A Winter Blue Zone Noodle Soup, Best Wines for Brodo, and My Wine Lovers Gift Guide

If you’re still gift shopping for the wine lovers in your life, or are in search of a comforting bowl of soup C/O my Italian mother-in-law, then this one’s for you.

Well, it’s officially December 9th and I have yet to start my Christmas shopping! Pretty typical of me, though I always manage to pull out thoughtful gifts anyway. I know we’re being absolutely inundated with gift guides right now, but I’m adding mine to the mix! Here’s a quick gift guide for the wine lover in your life. I’ve loosely broken it down by level of wine interest from curious beginners to passionate connoisseurs, so you can easily find a suitable gift. 

For my paid subscribers, below the gift guide you’ll find my suocera’s (Italian mother-in-law’s) recipe for brodo di carne, or meat broth. This is truly the ultimate winter meal and a Sardinian dish frequently requested by me! I’ve rounded up some wine recommendations to pair with it, too.

A Gift Guide for Wine Lovers

Wine Gifts for the Curious Beginner

These gifts are ideal for someone with little to no prior wine knowledge. The person who enjoys wine, but might feel overwhelmed by all of the choices and terminology. Someone who is seeking to learn more and appreciates simple, enjoyable recommendations. You could gift these items individually, or purchase them together for a fun gift basket for the curious beginner. Just add a current favorite bottle of wine or a gift card to Wine.com to make the gift pack complete!

Wine Folly Magnum Edition: Master Guide

The Wine Folly Master Guide is a fantastic book for those just getting into wine because it breaks down the flavor and aromatic characteristics of over 100 grape varieties from around the world. The book also includes detailed maps of top wine regions, plus a basic breakdown of the labeling and classification systems in the top wine producing countries. 

Premium Waiter’s Corkscrew

If there is one thing newbies in wine must learn immediately, it’s how to open a bottle of wine with a proper wine key or waiter’s corkscrew. This one has the two-step system, which is absolutely necessary for ease of use. It’s made with stainless steel and the handle comes in an array of inlays so you can choose an option that best suits your wine lover’s aesthetic. 

Wine Tasting Journal

The best way for newbies to learn about wine is to taste, taste, and taste some more! Encourage this new found wine passion with a wine tasting journal that both helps guide them through the wine tasting process and record all of the diverse wines they’ve discovered.

Wine Gifts for the Casual Enjoyer

The casual wine enjoyer drinks wine pretty often and knows their general wine preferences. They likely attend wine tastings, visit wineries, and occasionally read about wine. This type of wine drinker feels comfortable talking about basic wine traits (e.g. body, structure, acidity, tannin, etc.), but may not have extensive wine knowledge regarding the various wine regions of the world and the specific wines produced there. 

Universal Stemware

Any wine lover would be thrilled to receive a set of high quality, universal stemware, especially the wine enthusiast who is well-versed in the wines they enjoy and tends to drink a variety of red and white wine styles. Universal stemware has a bowl shape, glass height and diameter, and lightly curved design which allow it to effectively decant and express wines of different styles. Zalto is hands down some of the highest quality stemware out there (and my personal favorite), but the Zalto universal stemware comes with a hefty price tag. Other more affordable options include Gabriel Glas and Zweisel Glas. 

Wine Masters TV

A subscription to Wine Masters TV is a sure fire way to get the casual wine drinker even more excited about the world of wine and have them ready to branch out from their regular wine routine to discover new wines! Wine Masters TV offers beautifully captured documentaries about the major wine regions of the world and takes viewers into the cellars of some of the most famous wineries in the most prestigious wine regions globally. Basically, Wine Masters TV is a premium wine streaming platform with documentary features, educational shorts led by Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers, wine travel shows, wine classes, and more. 

Priority Wine Pass

If your casual wine enjoyer frequents wine country in the U.S. or has plans to in the year ahead, get them a Priority Wine Pass. The pass is a means of making wine tasting more affordable and covers select wineries in Napa Valley, Sonoma, Central Coast California, South Bay, Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, and more. You can also use the pass with virtual tasting experiences. Search the Wine Tasting Deals Near Me page to see if it’d be a worthwhile gift for your recipient.

Wine Gifts for the Adventurous Explorer

The adventurous explorer actively seeks out new wines, regions, and styles to discover. They attend tastings, visit wineries, travel to wine regions, and read about wine often. This type of wine lover has a good grasp on the world of wine and is pretty comfortable talking about different regions, grape varieties, etc. 

VinGardeValise Wine Travel Suitcase

If your adventurous wine-loving explorer frequently jets off to wine country and loves discovering new wine regions, then this VinGardeValise Wine Travel Suitcase is sure to surprise and delight. There’s nothing worse than going wine tasting, falling in love with your wine discoveries while there, and not being able to purchase those wines at home nor bring them with you. This wine travel suitcase is the perfect solution and comes in 5-bottle, 8-bottle, or 12-bottle sizes.

The Wine Lover’s Bucket List: 1,000 Amazing Adventures in Pursuit of Wine

Inspire your wine explorer’s next adventure with The Wine Lover’s Bucket List book by Simon J. Woolf, a renowned wine writer based in Europe. The book features an endless array of vineyards to visit, must-see sights, must-do events and harvest festivals, vineyard picnics, wine region weekends, tasting tours, and more! 

Sip with Nik Annual Subscription

This holiday season, give the adventurous wine lover in your life the gift of wine discovery, exclusive wine experiences, insider knowledge, and unforgettable inspiration – all for 30% off my annual plan. By taking advantage of this holiday special available through December 31, 2024, the recipient will unlock: 

🍷 Exclusive Recipes & Tips: Pairing ideas, including blue zone recipes straight from my Sardinian mother-in-law's kitchen.

🍷 Hidden Wine Gems: Discover unique wines and regions beyond the ordinary.

🍷 Behind-the-Scenes Access: Join me as I navigate starting our winery in Sardinia and a wine club in the U.S.

🍷 Hosting Made Easy: Food and wine guides to wow your guests.

🍷 Winemaker Stories: Interviews with fascinating vintners worldwide.

Plus, incredible perks for paid subscribers:

✨ Exclusive Discounts on imported wines and wine club offerings through my pending company, New Road Selections.

✨ Early Access to our Sardinian winery’s first releases.

✨ Be Part of the Journey by shaping our winery and getting first dibs on visiting experiences when we open (or opportunities to work harvest if you’re interested).

Access this holiday special here. 

Wine Gifts for the Passionate Connoisseur

The passionate connoisseur has a deep understanding of wine, and perhaps also has a sommelier or WSET certification. They’re a serious hobbyist or perhaps are involved in the wine industry in some way. With in-depth wine knowledge and a deep understanding of terroir, vintages, and winemaking techniques, they’re usually the one friends turn to for wine advice. 

The Durand

Your favorite wine connoisseur likely has several old bottles aging in their collection and every connoisseur should have the Durand. This essential wine tool combines the wine opening power of a corkscrew with the stability of the ah-so’s pronged tongs to efficiently remove old, deteriorating wine corks from aged bottles. If your favorite wine lover has an older collection of wines, they will most definitely appreciate this gift. 

Coravin

The Coravin Wine Preservation System is another quintessential wine accessory every wine connoisseur should own. The Coravin Timeless model was designed to remove wine from the bottle without uncorking the bottle, replacing the displaced wine with argon gas to keep the remaining wine in the bottle fresh. It’s a great system for when you want just one glass of wine, and is also ideal for tasting various bottles from your wine collection whenever you want. Coravin also makes a model for sparkling wine and offers the Coravin Pivot, which saves opened bottles of wine for up to 4 weeks. 

Wine Storage

A true wine connoisseur can never have enough wine storage! Depending on your budget, you could opt for a wine cooler in various sizes to ensure their wines are always kept in proper storage conditions. Or select a vintage wine rack from Chairish for a statement piece aligned with their personal aesthetic. 

Wine Stocking Stuffers for All Wine Lovers

ORCA Vino 15 oz Cooler

Whether hosting a low-key backyard get-together or pool party, or on a camping trip soaking up nature, the ORCA Vino 15 oz Cooler is the perfect companion wherever glassware just can’t go. With exceptional temperature retention and a premium vacuum seal, the ORCA Vino 15 oz Cooler ensures the celebration continues wherever you are. 

Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover

Nothing ruins a celebration quicker than a glass of red wine spilled on the carpet, furniture upholstery, or a favorite outfit. Thankfully, Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover is a serious miracle worker and effectively removes red wine stains with safe ingredients and a fresh citrus scent. 

Rabbit Wine Charms Bottle Stopper

Mixing up your wine glass with someone else's is a common problem at parties and holiday get-togethers. This Rabbit Wine Charms Bottle Stopper provides both wine charms to help differentiate guests’ glasses and a convenient stopper for sealing an open wine bottle. 

My Sardinian Suocera’s Brodo di Carne & 3 Recommended Soup Wine Pairings for the Season

The Ultimate Winter Soup: Brodo di Carne