‘Tis the season for holiday gift giving. What if you’d like to give someone a bottle of wine? How do you know which one to choose? Here to help us with that is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com
Welcome back, Natalie. So if choosing the right bottle is so tricky, why should we give wine or spirits as a gift at all?
When you give the gift of wine, doubles are fine unlike toaster ovens, there are no wrong sizes unlike that ugly sweater and regifting is so much easier compared to fruitcake.
And let’s be honest, has anyone ever said, “Oh no, not another bottle of wine!”
Sounds great! Let’s start with your first wines. What are they and who are they for?
Your personal trainer deserves Chloe Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both wines of versatility and vibrance, much like the workout program she’s developed for you.
Chloe Wines Chardonnay
California
Chloe Wines Monterey County Pinot Noir
California
Give her both as a gift set in acknowledgement of all that core balance work she’s done with you. These wines are bursting with fresh fruit flavours that will pair with those gloriously buttery mashed potatoes. Just don’t tell your trainer you had a second or was that a third helping?
Who’s next on your shopping list?
The Giesen Premium Red and Sparkling are perfect for your psychiatrist, bartender or whomever is giving you good advice lately.
Giesen 0% Premium Red
New Zealand
Giesen 0% Sparkling
New Zealand
Surprise them with these delicious alcohol-free wines from New Zealand. Now you’re thinking out of the box or bottle, and that’s big progress for you this year.
Of course, they’ll analyze whatever you give them so choose wines like this that are so juicy and mouth-watering they’ll pair well with holiday turkey and major emotional breakthroughs.
Who’s getting the next gift bottles?
Your boss. Choose this wine carefully: tasteful, but not showy. Complex but not complicated. You want to give your boss a wine that says you’ve thought about the choice carefully, but not obsessively. Go with a winery that’s guaranteed to impress: Caymus Vineyards.
Caymus California Zinfandel
California
Caymus California Napa Cabernet 50th anniversary
California
I have their Caymus California Zinfandel and their Caymus Napa Cabernet 50th anniversary wines, they’d make a lovely gift set, to subtly hint that you’re in it from the long run and your roots run deep.
These premium wines are made by the Wagner Family in California and have sumptuous dark fruit flavours and depth. Pair them with prime rib over dinner with your boss to discuss that promotion.
Who are these last bottles for?
Now you’ve shopped for everyone else, don’t forget yourself! The Honest Lot Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc have zero grams of sugar per serving.
Honest Lot Pinot Grigio
Ontario, Canada
Honest Lot Sauvignon Blanc
Ontario, Canada
That’s just the thing when you need something to balance all the sentimental sweetness of watching the seventh re-run of Miracle on 34th Street, not to mention one too many pieces of gingerbread.
In fact, they’re so tasty that they’re also a great accompaniment to off-key caroling and those sugar plums dancing in your head.
Natalie, these suggestions are fantastic! Any final words of wisdom for our viewers?
Here’s to the holidays: a season of giving, receiving, and raising a glass to all that binds us together!
Thank you, Natalie! Where can we find you and these wines and spirits online?
On Instagram, I’m at @NatalieMacLeanWine, and online, my website is nataliemaclean.com.
Posted with permission of CTV.
