Shopping for the wine connoisseur in your life?

If your giftee knows their Sangiovese from their Châteauneuf-du-Pape, their Moscatos from their Viogniers, you’ll need to be clever to impress them.

Luckily, the choice of fabulous wine accessories and accoutrements gets better every year, so whether you surprise them with a gorgeous gift box or a gluttonous local cheese hamper to enjoy with their favourite bottles, you can rest assured they’ll be heading for bed with a smile on their face over the holidays.

Here are eight great Christmas gifts for wine lovers: 

1. The glasses that make any wine taste better 

With an angled bowl to enable the development of a wine’s flavours, the Chef & Sommelier Open Up Universal contemporary wine glass, for red and white wine, promises the wine-drinker “an incomparable tasting experience”.

“After a few minutes in the glass, the wine’s acid content is smoothed out and the tannins are softened, making it possible to enjoy even the youngest wines,” they say.

Buy it: Chef & Sommelier Open Up Universal Wine glasses (Set of 6), €44 from winelover.ie.

2. Season’s eatings

What’s the best accompaniment to wine? Why, cheese of course. And some of the best in Ireland are made locally. You can take the stress out of choosing with a Cork Rebel Hamper from On the Pig’s Back.

All of the delicious products inside are made and produced in Cork City and County, from the On The Pig’s Back Crackers, Chicken Liver Pate, Red Onion Marmalade, and Rebel Chili Chutney to the Gubbeen Salami, Hegarty’s Cheese, Milleen’s Cheese, Gubbeen Cheese, Ardsallagh Cranberry Roulade.

Buy it: The Cork Rebel Hamper is €55 from onthepigsback.ie

3. A superior soak 

There are few things more luxurious than a long, candlelit soak in the tub accompanied by a good glass of wine.

This wooden over-bath tray from Next has room for a wine glass, a twinkling tealight, and an iPad or book.

Buy it: Bath tray, €42, Next.ie

4. A box of wine (but better than you remember) 

Ireland’s first “tailored to your taste” wine subscription company sends boxes all over Ireland and they make a top-notch gift.

Box of Wine want to make the world of wine a less intimidating place, expanding your palate by introducing fantastic, great value wine you won’t find in your local supermarket.

Here’s how it works: first you take their quiz to assess your taste profile, then for €55 (with free delivery) a month, you will receive a curated box of wine with three bottles picked to match your taste and delivered to your door. You can also send a one-off gift box, like this lovely Treat Yo Self Hamper, which is stuffed with wine, Skellig Chocolate, lip balm, and other self-care goodies.

Buy it: Treat Yo Self Hamper, €64.95 at boxofwine.ie

5. ‘No Panic: I’ve Got Wine’

Bringing a bottle of something fabulous to the party? Gift it to your host in this cute reusable organic cotton canvas wine tote.

Screen printed with environmentally friendly, water-based ink, it’s machine washable at 40° and it beats the old brown paper bag by a mile in terms of safety (sturdy handles) and style.

Buy it: ‘No Panic’ wine tote, €9.50, reuzi.ie

6. Decant in style 

Whether you prefer pink, red or white, serve in style with the Rosado Pink Wine Carafe. This gorgeous decanter is finished with a ribbed effect in a light pink hue with gold foil edging.

You can fill it with chilled pink bubbles or add some fresh orange juice to prosecco for a brunchtime buck’s fizz.

Buy it: Rosado Pink Wine Carafe, €31.50, Oliverbonas.com

7. (Wine) Glass of Moods 

For those days…you know T H O S E days, where wine is the only answer. This glass can predict what kind of day you’re having and measure your evening tipple to remedy what ails you.

A fun gift, each glass holds 56 cl and measures 25 x 9 x 9 cm.

Buy it: (Wine) Glass of Moods, €14, Aprilandthebear.com

8. Dreaming of a white (and red) Christmas?

Ideal for the gift giver who knows nothing about wine, this little duo is sure to impress while making you look like you know your stuff.

You get a certified biodynamic Châteauneuf-du-Pape and small production Chablis Premier Cru from the esteemed vineyards of Château Maucoil and Château de Chemilly. “Both wines are superb, hand-crafted examples of their respective, famed appellations.” say the experts at Cork’s Curious Wines, Tramore Road.

Buy it: Châteauneuf & Chablis French Gift Pack, €77 at Curiouswines.ie 

Main image credit: Comedy Central