The Gifting Pro Playbook

It’s that time of year again! The holiday season can be quite overwhelming and stressful trying to pick the right wine for your gifts. Well, we are here to help! We curated our Holiday Collection perfect for whatever occasion you need!

The Wine That Everyone Loves

Easy-drinking. Food-friendly. Great on its own. That’s what Château Tour Calon Classic 2018 and Ruttenstock Grüner Veltliner 2023 have to offer! The French red, full-bodied blend from Saint-Émilion is going to be your quintessential, easy-drinking red wine with notes of petite black cherries and cocoa and vanilla bean with ever-so-smooth fine tannins. Extremely food-friendly or great on its own!

If you’re looking for a white wine, look no further than a Grüner Veltliner. The Ruttenstock from Austria is a classic crisp, refreshing wine, packed with a lively acidity. It has delicious citrus notes and a surprising hint of white pepper on the finish! This wine is not only great for its taste; it's also a 1-liter bottle---who doesn’t love an extra glass? Pair this bottle with a spicy dish, Asian cuisine, or enjoy a glass or two on its own.

The Friend Who Knows Everything About Wine

We all have that friend who knows a lot about wine, and it can be intimidating figuring out what wine to get them. You want to make sure it’s going to match their palate but also something unique and surprising to them.

Perhaps your friend is familiar with what a Pet-Nat is. But, we bet they've probably not yet had one from Portugal! Bojo do Luar Pét-Nat Azal Brut 2023 is a fun, fruit-forward, fizzy Pet-Nat from Vinho Verde that is full of your tropical notes---like kiwi, green mango, some celery stalk, and even jasmine and ginger that will make for a perfect pairing with your holiday charcuterie board!

And how about some fun with a chillable red from the Jura region in France? Domaine Jean-Luc Mouillard Sur la Cour Trousseau 2022 is a light-bodied, mineral-driven, medium-acidity wine filled with herbaceous notes, bright cherry, and young leather on your tastebuds. Pair this chillable red with earthy dishes like mushrooms or gamey meats. Trust us, your friend will love it!

A Unique and Unusual Bottle

We specialize in unique and unusual wines, so almost anything at the shop would work! But, if you’re looking for something really different to give as a gift, take a look at our Hungarian wines or skin-contact orange wines! These are great gifts because it’s not something you’d ordinarily drink or see. One Hungarian wine we love is the Szent Donat Tufa 2022. It's a perfect pairing with your heavier, heartier winter dishes. This wine expresses delicious red fruit notes with a bit of salinity and a distinct minerality.

We have tons of amazing orange wines, but Château Famaey Primer Amour Skin Contact White 2021 from Cahors, France is a gorgeous, vibrant yet lush wine with a soft and creamy finish. Delicious and easy!

The Special Occasion Bottle

Engagements? Anniversaries? Birthdays? Meeting the In-Laws? Gifts for your boss? A treat for yourself?! Whatever the occasion, you need these two wines. While we have so many favorite ones in the shop right now, the top two, after a loooongggg consideration will have to be the Moulin Touchais Côteaux du Layon 2005 for white wine lovers and the Monroy Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 for red wine lovers. The Moulin Touchais is a Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France and has a nice, creamy, honey-toned finish with a high-minerality and a high-fruit intensity. A truly special wine that can age up to 100 years! The Monroy Wines Cabernet Sauvignon is a delicious California red wine---classic and harmonious with an understated dark-fruit ripeness. It is best enjoyed after some time decanting.

Which wines are going to make it into your gift bags? Let us know by taking to Instagram and sharing your favorite holiday wine picks (@DCanterwines). Stop by DCanter and let us help you pick out something delicious for the holidays. Cheers!