So, you love someone who loves wine. Maybe they always need to organize wine and food pairings for family events, or maybe they are always telling you more than you wanted to know about the style or varietal of wine on the table. No matter how many times you tell them you are not interested in the minutia, they want to fill you in on the details.
This year WINE not embrace it and lean into what they love? Sure, you could pick out a top-rated bottle in your price range and hope for the best, or you could try to think out-of-the-box and get a little bit more inventive. To guide you this gift-giving season, here are some non-wine gift ideas for your wine lover.
Table-top options
If you want to move beyond wine (or beyond wine alone), one place to start is on the tabletop. One option for this could be a jigsaw puzzle featuring your beloved’s most beloved wine region—perhaps paired with a bottle of one of their favorites from that locale. For a different kind of puzzle, you might try a lego botany set (there are several different options available), which could prove entertaining for an evening while your wine lover sips a floral-forward blend. If not something to build, maybe a wine-focused trivia board game instead. A game focused on testing wine knowledge might best be paired with a lesser-known varietal from a well-known wine region; go ahead, try to earn your bonus points with a surprise wine!
Something to wear
However, maybe games or puzzles are not your or your beloved’s thing. In that case, maybe consider something wearable. A nice wine-colored scarf, for example, for when you have to brave the cold. Or some warm wine-colored socks when it’s time to sit back and relax—with or without a glass of vino in hand.
On the other hand, maybe you want to wow your recipient with something sparkly? You might go with an option directly derived from wine production like Wine Enthusiast’s necklace featuring reclaimed barrel pieces. Or perhaps you’d like to go with something more “wine inspired.” In that case, consider Swarovski’s Lunar Drop earrings, which are reminiscent of (eternal) drops of rosé that will always be close at hand. Or, for a spendier option, you can drape a drop of red wine delicately around your beloved’s neck via the iridescent red Fleurs de Psydélic Silver Choker by Baccarat.
The classics
If you want go beyond wine (or go beyond “just” wine), know that you can always fall back on classics like a set of wine glasses (Riedel offers some nice “all purpose” options as well as a wide array of varietal-specific glassware, for example) or a quality cheese board, which would be good for use on a random Tuesday or for hosting friends.
If your wine lover is a reader, a book of Short Stories to Enjoy with Wine (by Stephen Kristof) could be nice, or maybe something more educational like Wine Folly’s Master Guide or Jon Bonne’s New Wine Rules.
Of course, other reliable choices include: a trip to a winery (either near or far); or a wine club membership (maybe you’ll find a new favorite!); or a gift registration to a wine education event (there are local/regional wine schools across the United States that offer in person and virtual options). Taking your person places—especially if there is wine involved—can create memories that far outlive the season.
You cannot go wrong with wine—or something wine-inspired
In sum, while a nice bottle of wine is always welcome, feel free to flex your creativity a bit this year and think outside of the box for your wine lover—you might even have some fun while doing so!
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