From chillers to corkscrews, decanters to DVDs, here’s our round-up of great gift ideas for the wine lover in your life.
Unless you live in a castle or château, chances are you haven’t got a cool cellar to store your wine in. Most modern kitchens and basements aren’t really up to the job either, and neither is your kitchen fridge as you can’t control the humidity. This is where a bespoke wine fridge comes in. This counter top wine cooler from Avanti is a great first purchase and won’t break the bank. Its innovative design can store unopened bottles horizontally, and up to four open ones vertically.
This handy little gadget pumps air out of the bottle and seals the opening with a rubber stopper. Wine can theoretically stay fresh and drinkable for up to two weeks.
You can’t beat a top-notch, traditional corkscrew in our book. This waiter’s corkscrew from VinOrama has a handle made from finest quality, hand-picked, durable rosewood. The precision-cut grove along the screw reduces the drag as it cuts through the cork, making it less likely the stopper will disintegrate. The accessory also comes in a gift box and elegant black velvet carry pouch.
This compact, stylish wine rack holds 16 bottles horizontally, with room to store nine glasses too. Engineered from wood and finished in a dark, ‘espresso’ solid wood veneer, it’s a great storage solution for your collection.
If you’re just starting to explore the world of wine, it can be a little daunting to say the least. A real ‘corker’ of a read, The 24-Hour Wine Expert, by British drinks critic Jancis Robinson, cuts through the BS, meaning anyone can learn all that is really important about wine in a single day.
In this book, Oz Clark explores 100 bottles that have had the biggest impact on the evolution of wine. Highlights include the introduction of the cylindrical bottle in the 1780s; the first estate to bottle and label its own wine (formerly sold in casks to merchants only); the most expensive bottle ever sold at auction; and the oldest unopened bottle in the world.
Get ready for drinking in the great outdoors. This two-bottle wine carrier is perfect for a day at the beach or a woodland picnic. The set includes a corkscrew, bottle stop and two glasses, complete with wire holders that stick straight in the ground. The insulated pouch keeps the bottles cool too.
This hand-blown, lead-free crystal decanter is a stylish and attractive way to serve your dinner guests, and the wide base ensures the wine is correctly aerated. The slanted top meanwhile helps avoid spills and drips.