by Jacqueline Pennington

Wine lovers may be easy to please with a great bottle from a local shop, but if you want to add something different to their gift this year, our guide has you covered.

Gift boxes from a local shop

If you want a bottle of wine included in your gift, but hope to add some fun accouterments, look to your local wine and/or provisions shop. Reid’s Fine Foods offers a handful of options with different wines and local goodies that come packaged beautifully in baskets or tins ($81.99-$115.99). Assorted Table Wine & Shop in The Market at 7th Street will build you a box based on your budget and preferences. They also offer the option to throw in items from other market vendors like Mano Bella and Orman’s Cheese shop.

---

Glassware

If there’s anything most wine lovers can always use more of, it’s a beautiful wine glass. A good glass is part of the wine experience and whether you think your loved one prefers a classic or more eclectic option, we found a few local gift shops  that have gift-worthy options. The Merchant at Optimist Hall carries a variety of fun glasses in a mix of colors, styles, and sizes ($25). Paper Skyscraper has a dedicated section for glassware with some that have fun details like a colorful stem or gold detailing for your friend who likes a little flair, but also offers classic options like Viski Crystal Champagne flutes for the purist in your life ($39.95 for a set of 2). 

---

Accessories

Why not add a new gadget to their bar? Sam Bilski of Bond Street Wines recommends The Durand wine opener ($135) that he’s seen gaining popularity in wine bars. Jerry Chandler, sommelier at The Bohemian, recommends buying wine-loving friends their first Coravin ($179+).

If you’re looking for a gift for a more casual wine-drinker, Paper Skyscraper offers a plethora of wine openers in all different shapes and sizes ($8.99+). Arthur’s also carries wine accessories like foil cutters, decanter stands and Champagne wine stoppers ($6.99+). Another option is Frenchy’s Sip & Shop’s stocking stuffer station. Owner Chris Sarette noted that it’s always nice to get something in addition to a bottle of wine as a gift and he’ll offer items like wine openers and stoppers to grab along with a bottle at the shop. 

---

Books

For the wine nerd in your life, or the friend who loves a good coffee table book, check out the wine section at Park Road Books. Books like Wine Folly by Madeline Puckette ($37.99) and Wine Simple by Aldo Sohm ($32.99) are great for beginners. The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil ($39.99) is the number one selling wine book in America and is a great option if you’re looking for something more comprehensive. Park Road Books offers these books online as well as in store.

---

Wine Club Subscriptions

If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of picking a few bottles for the oenophile in your life, you can let the experts pick for you. Wine club subscriptions generally charge monthly and offer 4-6 bottles that are handpicked by the staff. A few wine clubs we recommend are Foxcroft ($60/month), The Bohemian ($120/month), Bar a Vins ($100.85/month), and Petit Phillipe ($99+/month). 

---

Disclosure: The links above may be affiliate links, which means Unpretentious Palate earns a small commission on any sales of the items above. Since nearly everything is available on Amazon these days, this has no influence on which items we feature.