On those (admittedly rare!) occasions when you open a bottle of wine but just want to drink a glass or two, wouldn’t it be great if you could reseal the bottle and put it away again?
Good news – the Coravin wine system does just that! It ejects wine from the bottle by pumping in argon gas so the wine doesn’t oxidise. The Coravin wine system inserts a needle into the cork (or screw cap) and as the argon enters the bottle, you can pour as much or as little of the wine as you like. Then you remove the needle and the cork or cap re-seals, protecting your wine till you want to open it again. Ingenious.
What’s more, the wine tastes just the same the next time you have a glass as it did the first time. Incredible but true.
A wine lover’s dream come true. And a perfect Christmas gift- check out the Coravin wine system here
Looking for a stocking filler for a wine lover? Try this
Now in its 48th year of publication, Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book is the world’s best-selling annual wine guide. The key reference book for any wine lover – with helpful facts and commentary on everything from grape varieties, to vintages, to wine growers and regions, as well as advice on which foods go with which wines. This is the wine book!  A perfect Christmas gift.
This neat wine thermometer is a quick and easy way of checking the temperature of your wine bottle and is a very useful little gadget for any wine drinker. An ideal stocking filler for a wine-lover!
It’s a simple cuff that fits around the bottle and quickly displays the temperature. It also gives the recommended serving temperatures for the most popular wines.
Available from Lakeland, John Lewis, Amazon etc. Priced around £9.00 -£11.00
For other wine-related Christmas gift ideas, see here
Everything you wanted to know about English and Welsh wines!
There is much to celebrate in one of the world’s most exciting wine regions – England and Wales.
This new book by wine expert and photographer Ed Dallimore is a fantastic resource for any wine lover wanting to know more about English and Welsh wine. Ed takes you on a fascinating adventure through Britain’s wineries and vineyards. You get to meet the people making top-quality wines, learn about their wines and get some great advice and recommendations from Ed.
Three key elements permeate the narrative: the right sites, the right soils and the right people, and from the south-west to the north of England, from urban wineries in London and Cambridge to vineyards in the shadow of the Black Mountains in Wales, you get to understand how these three factors combine to produce some really excellent wines, both sparkling and still.
Whether it’s White Castle Vineyard in Abergavenny, Gutter & Stars Urban Winery in a Cambridge mill, Rathfinny Wine Estate in East Sussex, or 140-odd others, this book will give you all the background you need and take you on an informative journey through the vineyards and wineries of Britain.
It’s a great read and the perfect Christmas gift for your favourite wine lover!
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
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!
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.
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!
