We’ve made it easy to find the perfect bottle for everyone (at every budget) this year.
Wine is a flawless gift. It is the true embodiment of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. That is to say, we’re chuffed when we see that vertical gift bag coming our way, so we’re equally sure everyone loves having the favour returned.
The only problem, really, is in the choosing, with such a huge variety of regions, varieties and styles to pick from. That’s why – lucky you – we’ve rounded up a list of quality drops that’ll satisfy everyone from the old-school wine aficionados to the newly wine-curious this Christmas. Below, we round up 15 of the best gifts for wine lovers this Christmas, no matter your budget.
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Wines under $20
2. Famille Bougrier Confidences Vouvray
Here’s one for the snackers and grazers in your life. The Famille Bougrier Confidences Vouvray is made from a variety called chenin blanc (Vouvray being the Loire Valley subregion the wine comes from), and while it flies under the radar in Australia, it has a global reputation for food-friendliness. This chenin is a lean white wine with high acidity, citrus notes and a dry finish – perfect with oysters, soft cheeses and pretty much anything else that comes on a plate or platter.
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Wines under $30
3. Fringe Societe Gamay
Lovers of light red often skew towards pinot noir or maybe grenache – and they’re not wrong, those are great wines. But for something a shade different, we recommend gifting a gamay. This Fringe Societe expression from France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region is light-bodied with low tannin, juicy flavours of plum and red berries, and it’s perfectly happy to chill in the fridge on those summer scorchers.
4. Shady Lane Pet Nat Pinot
Pétillant naturel – pet nat to its friends – has led a recent trend towards wines that are properly fun. This Shady Lane Pet Nat Pinot is a perfect example of what we love about the style, with its vibrant colour (that shade of blood orange!), easy-drinking flavours of strawberry and tart raspberry, and summer-ready fizz. An eye-catching wine if ever there was one.
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5. Pizzini Sangiovese
Victoria’s King Valley might as well be a far-flung Italian province, such is the density and quality of Italian wines produced there, and this Pizzini King Valley Rossa Sangiovese is one of the best. We love this sange for its balance of savoury and spicy notes, cellar-ready style (it’ll last at least 10 years for those with patience) and how well it plays with food. Tell whoever’s receiving this wine to match it with roast beef and they’ll thank you later.
Wines under $40
6. Ultimate Provence Cotes De Provence Rosé France
We would never want to come across as shallow, but just look at this rosé. If we eat with our eyes, drinking must be the same, and this Ultimate Provence Cotes De Provence Rosé is a stunner with its embossed bottle and rose-gold sheen. The rosé itself is a gorgeous example of what we love about the style, too, with a silky mouthfeel and fruit salad of flavours like raspberry, white peaches and grapefruit.
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7. Yering Station Pinot Noir
Here’s one for the history buffs – Yering Station had Victoria’s first vineyard, planted way back in 1838. Of course, it doesn’t matter if you’re interested in wine history or not (we are, for the record), because the Yering Station Pinot Noir is a winning gift, whichever way you spin it. A Yarra Valley classic, this light-bodied red has a velvety texture wrapped around flavours of juicy cherry and savoury, earthy notes that pinot lovers will, well, love.
Wines under $50
8. Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay
KJ, you’ve done it again. The kings of Cali chardonnay have long won us over with a full-bodied style that is (you’ll have to whisper it) just a little bit old-school. Ripened underneath the Santa Barbara sun, the Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay refines everything we love about the Vintner’s Reserve, with a rich texture combined with flavours of vanilla and tropical fruits.
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9. St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
The mystique of a well-aged wine adds a certain charm both in the bottle and as a gift, but a decade of ageing is a fair time investment. Here, the Dan Murphy’s Cellar Release program takes care of the timing, and lets lovers of Coonawarra cabernet experience a premium release right in its drinking window. This iconic St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 is a serious wine for the money, with soft tannins, intense dark fruit and aged notes of leather and cured meat (all good things, we promise).
Wines under $100
10. Henschke Apple Tree Bench Shiraz Cabernet
Blending shiraz and cabernet sauvignon is a uniquely Australian take and, boy, we do it well. Henschke already has a stable of incredible wines, but the Apple Tree Bench Shiraz Cabernet is as good as any for the price. Perfect for lovers of those classic full-bodied South Aussie reds, this blend is packed with intense plum and blackberry notes, licorice and spices, and it’s an ideal partner for red meat dishes.
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11. Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Champagne Brut Nature France
Here’s a fun fact: in Champagne production, a little sugary liquor is often added along the way, giving the wine a touch of sweetness to balance the acidity. With brut nature styles like this Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale, that liquor (called dosage) is left out. The result? A bone-dry, crisp, delicate Champagne that sings with zippy flavours of apples, pears and florals. A truly wonderful diversion from traditional Champagne styles.
12. Domaine Simha Rao Chardonnay
Premium chardonnay is a thing of beauty. This Tassie expression from Domaine Simha is a take-me-as-I-am natural style, picked under the full moon with no filtering or fining. The result is a thought-provoking gift for lovers of traditional chard or a step up for natural wine connoisseurs. Either way, expect flavours of lemon curd, buttered toast and honey, and a soft, supple texture.
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Wines under $200
13. Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah 2013
New Zealand’s Craggy Range only makes its Le Sol Syrah in the very best years, and 2013 has been hailed as something of a unicorn. This is premium syrah (the same grape as shiraz, by the way) at its very best, with intense flavours of plum and blackberries, little touches of star anise and an almost-endless length. This would suit fans of premium Aussie shiraz looking for an elegant alternative or, really, anyone interested in a benchmark red.
14. Laurent Ponsot Meursault Pandorea 2019
Don’t be fooled by the space-age cork alternative (a sort of heat and cold-resistant polymer, which is actually extremely cool): Laurent Ponsot produces classic Burgundy wines. This Cuvée du Pandoréa from the village of Meursault is a souped-up chardonnay, full of toasty oak, citrus and stone fruit notes, with a zingy acidity that holds it all together. A powerhouse on all fronts that would make a lovely addition to any wine-lover’s cellar.
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15. Kellermeister The Meister Eden Valley Shiraz
Made from vines planted in 1906, Kellermeister’s The Meister is a serious example of Eden Valley shiraz. The old vines contribute intensity and power with blackberry and blackcurrant flavours that last for days while 100% new French oak reins everything in. This is the sort of wine reserved for special occasions with the special people in our lives.
