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Searching for a wine buff is treacherous territory, I ought to know, I’m one.
And whereas I at all times admire the thought behind a gift and the cash lavished on it, not all drinks items are created equally.
By the years, I’ve ripped off the Father Christmas-covered wrapping paper solely to seek out the nice, the unhealthy and the downright bizarre inside; from wine aerators and whisky stones, to novelty gadgets like a decanter formed like a male appendage.
However give it some thought, for those who’re a drinks lover, you’re intentional concerning the topic – perhaps you accumulate wine or whisky, you spend cash on it, analysis it, learn columns on the topic (ahem) and are typically fairly critical about the entire thing.
As such, no wine buff ought to ever be made to endure the ‘reward’ of a t-shirt with ‘save water, drink wine’ scrawled throughout the entrance, and even worse, ‘corks are for quitters’. Please inform me none of you have got these…
What drinks fans need underneath the tree, apart from attention-grabbing drinks, is something that’s going to additional their training or pique their curiosity. It could possibly be a e-book, an expertise, or a little bit of package to feed the geek in them.
Don’t hassle with glassware, except you understand what they have already got, or bottles from advanced areas like Bordeaux or Burgundy, except you wish to remortgage.
In case you’re struggling to work out what to purchase for the drinks lover in your life, enable me to assist. After working within the drinks trade for twenty-four years, I’ve discovered a factor or two.
So listed below are my high 10 reward concepts for somebody who loves wine as a lot as I do…
Contemporary n’ Protect, £49.99, Peugeot, Saveurs.com
Peugeot additionally makes meals and drink-related gadgets, who knew? And what’s higher than a fizz-related merchandise for Christmas, together with a bottle cooler and dual-action pump that preserves something that’s left over? Ditch the teaspoon within the bottle, it’s time for the actual deal.
2026 Wine Knowledge Desk Calendar, £11.99, Waterstones
Filled with the best wine information, figures and titbits on each web page. From methods to pronounce grape names, explaining nationwide wine days, clarifying which wine glass it’s best to use, the checklist is infinite. Produced by Amanda Selby from Drink With Me, a wine educator with 20 yr’s expertise.
Champagne Bollinger 007 Restricted-Version in reward pack, £55, Amazon
This collaboration is a film/wine buff’s dream come true. It marks the four-decade-long partnership between the Bond franchise and the well-known bubbly. This champers inside occurs to be wealthy, crimson apple-skinned and scrumptious. Go on, you solely stay as soon as…or twice.
A Lifetime Membership to The Wine Society, £40 (consists of £20 off their first order)
That is the gold-standard wine membership for budding wine buffs, or certainly, established ones. They plunge their income again into the enterprise, so the fortunate recipient may have entry to well-priced, nice high quality wines. Plus, there’s particular entry to wine tastings and unique in-bond picks.
Clementine & Juniper Mulling Syrup, Fortnum & Mason, £19.95
The Swiss Military Knife of the mulling world, from one of many fanciest shops in England. This alcohol-free syrup combines zingy clementine and cranberry with the earthy tones of clove and juniper. Simply combine 5 components wine, cider or apple juice to 1 half mulling syrup, gently warmth in a pan and serve.
This cracking on-line wine course covers 9 of the world’s most vital grape varieties. You’ll have entry to a non-public YouTube channel with movies that may be rewatched to your coronary heart’s content material. Both order the package deal with the wine samples, or simply watch alongside and take in.
Restricted Version Portobello Street X All Issues Butter Gin, £33, Ocado
This isn’t like ingesting liquid Lurpak, it’s Portobello Street Gin redistilled with 10 blocks of All Issues Butter, Natural Salted Butter. The butter provides the gin a decadent creamy texture and a discreet saltiness which can tickle a drinks fanatic like me.
Savour: a information to tasting and exploring whiskies of the world, Kristiane Westray, £11, Amazon
Partaking whisky knowledgeable, Kristiane Westray, has written a sensible information to all issues whisk(e)y. She introduces us to distilleries in Australia, Finland, Mexico, South Africa, Japan and naturally, Scotland. Some fortunate particular person might be tasting and sounding like a whisky professional very quickly.
Perrier Jouët Grand Brut Champagne limited-edition reward set, £52, Amazon
Apart from a bottle of the contemporary and floral Grand Brut, you get two hand-painted Champagne glasses, adorned with their signature artwork nouveau Japanese anemone flower. I don’t usually suggest shopping for glassware for others (except particularly requested), however these are fairly particular.
Wine: Every thing You Have to Know, Olly Smith, £12.99 (£4 off), Amazon
You’ll have witnessed Olly’s infectious enthusiasm for wine on Saturday Kitchen. Now you’ll be able to have him within the type of an informative, brilliant orange, wine compendium. This information covers all the things from the fundamentals to ‘strive earlier than you die’ bottles. A high reward by a gifted wine communicator.
What NOT to purchase for wine lovers…
We’ve been via the perfect items for wine buffs, however there are a couple of gadgets I’d suggest avoiding. I’m certain you have got the perfect of intentions, however nobody actually wants these things…
Whisky Rocks
Please purchase them one thing extra authentic.
Wine aerators
Have you ever ever seen a sommelier utilizing one?
A Champagne silencer
The noise of the cork being expelled is mainly the principle level of bubbly.
Novelty something
Does a wine buff appear to be they’re joking?
A twin-lever corkscrew
I caught my thumb in a single solely the opposite day. They’re terrible.
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