Holiday Gifts for Wine Lovers

Looking for a great holiday gift idea for a friend, colleague or family member? We at Wine Access have assembled some of our favourite food and wine accessories, just in time for the gift-giving season.

Cheese Knives

This cheerful package of four stainless steel knives from Trudeau (pictured above) will brighten a cheese fan’s day. Suggested retail price $19.99; go to trudeau.ca or call 1-800-878-3328 for more information.

Wine Aerator

Consider an Aroma transparent wine aerator from Trudeau. The dripless spout helps to aerate the wine as it’s poured, sort of like decanting by the glass. Suggested retail price $24.99; go to trudeau.ca or call 1-800-878-3328 for more information.

Cheese Board

Also for the cheese fan, this reusable Slater board is an elegant way to serve cheese; just write on the surface with chalk, and wipe it off when you’re done eating. Suggested retail price $29.99; go to trudeau.ca or call 1-800-878-3328 for more information.

Day Gift Experience

Give a Samba Day Gift Experience. The Canadian company offers a range of experiences: skydiving, spa visits, culinary experiences. We recommend a guided wine tasting at one of Ontario’s beautiful wineries (several are on the list) or a carefully chosen selection of wines from around the world. Or try a gourmet getaway; packages are available across Canada. Go to sambadays.com to order.

Le Creuset Casserole Dish

A classic Le Creuset casserole dish never goes out of style. Colours, styles and prices vary; check out the Cassis range, an elegant new purple shade. For more information or to find a list of retailers, go to lecreuset.ca or call 1-866-666-6162.

Champagne Bucket

A Mauviel Hammered Copper Champagne Bucket is a beautiful way to serve your favourite sparkling wine. Lined with tin, the bucket is fitted with a stainless steel insert and will hold two bottles; it’s hand-hammered and polished, with brass handles. Suggested retail price, $435, at Williams-Sonoma; for more information or to order, go to williams-sonoma.ca.

Crystal Decanter

Port fans will appreciate a decanter from NovaScotian Crystal. Every piece is made by hand in Canada; prices start at about $329, depending on the style and pattern. For more information or to purchase, go to novascotiancrystal.com or call 1-888-977-2797.

Crystal Wine Glasses

Give a set of crystal wine glasses from NovaScotian Crystal. Every piece has been mouth-blown and hand-cut, using traditional, ancient methods of crystal making — and they’re all made right here in Canada. Prices start at about $250 per pair, depending on the style and pattern. For more information or to purchase, go to novascotiancrystal.com or call 1-888-977-2797.

Crystal Wine Cooler

A handmade crystal wine cooler, if cared for properly, will one day become an heirloom for future generations of wine lovers. This NovaScotian Crystal wine cooler, shown here in the Citadel pattern, has a suggested retail price of $279 and is made in Canada. For more information or to purchase, go to novascotiancrystal.com or call 1-888-977-2797.

Screwpull Activ-Ball Corkscrew

A Screwpull Activ-Ball corkscrew makes a handy stocking stuffer or a last-minute addition to tie on a bottle of wine. Suggested retail price, $50; for a list of retailers, go to lecreuset.ca or call 1-866-666-6162.

Screwpull Cork Catcher

A Screwpull Cork Catcher makes a handy gift for someone who loves sparkling wine; it literally catches champagne corks so they don’t fly around your house when you’re opening a bottle of bubbly. Suggested retail price, $30; for a list of retailers, go to lecreuset.ca or call 1-866-666-6162.

Screwpull Lever Corkscrew

A Screwpull Advanced Lever Corkscrew and Foil Cutter take all the work out of opening a bottle of wine. Suggested retail price, $200; for a list of retailers, go to lecreuset.ca or call 1-866-666-6162.

Wine Bottle Traveller

A Skybar Wine Bottle Traveller will keep wines chilled for up to two hours. It makes a great way to take a bottle to a party or to give as a gift, plus its insulated lining will prevent drips and condensation. Suggested retail price, $28, at Williams-Sonoma; for more information, go to williams-sonoma.ca.

Cheese Markers

Know someone who loves to serve unusual cheeses when they entertain? Buy them a package of reusable cheese markers from Trudeau, so they can easily label each cheese that they serve to their guests this holiday season. Suggested retail price $9.99; go to trudeau.ca or call 1-800-878-3328 for more information.