Are you gathering for an office holiday party at your boss’ house? Heading to your in-laws’ for Christmas dinner? Looking for an easy way to cross a dozen people off your Christmas gift list? Below is our guide for holiday wine gifts that will cover any occasion on your list!
First up – Cava!!! You can’t go wrong with a bottle of bubbles, especially if you follow our lead and seek out this Borrasca Brut Cava for $10! It’s crisp, vibrant, and fabulously crushable! Just be sure you present the gift BEFORE you saber off the top.
Don’t know how to saber sparkling wine? Visit our instagram for a simple how-to guide AND a highlight reel of our own saber successes and failures.
These next two aren’t just easy drinkers; they also make great no-fail gifts, which is particularly handy this time of year when you may need a quick gift for someone but don’t know their wine preferences.
Going for white? Muscadet (pronounced muss-kah-day) is so delightful with flavors of green apple, cantaloupe and lemon, minerality, and high acidity. This bottle is aged on the Lees (noted via ‘Sur Lie’ on the label!), giving it a creamy flavor component as well ($14).
Muscadet is a white wine made from 100% Melon de Bourgogne grapes in the Loire Valley in France, and this bottle comes from Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, which produces the highest quality Muscadet.
Another fun fact about this bottle – ‘Sur Lie’ means this bottle was aged on the Lees. Lees are dead yeast particles (sounds gross, we know) that are leftover from the fermentation process and can be used to add extra dimensions to a wine during aging. In fact – traditional Champagne method requires the bottles are aged on the Lees. Lees give a bottle of wine a yeasty component such as flavors of bread or toast; and a creaminess like a soft cheese or butter.
For a red option, you can’t go wrong with Louis Jadot Pinot Noir – light-bodied, red fruits, and medium acidity make this a foolproof wine to bring to a friend or family gathering ($19).
Last but not least for quick gift ideas is Black Stallion Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon. Man, this wine is good. Bold, smooth, and perfectly balanced dark fruits with vanilla and hints of cinnamon. At $25, this makes a perfect gift for any California Cab lover that won’t break your bank. It’s the thought that counts, but it’s great when you can impress on a budget!
Let us know what you’re drinking and gifting this holiday season!
Witty Pairs 