Last-Minute Gifts for the Wine Lover

Buying Christmas presents for the wine lover in your life can feel daunting, especially if you don’t fancy yourself an expert on the topic. But as a wine lover myself, I can vouch that the following options are bulletproof solutions to satisfy your gifting needs.

DIY Winemaking

After years of working in Santa Ynez Valley wineries, Billy Dim launched Blendtique, which brings the fun of winemaking to your kitchen table. The company sends you a kit with four small bottles of different grape varieties (typically cabernet sauvignon, merlot, grenache, and syrah) along with a flask, pipette, and instructions. Once you concoct your favorite blend, you can order your own cuvée straight from the website. Kits range from $80 all the way up to the $500 combo pack, which includes your first case of wine. See blendtique.com.

Books to Buy

Books are the gift that keep giving, whether that means revisiting the pages, posting on your shelf to boost your wine-wisdom street cred, or letting friends borrow them when you’re done.