Let’s face it, giving wine at Christmas is like pulling a cracker – everyone does it, but the results can be wildly inconsistent. Do you pop a bottle of supermarket Prosecco into a sparkly bag and hope for the best? Or do you want to be the person who gifts a wine so impressive, your recipient suddenly forgets about the jumper from Aunt Sheila?

Here’s your ultimate, no-nonsense guide to giving the right wine to the right person, at the right price. Whether you’re shopping for your Secret Santa or Sir Snob-a-Lot with a cellar bigger than your garage, we’ve got you covered.

🎁 The £15–£25 Bracket: Thoughtful Without Being Flash

The Sparkling Upgrade

• Don’t be that person who brings basic Prosecco. Step up with a DOCG (the good stuff from the steep hills of Conegliano or Asolo). Try La Gioiosa Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Fancy name, surprisingly affordable, and it says: “I know my bubbles.”

Classic Reds With a Backstory

• Beronia Rioja Reserva 2019 – £15.99 and aged like your uncle’s anecdotes but far more enjoyable.
• Villa Antinori 2021 – A ‘Super Tuscan’ from a family that’s been at it since before Henry VIII started dating. Around £20.
• Torbreck ‘Woodcutter’s’ Shiraz – The baby brother of a £660 icon wine. At £21.50, that’s one hell of a family discount.

Festive Sweeties (No, Not That Kind)

• Waitrose No.1 Sauternes – Classy dessert wine that tastes like Christmas in a glass. Ideal for cheese lovers.
• Gonzalez Byass Solera 1847 Sherry – Caramel comfort for Stilton season.
• Burmester Ruby Port – A proper festive crowd-pleaser under £18.

🍷 The £25–£50 Bracket: For Enthusiasts & People You Actually Like

Fizz That Makes a Statement

• Moët in a Red Gift Box – It’s shiny, it’s safe, it’s Christmas.
• Woodchester Valley Reserve Cuvée – 92 points from Decanter and made in England. Patriotic and posh.

Red Royalty

• Ségla 2016 – The insider’s Bordeaux. Same terroir as the £100+ Grand Vin, but yours for under £45.
• Craggy Range Pinot Noir – Platinum award winner. The wine world’s equivalent of a mic drop.

Time-Travelling Fortifieds

• Gonzalez Byass ‘Noe’ 30-Year-Old PX Sherry – Liquid Christmas pudding. Bonus: It’s 30 years old. So it wins at life.
• Sandeman 20-Year-Old Tawny Port – Elegant, nutty, and festive. Like a well-dressed badger.

Gift Sets That Actually Feel Like Gifts

• Louis Jadot Duo (Mâcon Blanc + Beaujolais) – Comes in a wooden box. It’s basically the Swiss Army knife of wine gifts.

🥂 The £50+ Bracket: Prestige, Panache, and Proper Wow Factor

Champagne With a Personality Disorder (In a Good Way)

• Dom Pérignon 2013 – For the fashion-forward fizz fanatic.
• Krug Grande Cuvée – For the oenophile who says “I don’t drink NV Champagne” and means it.
• Bollinger La Grande Année 2015 – Rich, bold, and very Bond.
• Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill – Tastes like tradition and diplomacy. Possibly comes with a Union Jack.

Fine Wine That’s Basically a Bank Deposit

• Château Pichon Comtesse 2018 – Critically acclaimed, destined for the cellar, and whispers, “I’m aging gracefully.”
• Château Brane-Cantenac 2005 & Pavillon Rouge 2004 – For the discerning few who know Grand Cru from garden variety Bordeaux. These are legacy wines with soul.

The Adventurer’s Pick

• Fortnum’s Rebellious Wine Case – Wines you’ve never heard of but will definitely want more of. Includes skin-contact Chardonnay and an English rosé. Rebellious and refined.

🏆 Damon’s Top Tastes of 2025

Want to give something truly memorable? I trawled through my Vivino app to see what I’d actually tasted and rated this year – turns out I’m now one of the top 200 users in the UK (who knew!). It also turns out… I’ve got a bit of a thing for Margaux. These picks are my personal standouts from 2025 – wines I’d happily give and be even happier to receive.

Top 3 Reds (2025)

1. Château Brane-Cantenac – Margaux (Grand Cru Classé) 2005
🇫🇷 France
⭐️ My Rating: 5.0
📅 Scan date: 23 Aug 2025
💰 Approx. £120–£140
Mature Bordeaux elegance at its finest – structure, poise, and silky tannins.

2. Château Margaux – Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux 2004
🇫🇷 France
⭐️ My Rating: 4.8
📅 Scan date: 2 May 2025
💰 Approx. £170–£200
Second wine in name only. Refined, polished, and aristocratic in every way.

3. Gaja – Barbaresco 2010
🇮🇹 Italy
⭐️ My Rating: 4.6
📅 Scan date: 5 Jun 2025
💰 Approx. £200+
Nebbiolo brilliance. Earthy, floral, and worth every swirling sip.

⚪️ Top 3 Whites (2025, excluding Tormaresca)

1. Summer Dreams – Walking On Venice Beach Sauvignon Blanc 2020
🇺🇸 United States
⭐️ My Rating: 4.3
📅 Scan date: 4 Jul 2025
💰 Approx. £40–£50
Sunshine in a glass – bold, tropical, and Californian to its core.

2. Manincor – Eichhorn Pinot Bianco 2022
🇮🇹 Italy
⭐️ My Rating: 4.1
📅 Scan date: 4 Jul 2025
💰 Approx. £30–£35
Fresh alpine finesse with texture and charm. A real surprise.

3. Chacra – Mainqué Chardonnay 2022
🇦🇷 Argentina
⭐️ My Rating: 4.0
📅 Scan date: 10 Oct 2025
💰 Approx. £50–£60
Mineral, modern, and beautifully made – Patagonia does Burgundy.

🥂 Top 2 Sparklings (2025)

Frerejean Frères – Brut Champagne Premier Cru (NV)
⭐️ My Rating: 4.2
💰 Approx. £45–£55
Small grower Champagne with Premier Cru credentials. Creamy, crisp, and just the right level of indulgent. Ideal for someone who values discovery over brand flash.

Taittinger – Millésimé Brut Champagne 2015
⭐️ My Rating: 4.2
💰 Approx. £60–£75
Classic and classy. Vintage Taittinger offers brioche, citrus, and celebration in every glass. It’s the Champagne equivalent of a velvet tuxedo – timeless and sharp.

Final Word: Match the Wine to the Person

• Traditionalist: Go for prestige names, solid classics, and rich, festive styles. Think Moët, Bollinger, or a quality Tawny Port.
• The Connoisseur: Choose wines with stories, scores, and depth. Krug, Ségla, or that 97-point Pinot.
• The Adventurer: Go wild. Think orange wine, curated sets, or anything that sounds like it should be in a Jancis Robinson tasting.