If you are looking for a gift with a difference for a wine lover this Christmas, why not treat them to a recognised wine course, or a wine tasting session?
Steve Hovington at Cambridge Wine Academy offers classes for WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) Levels 1-3 and also runs regular wine tastings throughout the year.
I really enjoyed the WSET Level 3 course I took with Steve a few years ago and I learned a lot from his sessions. I have since attended several of Steve’s regular wine tasting sessions and these are always fun, interesting and informative.Â
So, if you’re looking for that special gift this Christmas, further details can be found here
For other wine-related Christmas gift ideas, see here
This is an ideal gift for a wine lover this Christmas – Adopt a Vine. Many UK wine growers are now offering this opportunity to own part of a vineyard for a year, and the package usually includes a vineyard tour and wine tasting, as well as a bottle of wine from your adopted vine. What’s not to like? It’s the perfect gift for a wine lover.
We have adopted a vine at White Castle Vineyard near Abergavenny these last few years and visiting the vineyard to see our adopted wine, enjoy a guided tour of the vineyard and then of course taste some excellent wines, including our adopted grape variety, is always the highlight of our trip to Wales.
An ideal gift for a wine lover who is keen to learn more about the newest New World wine country – England (and Wales). Oz Clarke’s ‘English Wine – from still to sparkling’ tells the story of the transformation of the wine scene on this fair island over the last few decades.
Starting with a history of English wine from how it used to be, Clarke takes the reader through the Nyetimber Effect and the changes it heralded to where we are now. There’s a great section on location and a comprehensive overview of vineyards and wineries across England and Wales, with lots of useful information, including contact details, wine recommendations etc.
All you ever wanted to know about English (and Welsh) wine – all in one place. A great book. And the perfect gift for your favourite wine lover!
Oyster Bay Chardonnay, Marlborough 2022 (New Zealand)
This fine Chardonnay from one of New Zealand’s foremost wine producers, Oyster Bay, will get your Christmas festivities off to a great start! With aromas of peach, lemon and grapefruit on the nose heralding flavours of nectarine and peach on the palate, it’s a very good representation of a cold climate Chardonnay from a region best known for its Sauvignon Blanc wines.
The layers of fruit are well supported by the bright acidity, subtle hints of oak and the creamy texture, creating a delightful wine which is perfect by itself or with a seafood or vegetable dish. Available from Sainsbury’s (£10.75)
This Assyrtiko wine from Macedonia is a crisp, dry wine with an appealing freshness on the palate. A blend of Assyrtiko (85%) and Viognier (15%), it has aromas of apple, peach and a hint of smokiness on the nose, and flavours of apple, nectarine and peach on the palate.
This Vinsobres wine from the northern tip of the southern Rhône region of France is a smooth, rich, full-bodied wine. A blend of Syrah and Grenache grape varieties, it has aromas of cherry, raspberry and vanilla on the nose, leading to blackberry, cassis, liquorice and chocolate on the palate. It is a well-balanced wine with notes of garrigue on the finish.
This is a very appealing wine that pairs well with a roast meat dish, or roasted vegetables. Available from Sainsbury’s (£12)
Altolandon Mil Historias Bobal 2020, Manchuela (Spain)
Though not very well-known internationally, Bobal is Spain’s second most-planted red varietal after Tempranillo and this wine from Manchuela in South East Spain is a fine example of this less familiar grape variety.
An appealing wine with herbaceous and black fruit aromas on the nose, and flavours of cherry, plum, blackberry, and raisins on the palate. It is a smooth, medium-bodied wine with medium tannins and medium acidity, and will make an ideal match for the complex blend of flavours associated with a traditional Christmas lunch, or a nut roast. Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£14.99)
The lusciously sweet Samos Vin Doux is another treat for the palate. Golden in colour, and made from Muscat grapes, it has aromas of honeysuckle, apricots and peaches, and flavours of honey, stone fruits and butterscotch. A smooth, wonderfully balanced wine, this is a perfect match for dessert. Available from Waitrose (£9.99)
Merry Christmas!
Look out for more wine suggestions from around the world in 2025. Cheers!
A full-bodied wine, smooth, elegant and balanced, with velvety tannins and a lingering finish
Agiorgitiko, Kanakaris, Peloponnese 2022 (Greece)
This Agiorgitiko wine from Aigialeia in the northwestern Peloponnese is a fine example of one of Greece’s best-known grape varieties. It is produced by the third generation of the Kanakaris family, one of Greece’s foremost winemakers.Â
Deep ruby in colour, it has aromas of blackberry, cherry, coffee and vanilla on the nose, and flavours of blackberry, plum, strawberry jam, cinnamon and liquorice on the palate. It is a full-bodied wine, smooth, elegant and balanced, with velvety tannins and a lingering finish.Â
Enjoy with red meat dishes, notably lamb, roasted vegetables or mature cheese.Â
Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£19.95)
A delightfully aromatic dry white wine with fresh, light acidity
M & S Found Moschofilero-Roditis, Peloponnese 2023 (Greece)
This wine is part of Marks & Spencer’s celebrated Found range, which seeks to introduce interesting and less accessible wines for discerning wine drinkers to discover and enjoy.Â
Produced from grapes grown at altitude on the Peloponnese peninsula, this is a well-crafted blend of the aromatic Moschofilero (80%) and citrusy Roditis (20%) grape varieties. The result is a delightfully aromatic dry white wine with fresh, light acidity.Â
With Muscaty, honeyed tones and a minerally, lemon tang, this is a well-balanced wine with a lengthy finish. It’s a perfect match for seafood and offers excellent value for money.Â
This barrel-fermented Rioja is produced from Viura grapes and is a well-balanced, full-bodied wine with a creamy mouthfeel and a lingering finish.Â
Cune Barrel Fermented Rioja 2021 (Spain)
While Rioja is deservedly well-regarded for its red wines, White Rioja is generally less well-known, and fewer than 10% of plantings in the Rioja region are white grape varieties. This barrel-fermented Rioja is produced from Viura grapes and is a well-balanced, full-bodied wine with a creamy mouthfeel and a lingering finish.Â
A complex wine, with aromas of lemon, peach and vanilla on the nose and flavours of citrus fruits, peach, melon, and a hint of toastiness and spice on the palate, this is a very good example of a modern White Rioja.
Enjoy by itself or paired with cold cuts, grilled fish, a chicken or vegetable dish.Â
A light, aromatic and elegant Vinho Verde from the west coast of Portugal
Atlantique Vinho Verde 2023Â (Portugal)
Portugal has a number of indigenous grape varieties which make it an interesting wine region to explore. This light, aromatic and elegant Vinho Verde wine from the west coast of Portugal is a case in point. It’s a blend of Loureira, Arinto, Treixadura and Avesso grapes and has a slight sparkling sensation that enhances its freshness.Â
Pale lemon in colour, with lemon and green apple on the nose and lemon, pear, peach and a hint of honey on the palate, this is a crisp, refreshing wine with a mineral note on the finish.Â
Perfect by itself on a sunny afternoon, or paired with fish, other seafood dishes or salads.Â
A bright, fresh wine from Western Sicily, produced from a blend of Grillo (80%) and Zibibbo (20%) grape varieties, combining the crisp, citrus flavours of the former with the more floral attributes of the latter.
With fresh, fragrant aromas of orange-blossom, almond and peach on the nose and flavours of citrus fruit, honey, peach and apricot on the palate, this is a wine with refreshing acidity, a round mouthfeel and a lingering finish that offers very good value for money.
A wine that can be enjoyed by itself, or as an excellent match for salads, or a seafood or chicken dish.
