Valentine's Gifts for Wine Lovers

Buying a gift for a wine fan isn’t difficult. Pick up a gift card for their favourite wine shop. Buy a gift certificate for their favourite restaurant. Or send them a selection of your own favourite wines.

If that’s too difficult, or you’d prefer something more personal, consider the following selection:

Wine-themed jewelry

Our favourites are the necklaces from American artist Raven Hannah; all feature wine-related molecules, and are made from semiprecious stones and high-quality metals, such as silver. This one features the resveratrol molecule, found in high quantities in red wine and scientifically proven to be good for one’s health. (There are also myriad others to choose from, including caffeine, dopamine and estrogen.) Original. Sexy. Fun. Find it and more at madewithmolecules.com or etsy.com. Prices range, depending on the piece and the materials used.

Crueset Cookware

Many wine lovers also love to cook; maybe the heart-shaped casserole from Le Crueset is what you need to consider. The 2.1 L casserole has a suggested retail price of $215 at Le Crueset retailers across Canada. For a list of retailers, call 1-866-666-6162 or go to lecrueset.ca.

A Food-and-Wine Weekend Escape

Buy a weekend escape to a food-and-wine destination. A recent expedia.ca package to Seattle from Calgary cost $1,000 per person for flights and two nights at the Fairmont Olympic Plaza, a short walk away from some of North America’s best restaurants (Dahlia Lounge, Wild Ginger etc.).

Bubbly

A bottle of bubbly, with a note saying you hope they’ll share. With you, that is. One to consider: Moet et Chandon’s N/V Brut Imperial; or take a look at our sparkling wine reviews.

A Wine Pocket

A great bottle requires a great bag. Consider a selection of Danish-inspired wool felt Wine Pockets from artist Momi Antonio-Barne’s store, Space Moderne, on etsy.com. Prices start at about $20; you can get the “pockets” for single bottles, or larger bags, too. Patterns and colours vary, but they’re all quite fantastic.

A Wine Access Sweetheart Package

Give the gift of Wine Access — your favourite wine magazine. For $24.95, your sweetheart will receive a one-year subscription, a copy of the Wine Access 2011 Canadian Wine Annual, a 6-bottle tote bag, a specialty chocolate box from Papa Chocolat ($25 value) and a Valentine's greeting card. Go to the Wine Access subscription page or email subscriptions@redpointmedia.ca.

sboettcher@wineaccess.ca