Fill a Wine Lover’s Stocking

Sure, you can always pick up a bottle of wine for someone’s stocking. But sometimes it’s fun to find smaller, interesting gifts for a wine lover. Consider, for instance, the following ideas:

Gone Crackers

You won’t miss candy in your stocking if you get a box of these tasty crackers. Bonus: they’re made in Canada (and they’re for sale in every province.) Flavours include Blue Cheese & Cracked Pepper, Canadian Cheddar & Chive, Roasted Shallot and Herb and — for the wine fans — Undressed crackers, for wine tastings. For a list of retailers or more information, go to gonecrackers.ca or email info@gonecrackers.ca.

Victorinox Knife/Corkscrew

For generations, Victorinox has been synonymous with quality, thanks to its legendary Swiss Army knives. There is a full range at myriad prices and styles; the Spartan Ruby, shown here, is practical, thanks to the various attachments, including two blades, a wire stripper, key ring, tweezers, can opener and, of course, a corkscrew. It has a suggested retail price of $37. For more information, go to swissarmy.com or call 1-800-665-4095.

Bellstar Gift Card

Give your family an opportunity to stay at a winery; a Bellstar Hotels & Resorts gift card can be used at any Bellstar property, including the spectacular Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa in Osoyoos, British Columbia. Plus, a bonus for the one giving the gifts, for every $100 in gift cards that you purchase, you’ll get $10 in Bellstar Bucks toward a stay of your own; it’s a gift that gives twice. For more information or to purchase a card, go to bellstar.com/gift or call 1-877-737-6782.

A Fairmont Gift Card

A Fairmont gift card can be used at any Fairmont property — a restaurant, a spa, or, of course, a fantastic, classy Fairmont hotel. They come in myriad denominations, and they will fit easily into any stocking. For more information or to purchase, stop by your favourite Fairmont hotel or call 1-800-257-7544 or go to Fairmont.com.

WineSkins

Any wine lover that travels will appreciate a WineSkin or two tucked into a stocking; the padded bubble wrap tightly seals around each bottle, providing a safe way to bring back favourite bottles in your suitcases. They’re widely available in Canada; retail price is about $2.50 to $3 apiece. For a full list of retailers, go to winecellarexpress.com or call 1-877-243-9463 or email info@winecellarexpress.com.

Brix Chocolates

For many of us, chocolate is almost a necessity in a Christmas stocking. And for a wine lover? Brix chocolates go one step further; they’re chocolates created by a scientist especially for pairing with food and wine. Try the medium-dark with a shiraz or zinfandel, for instance; or pair the milk with pinot noir or dessert wine. Available at Chapters and Indigo stores this holiday season, as well as other retailers across Canada. Suggested retail price for a bar is $14.99; for a full list of retailers, go to winecellarexpress.com or call 1-877-243-9463 or email info@winecellarexpress.com.

Govino

Stick a pair (or more) of Govino unbreakable stemless wine tumblers into someone’s stocking; the funky glasses don’t give off any discernable plastic-y taste, plus you’ll remind your favourite wine lover that patio and boating season is just around the corner — a time when everyone loves drink their summer vino from tough tumblers that won’t break. Widely available at boutique wine shops and kitchenware stores across Canada; for a full list of retailers, go to winecellarexpress.com or call 1-877-243-9463 or email info@winecellarexpress.com.

Wine Access Subscription

Give the gift of your favourite wine magazine: Wine Access. Gift subscriptions start at $19.95, or, for $29.95, get a yearly subscription to the magazine, a Wine Access bottle tote bag, a corkscrew and a copy of the Wine Access 2011 Canadian Wine Annual. Put a card in their stocking that announces your gift, and they’ll think of you every time an issue arrives in their mailbox. Go to wineaccess.ca or email subscriptions@redpointmedia.ca