How to gift wine

If you’re not sure how to gift wine, then wine hampers are always a great shout. They take a lot of the guesswork out of selecting and pairing a vintage. But if you’d like to DIY, we’ll share some top tips.

Is gifting wine a good idea?

First, the most obvious question… “is gifting wine a good idea”? Well, for many people in the UK, absolutely. It has near-universal appeal amongst those who do drink. Plus, there are so many types and varieties it’s easy to personalise to their taste. It makes a great gift for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, New Year’s, a work promotion, corporate gift, graduation and more. For many, wine and champagne are the go-to celebratory beverages and can signal a moment of significance or mark the passage of time in a memorable way.

Which bottle of wine is best as a gift?

There are three core considerations for which bottle of wine is best as a gift – taste, price and occasion. First, let’s start with taste. Depending on what type of wine your recipient likes best, you might go for these popular options:

Red

Very popular kinds of red wine are the Malbec, Pinot Noir and Merlot. They pair well with red meat dishes and rich pâté or cheese.

White

For white wines, try a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio. They’ll reach for a white with salads, fish and chicken or light hors d’oeuvres.

Rosé

If they like rosé, give them a Provence rosé, white zinfandel or rosé champagne. It’s a great wine for charcuterie boards, lobster and salmon.

How much should you spend on a good wine?

For most people, wine in the £15-£20 range is perfect to maximise value for money and pleasure. You’ll be able to find a nice, artisanal or sustainable option in this range that will work great as a gift. Obviously, the key to how to gift wine is about spending as much as you can afford and not more. The Fortnum & Mason Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Andre Brunel is an opulent red wine but £35 may be out of your budget. So, before you begin shopping, set a budget range and look for highly-awarded wines within that space.

What wine is good for special occasions?

Any wine can be good for special occasions but a crisp white Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay is ideal for summer and spring celebrations. In contrast, you might opt for a rich wintery Merlot or soft Malbec in the darker, colder months. This is, of course, with all other things being the same and your recipient not having a preference for one over the other. Taste should rule over time of year.