(How to be a )
Wine Gift Hero

For lovers of White Burgundy: If the wine geek in your life loves to wax poetic about White Burgundy…seek out a Viognier (pronounced vee-oh-ñeh). Often compared to Chardonnay (the main white grape of Burgundy) but more aromatic and floral in style, Viognier is sure to please the Burghound in your life. What is nice about this wine is that good Viognier may be found at many price points. If you aim to splurge, seek out a Condrieu. Condrieu AOC is a French Viognier produced in the Northern Rhône Valley. It is obscure enough to impress your wine-loving pals (and since you will be spending at least $75 on Condrieu, you’ve earned the right to impress). Mid-priced versions are produced in California’s warmer areas (such as Lodi and Napa), and Australia makes Viognier that totally crushes its price point (sometimes as low as $15).

For lovers of Sauvignon Blanc: If your beloved enjoys fruity, zesty, and complex white wines, Sauvignon Blanc is certainly their jam. It is also ubiquitous (and, some would say, boooooring)—so if you aim to impress your SB-loving friends, find your way to the Spanish wine aisle and look for a Rías Baixas DO. (Hard to pronounce—Ree-as Bai-Shas—easy to love). Rías Baixas, produced in Galicia near the Atlantic Coast, is Spain’s latest “it” wine. Made from the Albariño grape variety, it is fruity, floral, complex, and packs a good lemony punch. Some people even say it is like Sauvignon Blanc without the green grass (pyrazine) aroma. Whether or not you agree with the comparison, rest assured you can delight your SB-loving pals with a bottle of Rías Baixas. Learn to pronounce the name and get ready to rock!

For haters of Sauvignon Blanc: If your beloved loves to hate Sauvignon Blanc, the culprit could be the searing acidity intrinsic to SB…and the answer is Sémillon. Sémillon is best-known as the Bordeaux-based blending partner of Sauvignon Blanc, and it is easily as complex and richly textured as Sauvignon Blanc. However, Sémillon tends to be much lower in acid—this being the reason the two grapes blend so well together. Sémillon is not often found as a stand-alone varietal, but Australia makes some excellent examples, as does South Africa, Argentina, Chile, and California. If you find one, you will be able to gift a lovely white wine with fruity, herbal, and nutty aromas…and just enough—but not too much—of an acid kick.

For lovers of Napa Cabernet: Napa Cabernet is an easy wine to love, but luckily for us, several other grape varieties can mimic its appeal. If your beloved is besotted with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, rock their world by gifting them a Chilean Carmenère. Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère have a lot in common: both are native to France, part of the red Bordeaux blend, and can produce rich, complex, red wines. Carmenère was introduced to Chile in the 1800s, as French vignerons fleeing the scourge of phylloxera in Europe discovered the verdant soils of Chile. However, unlike Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère was not widely re-planted in Bordeaux post-phylloxera, as the vine does not take to grafting well. However, in the un-grafted, phylloxera-free vineyards of Chile, Carmenère is a superstar, producing robust red wines with aromas of black currant, black plum, vanilla, dried herbs, and black pepper rounded out with a few floral notes.

For lovers of Red Burgundy: All hail you lovers of French Pinot Noir…what shall we gift to you? Oregon Pinot Noir and Beaujolais Cru are worthy substitutes, but if the point is to bestow the unexpected—I would bounce to Barbera. Barbera is native to—and widely grown in Italy’s gorgeous Piedmont Region, where it is used in several appellation-specific wines. These are also available at different price points. If you need to find a bargain, seek out Barbera d’Asti DOCG or Barbera d’Alba DOC. If you seek the medium dollar drain (or higher), try Barbera del Monferrato Superiore DOCG or Nizza DOCG. Whatever Barbera you choose, you will come bearing a lively red wine with aromas and flavors of red and blue fruit (raspberry, blueberry, plum), flowers, and dried herbs. On the palate, Barbera brings a good schwing of cherry-like acidity, and moderate tannins. Crack it open and enjoy!

For lovers of Chianti: If your beloved adores Chianti DOCG, you have it easy. Tuscany produces a wide range of Sangiovese-based wines that will appeal to any Chianti lover—and even better, they come in a range of price points. If you aim to impress (and don’t mind spending at least $75), look for a Brunello di Montalcino DOCG…Chianti’s grown-up cousin. If you would rather keep it around $30, look for Chianti’s cousin’s cousin and grab a Rosso di Montalcino DOC. Both of these Montalcino-based wines are 100% Sangiovese and produced in and around the southern edge of the Chianti-production zone. These are medium-to-full bodied, dry red wines with a good zing of cherry and plum flavors swirly around a lovely center of earthy-and-herbal flavors.

For any wine lover: The good news about gifting a bottle of wine is there is no need to worry about duplicates, sizes, or the mortification of re-gifting. Just take your time to pick a meaningful bottle, and don’t be afraid to ask your local wine merchant for help. Happy gifting and Merry Christmas!