The winter holidays are some of the best times of the year — eating great food, spending time with family and friends and giving and receiving thoughtful gifts are among the highlights. When you are looking for the right gift for the people on your list, consider a wine gift!
You can gift wine in all sorts of different ways, from the tradition of bringing a bottle with you to a party to other more unique ideas. View our holiday wine gift guide for some of the best wines for holiday gifts.
Indulge in the Top 6 Best Wine for Holiday Gifts
Wine is an excellent gift for the holidays and can be perfect for friends and family. Wine for holiday gifts can be a great way to surprise a loved one with their favorite bottle or a new flavor for them to try. There are seemingly endless good wines for holiday gifts, ranging from sweet to dry. Consider these holiday staples if you are looking for the best wine to gift.
1. Red Wine
Red wines are a staple to any holiday wine gift guide. Red wines are made from fermenting dark-skinned grapes. One of the most obvious traits of red wine is the rich red color, ranging from deep purple to pale red. Aged red wines can take on very dark shades of red and even turn brown, depending on the type of red wine and age.
One of the most popular red wines is Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best holiday wine gifts because it features notes of black currants, cherries and various spices. Merlot is another popular red wine that is one of the best holiday gift wines because of its popularity.
Other popular red wines include Zinfandel, Malbec, Syrah and Pinot Noir. You may also enjoy Sangiovese, Barbera, Beaujolais or Bordeaux wines. Regardless of the style of red wine, these holiday wine gift ideas are sure to be the perfect treat for your loved ones.
2. White Wine
White wines are made of fermented light-skinned grapes and are a good holiday wine gift for any wine lover. Unlike red wines, white wines are made using grapes with the skins removed before fermentation to prevent adding color to the wine and avoid higher levels of tannins. White wines tend to be sweeter than most reds, although the exact sweetness depends on the style and bottle.
Chardonnay is one of the most popular types of dry white wine, ranging in flavor from papaya to lemon. Chardonnay is often paired with shellfish like lobsters, prawns, crabs and heartier fish like halibut and cod. Sauvignon Blanc is also a great holiday wine gift for wine lovers. A bottle of Sauvignon Blanc features aromatic notes of citrus and acidic flavors.
Moscato is one of the best holiday wine gifts for those who enjoy a sweeter, fruitier wine. Other popular white wines include Pinot Grigio and Riesling.
3. Blush Wine
Blush wines are pink, ranging in color from light to medium shades. When making blush wines, winemakers may leave the juice of grapes in contact with the skins of red wine grapes to achieve a slight pink color. Some blush wines are made by combining red wine and white wine, resulting in a light pink color.
While many people use the term blush interchangeably with a rosé, there is a difference between these two styles. Rosé wines are made from leaving the juice from grapes in contact with skins and are never made from a blend of white and red wine. Blush wines may be made using either method. All rosé wines are considered blush wines, but not every blush wine is a rosé.
Some of the most popular blush wines include White Merlot, White Zinfandel and White Grenache. While these blush wines have the color white in the name, they are all produced by leaving the juice of red wine grapes in contact with the grape skins for a short period of time to achieve the pink hue. Blush wines pair well with various classic holiday meals, including lobster, barbecued meats, salmon, goat cheese and Italian dishes with red sauce.
4. Fruit Wine & Sangria
While traditional wines are made of grapes, fruit wines refer to wines made from any other type of fruit other than grape. This type of wine is made from fermented fruit juice. Additionally, floral wines are also included in the fruit wine family. Floral wines include elderflower and dandelion wine. Most fruit wines are alcoholic, although you can find nonalcoholic variations.
Fruit wine can be a fun holiday wine gift for a wine lover who prefers sweeter, fruitier bottles. Some of the most popular fruit wine flavors include peach wine, pineapple wine and green apple wine. You may also enjoy fruit wines featuring notes of watermelon, red apple and mango strawberry.
Sangria is another sweet wine beverage originating from Spain. The color and flavor of sangria can vary depending on the wine used to make this drink. There are many different variations and recipes for sangria, and ingredients vary widely. White sangria is made from white wine, and red sangria is made from red wine. Generally, a traditional sangria uses fruit juice, such as orange juice, sparkling water, simple syrup, chopped fruits and flavored liqueurs to enhance the flavor.
5. Orange Wine
If you’re looking for a unique gift on our wine holiday gift guide, you may want to consider orange wine. Despite its name, orange wine is not made of oranges. Orange wine is made from white grapes that are mashed and placed into a larger container. These grapes are fermented for as little as four days to a year with the seeds and skins attached.
This natural process uses little to no additives, resulting in a more unique flavor profile and taste than white wines. Orange wine often has a nuttier flavor from oxidation during the fermentation process.
Orange wines are often described as bold, robust and flavorful, with notes of jackfruit, juniper, linseed oil and hazelnut. Most orange wines are more dry and feature a tannin level similar to red wine with a sour taste similar to a fruit beer.
Because orange wines have such a bold flavor, they pair perfectly with bold cuisine. You may want to pair orange wines with Moroccan or Ethiopian dishes. Orange wine is also excellent with Korean dishes, such as kimchi, and Japanese meals and curries.
6. Honey Wine & Mead
Honey wine, also known as mead, is made from water and honey fermented with yeast and flavored with various spices, hops, fruits and grains. Honey wine is a unique beverage that falls between wine and beer. Mead features a unique flavor profile because of the fermented honey. Depending on the ingredients added, mead may taste similar to white wine, fruit wine or even hard cider.
Some of the best meads can amplify and strengthen the flavors of high-quality honey. Mead is incredibly versatile, ranging from very sweet to dry. If you are new to mead, you may want to select a bottle based on its added ingredients. For example, if you know you enjoy a certain spice or fruity note, you can choose a mead flavored with this for a delicious treat.
Holiday Wine Gift Sets
While a bottle of wine can be an excellent gift, wine-themed holiday gifts, including wine gift sets, are the perfect option for the holiday season. Wine gift sets feature two or more bottles of wine, allowing you to gift your loved ones a variety of wines for them to enjoy. If you know your friend or loved one enjoys a specific bottle of wine, a wine gift set can get them a few bottles of their favorite style or type of wine.
On the other hand, you may not know the exact style of wine your friend or family member enjoys. In that case, a wine gift set can be a good holiday wine gift because you can gift multiple types or styles of wine. A wine gift set can provide numerous flavors, allowing your loved one to try new styles and maybe even find a new favorite bottle of wine.
If you are gifting to a couple, family or even coworkers, holiday wine gift sets may be right for you. You can choose from red, white or sparkling wine gift sets. Some gift sets also feature various styles of wine, allowing you to gift various types of wine.
Gift a Boozy Advent Calendar
Boozy advent calendars are a fun, unique option for a light-hearted gift that offers delicious samples of various wines. A boozy wine advent calendar is perfect for any wine lover. A wine advent calendar is a 12-day calendar featuring white, red and rosé wines from around the globe. Count down to the holidays with this delicious advent calendar.
Each day, open up a box to uncover what delicious treat awaits! Wine advent calendars are a great way to enjoy some fan-favorite wines and classic styles. You may also discover your new favorite flavor or style with a wine advent calendar. You can also find whiskey advent calendars and vodka advent calendars. These advent calendars feature a delicious array of spirits, perfect for any cocktail.
A boozy top-shelf varietal advent calendar is also perfect for any cocktail lover. Each day of this advent calendar features a well-known high-end spirit.
Find the Perfect Corporate Gifts
Corporate gifts are a great way to show appreciation to coworkers, business partners and clients. Wine can be a thoughtful, elegant gift sure to impress your coworkers or clients. While you can choose a bottle you know your coworkers enjoy, any bottle of wine is sure to be an excellent holiday gift. If you are unsure, you can also buy a gift set featuring different flavors, such as:
- Wines: When it comes to shopping for the right gift for your coworkers or business clients, choosing the right gift may seem challenging. Fortunately, a bottle of wine can be the perfect holiday gift and show your appreciation. Choose from fan-favorite bottles of wine that are sure to impress anyone. You can also pick a unique bottle of wine for a more personal gift and let your coworkers or business clients explore new flavors of wine they may not have tried before.
- Champagne: Champagne is one of the best ways to celebrate any holiday occasion. Gifting a bottle of champagne for the holidays can show your appreciation and be an elegant gift for anyone on your list. Champagne is known to be elegant, sophisticated and luxurious, making it an exceptional holiday gift.
- Spirits: For those who may not be a fan of wine or champagne, you can also gift your coworkers or clients a spirit. There are many spirits to choose from, making them a versatile gift. You can give bourbon, brandy, gin or rum for a sophisticated holiday gesture. Other popular holiday spirits to consider include tequila, vodka, whiskey, cognac and Armagnac.
- Gift certificate: Since there are so many great gifts to choose from, you may not be sure what to choose. Fortunately, you can purchase a wine gift certificate. A gift certificate may be the best way to give someone a thoughtful gift while letting them choose their favorite bottle of wine or spirit.
Bring Bubbly to Your Special Celebrations
Champagne and sparkling wines are a great idea for any adult on your holiday list. All champagne is considered sparkling wine, but not every sparkling wine is champagne. There are numerous types of sparkling wine, with champagne being the most common. In addition to champagne, cava and prosecco are also popular sparkling wines.
Champagne gets its name because it originates from the Champagne region of France. Most champagnes are made of three grapes, including Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Champagne labeled “Blanc de Blancs” means it is made only from chardonnay. On the other hand, champagne labeled “blanc de noirs” is made only from Pinot Noir.
Champagne and sparkling wines are a perfect way to celebrate, and they pair well with numerous dishes. The bubbles of champagne and sparkling wine add a unique taste and increase pairing versatility. Sparkling wines also feature acidity levels that help carry richer, hearty flavors further on the palate.
Champagne often pairs well with cheese and bread and shellfish, shrimp, caviar, calamari, smoked salmon and oysters. You can also serve stuffed mushrooms, salami and meat platters, egg dishes and various vegetables alongside champagne. For dessert, champagne pairs well with most buttered or honeyed desserts, crepes and tarts.
Shortbread cookies are also an ideal dessert to enjoy with champagne and sparkling wine. The bubbles and acidity of champagne pair well with and balance the rich butter flavor of shortbread cookies.
View Our Gift Center and Order Wine Gifts Online
At Marketview Liquor, we are proud to offer an extensive selection of wines, spirits, gifts and accessories. We offer some of the most popular and delicious bottles of wine available and believe that premium wine and spirits should not have to break the bank. We offer numerous deals, promotions and discounts, so our customers can enjoy delicious wine at an affordable price.
View our selection of holiday gift wines and order wine online today to get the perfect gift.