Gifts for wine lovers 2022: What to buy for those obsessed with vino this holiday

For anyone passionate about eating and drinking, the gift of wine and its accessories may seem like a slam dunk during the holidays. But it can also be intimidating for the giver. Wine is art in a bottle. Just like the art hanging on a wall, it's subjective and unique to the tastes of each individual.

We all get stuck looking for gifts at the last minute, relegated to whatever's left on the shelf of the one store we're able to visit. But right now, there's still time to seek and ship a wine gift set or accessory that will wow its recipient.

Wineries around the country have curated special collections for the holiday season that include hard-to-find vintages, low-production wines and more. Here are 12 ideas to get you started.

Best wine gifts 2022: Those that sparkle

Champagne never goes out of style and should always be on a gift list. Champagne Billecart-Salmon has a limited-edition gift set featuring the new label of its Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru, along with an eco-friendly Champagne bucket.

The Champagne is a cuvee of chardonnay harvested in two different years and aged on the lees for four to five years before its release. This is special. And the results are mouthwatering. The bucket not only ensures the Champagne is kept at proper temperature, but its curves also add elegance to a holiday table. ($150, shipped exclusively from wallywine.com)

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Best wine gifts: Those with game

Monopoly Napa Valley Edition ($39.99) is a wine-country spin on this classic board game. The stops along the board include balloon rides in the vineyards, some of wine country’s most beloved landmarks, and iconic wineries such as Beringer Vineyards, Frank Family Vineyards and Sterling Vineyards, just to name a few. The Chance and Community cards feature classic Napa events including a vineyard picnic and more.

For extra fun, add a bottle of Beringer, and others on the board, for sipping during play.

Best wine gifts: For those who love pop culture

Home-goods guru Martha Stewart and rapper Snoop Dogg seem like an unlikely pair on the surface, but they are the best of friends and brilliant business partners. The two also have namesake wines with 19 Crimes. Thanks to the brand's Living Wine Labels, Martha and Snoop can come to life as your holiday guests of honor.

For the season, this two-pack wine gift set includes a bottle of Martha Chardonnay and Snoop’s newest release, Snoop Cali Gold, a sparkling wine ideal for anyone who likes their bubbles on the sweeter side. The wines are affordable, fun and make for good conversation. ($24.99)

Best wine gifts: Affordable AND iconic

Justin Vineyards & Winery in California’s Central Coast is known for its culinary program and balanced wines. It has released six gift sets for the holidays at various price points, some of which won’t break the bank. The Classic Collection features the 2020 cabernet sauvignon, the 2021 sauvignon blanc, and the 2020 Right Angle for $95.

The Art of Blending Collection doubles the fun. It has three of the winery’s iconic and unique red blends, the 2019 Isosceles, 2020 Justification and 2020 Savant for $220.

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Best wine gifts: The big dawgs

Far Niente Wine Estates is well known in wine circles for producing classic chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. The winery offers an impressive gift set featuring wines from all five of its renowned vineyard sites in California's Napa Valley and Russian River Valley.

The most impressive is The Estate Collection. In a wooden box, it includes five versatile and food friendly wines from various appellations. There is something for everyone, from Estate Bottled Chardonnay to 2019 Nickel & Nickel John C. Sullenger Cabernet Sauvignon, to the big finish, an iconic 2014 Dolce Napa Valley. It’s a beautiful, impressive and delicious gift at $465.

Best wine gifts: For big parties

For those who will have lots of people around the table this holiday, large-format wines are the ticket. A standard wine bottle is 750 milliliters, while a magnum is double that size. Cakebread Cellars offers pages of gift sets, one of which features magnums of its Napa Valley winery signatures, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2021 Chardonnay, for $325.

One of the more impressive Cakebread offerings is Jack’s Collection, which includes six library wines, the 2012 and 2013 vintages of Benchland Select, Vine Hill Ranch and Dancing Bear Ranch cabernets at a whopping $1,450.

If that's a bit above your budget, the collector Ehlers Estate has three curated gift sets as well as a customizable option. The Cabernet Collector Gift Pack is the perfect gift for the cabernet sauvignon lovers in your life. It includes two of Ehlers Estates’ icons, both 2019 vintages, Jean Leducq and 1886, for $275.

Ehlers' holiday gift sets begin at $120 and include a variety of pairings for white-wine lovers as well as those who enjoy big reds other than cabernet sauvignon. Think petite verdot and cabernet Franc.

Best wine gifts: For those who love gadgets

This limited-edition liqueur dispenser serves as a functional conversation piece from St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur. The Le Royale Dash is inspired by the 1920s art deco appeal of St-Germain and is a stylish addition to your home bar.

Fill your flutes with Champagne and place them under the spouts. With one gentle press, just enough of the liqueur is dispensed for a perfect sparkling cocktail. Surrounding the bottle are holders for garnishes to personalize and add a touch of je ne sais quoi before serving. ($250)

Best wine gifts: For the perennial host

When it comes to wine glasses, Riedel is king and queen. Its varietal-specific glasses are engineered so drinkers can best taste the subtleties of each wine variety. The newest collection is Riedel Veloce, the thinnest and most lightweight of any of Riedel’s machine-made pieces. These glasses almost feel handmade and are perfect for that wine lover who has everything — because they don’t have these. At least not yet.

Available in cabernet/merlot, syrah/shiraz, pinot noir/nebbiolo, riesling, sauvignon blanc, rosé, chardonnay, and Champagne, varietal names are etched on the base of the glass lest you forget. Sets of two are $79

Best wine gifts: To make wining and dining easy

Scout & Cellar has put together a complete package to cover your holiday dinner from beginning to end, and it’s quite smart. You don’t have to think, only pop corks. This Holiday Dinner Gift Set ($119) begins with Ticklebumps Sparking Rose as an aperitivo that can also be served with dessert, if you can wait that long.

Next is a versatile gruner veltliner for the salad course, followed by two fuller-bodied reds: a syrah and a blend. Scout & Cellar created its own standard of quality called the Clean-Crafted Commitment. This proprietary designation involves lab testing each bottle to ensure it's free of pesticides, sulfites and more.

Best wine gifts: For something unique

If there was ever a bottle of wine that stood out on a shelf, it's Meeker’s famous Handprint Merlot. Every bottle has a handprint, and each one is unique, touched by the paint-dipped hands of the winemaker, owners and winery workers.

The newest bottles have that fall feel with copper and burnt-orange paints. Although the production is small, Meeker is a brand that, over the years, has become beloved by Southwest Floridians. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, Meeker’s holiday sets include a six-year vertical of handprint wines priced from $79 to $330.

For something equally interesting, Avaline's star power comes from actress Cameron Diaz, who has assembled a holiday collection perfect for sipping while watching all of those holiday rom-coms. The brand is known for being vegan friendly and organic, among other things.

The set has six hand-selected, limited-edition wines from around the world, each “inspired by the glow of a cozy night by the fire.” They include viognier, sauvignon blanc, syrah, bobal, merlot and penedés tinto. The set is $175 and is found exclusively at drinkavaline.com.

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Local wine stores are also full of gifts sets for the spirit lovers on your list. It’s a fun time to stock up and get a little something extra for yourself while you’re at it. Cheers.

Gina Birch writes about food, wine and spirits for The News-Press and at thebirchbeat.blogspot.com. Follow her as @ginabirch on Twitter and find her on Facebook. 

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Gifts for wine lovers 2022: What to buy for those obsessed with wine