| Buying wine as a present has never been easier. | | | | finer things in life. For white wines, go for |
| Many wine merchants offer an online service and | | | | established classics like Chablis or White Burgundy. |
| you can have your bottle (or bottles) of wine | | | | You can also go for a good all-round versatile |
| delivered in a silk-lined wooden box to friends, | | | | wine that everyone can enjoy. Choose crisp dry |
| family or colleagues. Some even do personalised | | | | white wines such as Pinot Grigio, unoaked |
| bottle labels. You can find a wide choice of high | | | | Chardonnay or a Sauvignon Blanc. Chablis and |
| quality wines to suit every budget and there are | | | | Sancerre are also good options. For versatile red |
| also some great bargains on cases of wine where | | | | wines opt for Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or |
| the price per bottle can often compete very | | | | Shiraz. You could also choose a soft and fruity |
| favourably with supermarket prices. From a rich | | | | wine like a Beaujolais or a young Rioja (recently |
| fruity Spanish Tempranillo or a full-bodied velvety | | | | re-labelled with a brighter, more modern logo to |
| Australian Shiraz to classic Chardonnays and fresh | | | | appeal to the younger market). |
| Romanian and Hungarian whites there is something | | | | If you want to give someone a bottle of |
| for everyone. All you have to do is choose your | | | | something more fun and festive, then sparkling is |
| wine. | | | | the way to go. Champagne always makes a good |
| If you want to play it safe then you can’t go | | | | wine gift and is ideal for special occasions. If you |
| wrong with classic French wines. Go for red wines | | | | can’t afford champagne, there are many |
| from Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone. These | | | | decent sparkling wines around, in particular from |
| wines have a longer drinking window (usually 5 to | | | | New World countries like Australia. Prosecco is one |
| 10 years plus) and are therefore suitable for laying | | | | sparkling wine that has seen a recent increase in |
| down. Claret, a dry red wine produced in the | | | | popularity, mainly due to it’s similarity to |
| Bordeaux region, is a particularly good option. | | | | champagne. Grown in the Veneto region of Italy |
| These would make an ideal gift for someone with | | | | the grapes are ripened late to produce a very |
| a wine cellar or who is thinking about creating a | | | | dry sparkling white wine. Look out for organic |
| wine cellar. Or just anyone who simply enjoys the | | | | varieties full of fresh citrus flavours. |