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2022 Holiday Gift Guide

The Best Red Wine Gifts to Bestow this Year

Holly Shaw, DipWSet, ReserveBar Wine Contributor
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As the holiday season kicks into full swing, here’s a winning list for all those cousins, great-uncles, siblings, and friends who love red wine. You know the ones – they shun white wine by the glass and order a bottle of red after consulting the wine list and asking the sommelier questions about rainfall in southern French regions in 2015. They talk about their latest visit to Tuscany and the sea of red wine they drank around the old rustic tables of winemakers in the countryside. Yes, you know exactly the ones I’m talking about, and honestly, I might be one of them as well. So, if you’re looking for something smart and fun to impress the red wine lover in your life, I have you covered.

Red wine is amazing from regions all over the world, so your choices are broad: Portugal, Spain, France, Napa, etc. Pair an interesting bottle with an accessory like a wine opener, engraved glasses, a decanter, or a basket of goodies, and you’ll have an impressive and appreciated gift.



Make It The Ultimate Gift

There are a few ways to elevate your gift of a wine bottle. Did you know that you can add engraving to almost any bottle? What better way to say, “I chose this just for you!”

Another way to personalize and upgrade this gift is to create your own gift set. Start with a nice basket, bowl, or even an ice bucket, and fill it with wine goodies. Try sourcing wine charms, Wine-Away, coasters, wine openers, special snacks, and more for gift baskets or boxes.



Red Wine Lover: Casa Ferreirinha Douro Red Wine

There is something magical about the wine produced in the Douro Valley. The breathtaking landscape, harsh summers, and grueling harvests give way to incredible red wine.

Casa Ferreirinha is an elegant and intense wine that shows the beauty of Douro Valley. This is a perfect wine to bring to a dinner party or gift to someone who is always looking for a delicious red wine.



Cabernet Lover: Freemark Abbey

Freemark Abbey has long been a standard bearer for quality wine. Cabernet Sauvignon is celebrated in Napa Valley, given the perfect weather and location for growing this grape. Freemark Abbey was one of the 12 American wineries chosen to compete in the historic Judgment of Paris tasting in 1976. This competition pitted American Cabernet and Chardonnay against the great Bordeauxs and White Burgundies in France. Just grab this wine for your Cabernet lover, and be ready to rattle off that tidbit of history for them upon opening. I promise you’ll get a thank you note.



Pinot Lover: Gran Moraine Pinot Noir

The Pinot Noir grape has long been heralded as one of the greats. You can thank Burgundy lovers and the movie Sideways for its popularity. The small problem is that Pinot Noir is a finicky grape, and the production of pinot can vary in quality, style, and taste. But Gran Moraine is a gem from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, so look no further. They’re crafting pure elegance in a bottle. If you have a pinot lover — (Me! Me! Me!), they will savor every sip and say, “Wow! How did you know?”



Rioja Lover: Montecillo Reserva Rioja

There is nothing quite like Spanish wine; it sounds exotic and very special. The region of the Rioja is typically a blend of grapes, with the main varietal being tempranillo, and stands with some of the greatest wines in the world. This Rioja is an age-worthy red wine that pairs well with dinner or can stand alone in the glass.

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Article Entry Full Image 1: Red Wine Gift Guide 10.30.22 - Content Block image



For Your Gadget Lover: Coravin

The Coravin is a cool device that allows you to access wine without opening the bottle and therefore exposing all the wine to oxygen. With the Coravin, you can enjoy a single glass at a time from the same bottle for weeks or months. This allows your wine lover to enjoy a glass, even if they are drinking solo, without ruining the entire bottle. The inventor's first prototype was called “wine mosquito,” aptly named by his 3-year-old son. This is a nice upgrade or enhancement for any wine lover's bar, especially one who enjoys rare or expensive wine.



Kosher Wine: Psagot Cabernet Sauvignon

I am a huge fan of wine that is being produced in Israel. This gem is from Jerusalem and is one of the best Kosher wines you will taste. Kosher wine (grapes and equipment) may only be handled by religious Jews once the grapes reach the winery. The Kosher certification means that only Kosher items can be used. If you’re vegan, this is also a great wine choice for you, as most Kosher wine is known to be vegan (make sure you check the label). This Cabernet is everything you expect, with a piercing black currant flavor highlighted by strong tannins.



Wine Related Gifts

I am a wine lover, educator, and writer, and my friends tell me all the time, “I can’t buy you a bottle of wine.” And I get that — it’s very hard to impress me, but not impossible! I do love and appreciate the effort of a wine gift, and honestly, it's not always wine itself. For your friends like me, there are lots of wine-related or travel gifts that they will love. I’ve rounded up a few items I wouldn’t mind (or have happily received) myself.



World Traveler: Billykirk Passport Wallet

Every world traveler needs to look the part. This passport wallet is a perfect holder for the passport, boarding pass, and those extras that always seem to accompany you around the airport.

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Article Entry Full Image 2: Red Wine Gift Guide 10.30.22 - Content Block image



Hostess gift: Waterford Glassware

These stemless wine glasses are gorgeous. The design is sleek and elegant — the perfect wine glass without a stem. Give these as a gift (I’d love these if anyone in my family is reading this!) or as a hostess gift.



Let Them Pick: ReserveBar Gift Card

While a gift card might seem like you haven't taken the time to get a “real” gift, I actually love when I can pick out my own wine, so this ReserveBar gift card is on my list as a thank you, hostess, or gift for the holidays!



Luxury Gift: Waterford Decanter

A decanter is an important tool for any red wine lover. This Waterford decanter is not only sleek and elegant in design, but it aerates the wine and gives a gorgeous pour. Decanting is an important part of drinking red wine as it will soften tannins and the wine in the bottle to be exposed to oxygen.

I hope I helped to make your red wine gift-giving easier and more special. From Bordeaux to Rioja, the world has so many amazing red wines to offer, so I won’t blame you if you do a little “one for me, one for them” type of shopping this holiday season. If you are looking for even more red wines to gift, shop the entire Red Wine Collection here!