We spoke to both Coravin and Dustin Wilson, Master Sommelier and co-founder of Verve Wine, for expert advice on great wine gifts this holiday season.
Gifting a bottle of wine is a customary holiday tradition — particularly if you're attending a party. So why eschew tradition just because your holiday celebrations are happening virtually this year? Picking the right bottle can be challenging. How much do you spend? What's something that everyone will like? Add in an extra layer of stress if the person you're gifting the bottle to really knows their stuff. To help ease your mind, we've got five great bottles of wine for gifting, and the ultimate pouring system from Coravin to accompany them. For expert help on which wines to gift this holiday season, we spoke to Dustin Wilson, Master Sommelier and co-founder of Verve Wine. Wilson spent time at some of the top restaurants across the US including The Little Nell, RN74 and Eleven Madison Park — the latter of which he held the role of Wine Director. We caught up with Wilson to hear his picks for wines that are perfect for gifting (or drinking) this holiday season.
The Coravin Limited Edition Mica is the ultimate wine preservation system. If you haven't heard of Coravin before, it's a brand that's out to change the way that the world drinks wine. The system allows you to pour single glasses from a bottle of wine without opening it. It works by inserting a specially designed needle through the bottle’s natural cork closure, pressurizing the bottle with inert, medical-grade argon gas and pouring the wine into your glass. When you’re done, simply remove the System from the bottle. The cork closure will naturally reseal and the argon gas creates a blanket over the wine, protecting it from oxidation. Unique to this special holiday limited edition is its stunning Mica finish — which will fit seamlessly into even the most discerning of bar carts. Plus, it also comes with three Coravin Pure™ Capsules, two standard size Screw Caps to tap into your favorite screw cap wines and a convenient carry case.
Price: $400
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"Crisp, bright, refreshing white wine that is a total crowd pleaser. Up and coming producer that we are really excited about, coming from the Western Cape of South Africa, a phenomenal place for Sauvignon Blanc."
- Dustin Wilson, Master Sommelier and co-founder of Verve Wine
Price: $20
"Great for your boss, the wine enthusiast, Italian wine lover or your geeky wine friend — or if you’re a lover of Brunello, or other Sangiovese-based wines — you can’t go wrong with Stella di Campalto. Made by one of only a few women winemakers in this region, this has recently become one of the most iconic estates in Montalcino. This is a very elegant, fragrant, more delicate expression of Sangiovese. Personally one of my favorites. " - DW
Price: $114
"A crowd pleaser, yet still a special bottle you won’t see everyday. For lovers of Pinot Noir, lighter, softer red wines, and fans of Old and New World styles alike. By Farr is one of the top Pinot Noir producers in Australia. Located in an area called Geelong, Victoria, the grapes are planted on limestone soils (very similar to Burgundy, France) and are made in a beautiful, aromatic, old-world style." - DW
Price: $55
"For someone really special, the ultimate collector or simply a Chardonnay or white Burgundy lover. One cannot talk about the village of Meursault in Burgundy without mentioning Lafon. This property is synonymous with quality, elegance and longevity. Porusots is an incredible premier cru vineyard, known for it’s amazing texture and energy." - DW
Price: $410
"For the white and more balanced Chardonnay lover, those who tend towards domestic wines, someone looking to soon make the dive into old world style wines, or for someone who wants to venture out of their usual California Chardonnay. Lingua Franca is a new and up-and-coming producer in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. It is one of the more exciting producers of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, known for their balanced, sophisticated and complex styling." - DW
Price: $43