unforgettable memories forever in delicately handcrafted jewellery. From pearl necklaces and bracelets to sterling silver rings and cuff links, the idea behind Wearing Memories is to keep those tin caps that sit on top of the champagne corks and write on the back the date and memory associated with opening that bottle.
Designed specifically to hold the champagne caps, Wearing Memories is 100% Australian made and crafted from the finest materials. What makes these pieces even more exceptional is how they work similar to a locket, allowing the wearer to interchange their champagne cap to complement their outfit or occasion. With the amount of special memories out there associated with champagne caps, this gives absolutely no limitations to how they can wear their sparkling wine memories.
2. Wine Subscription
Wine lovers can never get enough wine and that’s where the value of a wine cub can definitely come in handy. A pre-paid subscription encourages your wine-loving friend to explore different grapes and indulge their palettes in something they may not normally try.
For a focus on locally made wines, Naked Wines is simply great value for money with super tasty drops. Because they don’t invest in marketing and selling through the middleman, you get a unique range of wines that come directly from the wine makers themselves that you can’t buy from any bottle shops. What’s better, they deliver straight to your door too.
For something a little more indulgent, Perth Champagne Club have an exclusive range of vintage champagne, sparkling and fine wines from all over the world – including the champagne hot-spot France. Delivered to your door free of charge every month, the wine club at PCC gives your wine enthusiast friend a taste of something a little different and the perfect excuse to be properly pampered.
3. Wine Gift Baskets
If you’re after a present that offers a little bit of variety, food and wine hampers can make an ideal gift for anyone. Whether it is your wine-loving friend, your beer-thirsty mate or a colleague that loves those gourmet selections, hampers are an easy way to show someone you care without spending a fortune.
Gift baskets complete with a selection of stellar wines and delicious goodies have an elegant appeal about them. The variety they offer in flavour ensures each hamper has something for everyone, so you know they’re bound to enjoy something. Depending on your budget, food and wine hampers can range from $60 – $200 to give you the opportunity to find the perfect gift.
4. Birth Year Wine
It doesn’t matter what style of grape your wine-loving friend enjoys, buying them a bottle of their birth year wine will be thoroughly enjoyed. Whether they want to drink it or keep it on display as a vintage masterpiece, there’s something pretty special about taking the time to track down a birth year bottle.
You can do an online search for a bottled grape of the year they were born or head to your local wine store to browse and ask for help. Winesearcher is a good place to start and narrows down the vintage, wine region and where you want it mailed too. If you can’t afford their birth wine or struggling to find something you think they would like, any aged bottle from a producer they can enjoy should still please them.
5. Adopt-a-Vine
If it’s not enough to drink the wine, becoming a proud parent of your very own vine can make for an exciting and super exclusive gift idea. As a new parent, your friend will have the option to look after their grape baby by pruning it and learning all the vineyard skills along the way.
If your wine-loving friend thrives on learning all the ins and outs of their favourite grapes, then adopting a vine is perfect. They will be involved in the whole wine making process and watch how it matures over time. The adoption package usually runs for three years and they’ll be able to go visit whenever they like. After they have experienced the vine-to-wine journey, they’ll be able to taste their work with a bottle to take home and enjoy with friends (this includes you!)
Most wineries will offer different packages to choose from, so get in touch with your local one for options. Red Balloon also has an adopt-a-vine package or depending on your location, you can splurge out for a luxurious French vine where they can name your vintage and be part of an elite wine experience.
Author Bio
Corina Mentink is Director of Boxt.com.au, a leading online provider of Hampers, Balloons and Gift delivery in Australia. Connect with Corina on LinkedIn.
thanks for the advice I’ll keep these ideas for my wine lover friends
thanks for the advice!
These would be good for our friends, some of them love wine!
I love the wine subscription idea! Great way to try new wines!
This is a great list of wine gift ideas for the wine savvy! Wine gifts baskets are always a great idea and the adopt-a-vine sounds cool!
As a real wine lover, hehe 😉 this article was so useful for me. You also gave us a great advices and we appreciate that. Also this was perfect time when we need to prepare yourself for upcoming holidays and it’s good to have that on mind 🙂
my aunt and uncle are huge wine drinkers but they make there own
Great wine lovers ideas thank you!
Nice to read , good ideas 🙂
Fantastic !
awesome
this is great
I have a friend who would love the Wearing Memories! She is a huge wine lover!
great idea
Great ideas! Everybody loves wine)
thanks for the ideas
I like the Adopt-a-vine! Cool to be a part of the wine growing process!
These all sound like great gift ideas for wine lovers!! I’ve heard of wine baskets and wine subscriptions but not the others. I’ll have to check them out! Thanks!
Thanks for really great advice)
great ideas. thx!