Giving Wine This Christmas? Read This First!
By Laura Conde, wine writer
Giving wine isn’t only about buying a pretty bottle – it’s about choosing an experience. Every wine has its own story, characters, and moment to shine, and Christmas is a good time to commit ourselves to finding that perfect bottle – the one that seems made for the people we love. If wine is your gift, here are some considerations to keep in mind before choosing a bottle.
Giving a gift box of wine
Pay Attention to the Year
Not all vintages are the same. Some are known for their excellence and consistency. In regions like Priorat or Rioja, the 2016 or 2018 vintages are particularly noteworthy for their balance and age-worthiness. If we’re looking for a young wine, 2024 is a great option. Choosing a good vintage is a show of expertise and ensures that whoever receives the bottle will enjoy the wine at its peak maturity.
Thinking about going all out? The 1962 vintage is deemed one of the best of the 20th century, and 1982 – so they say – marked a before and after in Bordeaux wine. If you don’t want to travel that far back in time, the 2004 vintage is excellent for Riojas and Ribera del Dueros. Fans of fresh whites with good acidity will appreciate a 2015 Albariño (a great year for Rías Baixas), and if we take a palate jaunt to France, 2005 was an exceptional year for Burgundy and Bordeaux wines. Any Italophiles in the house? When it comes to the great reds of Piamonte, 2016 is in a league of its own.
Mas La Plana range from the Familia Torres Private Collection
Varieties Matter
Of course, we can opt for classic, tried-and-true varieties when choosing a gift for someone with conservative tastes, but what’s better than being bold if we want to give something truly special. Opting for ancestral varieties – which many wineries are bringing back from decades-long obscurity – transforms the gift into something far greater than a bottle of wine: here we’re giving a piece of history, regional identity, and a vision for the future by choosing lesser-known grapes better adapted to climate change. For years, Familia Torres has been working with varieties like Forcada, Moneu, Gonfaus or Pirene, which – no disrespect to the great classics – make for an original and unforgettable gift.
Focus on Food Pairings
Knowing the culinary preferences of the giftee can help us perfect our choice. If they are fond of red meat or game, they’ll probably appreciate a well-structured red like Garnachas or Cariñenas from regions like Priorat. If they are of a seafood persuasion – especially fatty fish, seafood rice or marine-inspired fare – they will delight in a nervy white with good acidity – for instance, a well-crafted Chardonnay, an Atlantic Godello or a Xarel·lo from Penedès. For lovers of aged cheeses, a well-aged sparkling wine is the perfect gift.
Salmos, DOQ Priorat, pairs perfectly with a seafood paella
Labels On a Par with Art
There’s nothing more original than giving a bottle of wine whose label has been designed by an artist. The prime example of blending wine and art is probably Château Mouton-Rothschild, which has legendary labels created by the likes of Dalí, Miró or Kandinsky. Champagne Taittinger doesn’t fall short either, bringing Roy Lichtenstein on board to create a series in 1984.
A little closer to home, Penedès winery Jean Leon also generates excitement with the labels for its flagship Vinya La Scala, which always bear the signature of renowned artists. The recently released 2018 vintage boasts the work of Girona-born artist Assumpció Mateu, and the bottle in and of itself is a genuine work of art.
Presentation and Care
The way in which we present a wine also influences how the gift is perceived. By opting for an elegant case or wooden box, we can further enhance the symbolic value of its contents. Another important consideration is whether the wine is suitable for cellaring: including a brief note that explains how to store or age the wine adds a personal touch to the gift.
Gadgets to Complete the Experience
Including a small accessory along with the wine can really round out the gift. Anything goes – from vacuum stoppers that preserve an open bottle for several days or instant aerators that soften tannins while serving the wine to electric bottle openers, wine thermometers that ensure the perfect temperature, a set of top-quality glasses or elegant cooling sleeves for white and sparkling wines.
In the end, giving a bottle of wine is sharing a story. And isn’t that exactly what this season is about? On the Petit Celler website, you can find gift sets of wines or spirits, as well as tastings, novelties, and other gift ideas.