By David Setley
One of the most frequently asked questions at Passion Vines these days is: “what wine would be a good gift for my [fill in the blank]?” There are so many choices in a wide range of prices, it is no wonder people become overwhelmed. Allow me to play ‘Santa Somm’ this week to help you choose the perfect wine that will delight the recipient and fit your budget. Here are my gift wine recommendations from around the world for 2022.
Rudolph, first stop France. If you are looking for a gift to impress the wine enthusiast on your list, try some of these splurge-worthy red wines. In French wines, look for “Grand Cru” wines, like the Chateau Bellefont-Belcier Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2016. This is a classic Bordeaux red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. This wine earned 92 points from Wine Spectator and is sure to delight the most discriminating pallets. Or, consider the Alphonse Mellot- Cotes de la Charite Pinot Noir 2016 for outstanding quality for the price. This is one of my all-time favorite bottles of Pinot Noir and is a great buy. If you prefer to keep your spending under $20, France still provides some great options. The L. Tramier & Fils collection has outstanding wines from Beaujolais and Burgundy. These are regionally certified AOP (Appelation d’Origine Protegee) wines, meaning they are grown and produced under the strict rules of the regions in which the wineries are located. These are excellent bargains.
France also offers splurge-worthy white wines. Try the Jean et Sebastien Dauvissat Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2018 for a dry, balanced, full-bodied wine that is guaranteed to impress. Chablis is a sub-region of Burgundy where Chardonnay is the king of white wine. Or, for a great value-priced French Chardonnay from the Loire Valley, Domaine de La Fruitiere offers a beautiful, crisp, outstanding Chardonnay flavor with a more reserved oak finish than you would find from California Chards. If Chardonnay isn’t of interest, I would recommend La Moussiere 2020 for an outstanding Sauvignon Blanc. Arguably the most refined, full-bodied, and well-structured Sauvignon Blanc wines comes for the Sancerre region of the Loire Valley. The La Moussiere 2020 is well-worth the moderate price.
Next stop, Italy. For Italian reds, the “king of wines and the wine of kings” is Barolo. My splurge-worthy recommendation is the Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco 2018. Similar to France’s AOP certification, this wine is DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) and guaranteed to be grown and produced in the traditional processes required by the region. This Barolo is an outstanding bold, dry wine that epitomizes the best of Italian wine making. Or, go with a Chianti Classico from Tuscany. My value-priced choice is a true classic: the Ruffino Reserva Ducale Chianti Classico. This wine is the perfect representation of Tuscany, offering great balance and flavor to complement a hearty Italian meal. For a more budget-friendly option, look to the Settevigne Vino Italiano 2019. This unique wine is a blend of the seven classic grapes of Italy (Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Barera, Corvina, Montepulciano, Primitivo, and Aglianico) in equal portions. The result is a full-bodied, rich, well-balanced wine with great dryness and outstanding flavor at a price that matches any budget.
Italy also has great white wines, beyond Pinot Grigio, that will satisfy the wine lover on your list. In Abruzzo, the white wine of choice is Pecorino. Check out the Pehhcora – Terre Di Chieti Pecorino 2019. It is crisp and light with excellent minerality and a well-rounded flavor. Or, try the Allumea Grillo Chardonnay 2021 from Grillo grape in Sicily. This beautiful wine has a fresh citrus aroma with a lingering mineral finish. Both are budget-friendly and great wines that will delight your gift recipient.
Final stop for this sleigh ride is Spain. The classic wine region of Spain is Rioja, where Tempranillo is the principle red grape. A splurge-worthy Spanish wine is the Cune Rioja Gran Reserva. This wine is dry, bold, and high in rich, well-structured tannins, and earned 88 points from Wine Spectator. It is a perfect representation of the region with the classic flavor profile of dark fruit, leather, and tobacco. Or, for a more budget-friendly Spanish red, try the Lobetia Tempranillo Petit Verdot blend from Castilla. It is an intense, dry wine with excellent complexity. For Spanish white wine, Albarino is my pick. The homeland of this varietal is Rias Baixas, Spain. Albarinos are light and crisp with notes of tree fruits and honey. My recommendation is the La Cana Albarino. At a very reasonable price, this wine offers excellent texture and a flavor that will pair well with chicken, seafood, pork and vegetarian meals.
I hope Santa Somm’s suggestions make your wine gift buying a little less stressful this holiday season. Happy Holidays to you all, and thank you for reading! As always, I appreciate your thoughts, questions, or comments. Contact me at dsetley@passionvines.com. Happy Wining!
David Setley is enjoying his retirement from higher education as a wine educator and certified sommelier at Passion Vines in Somers Point, New Jersey.
