The ultimate guide to wine subscription gifts: Perfect for Christmas and beyond

Wine Subscription Gift Guide

Last December, I watched a man in horn-rimmed glasses panic-buy six identical bottles of supermarket Merlot, muttering something about "bloody Secret Santa." The desperation in his eyes was familiar - that universal last-minute scramble for a wine gift that won't immediately identify you as someone who buys petrol station roses.

Wine gifting at Christmas can be a minefield. Get it right, and you're the thoughtful friend with impeccable taste. Get it wrong, and your carefully chosen Cabernet ends up regifted to the neighbour's cat-sitter. Having made every wine gifting mistake possible (including giving an expensive Barolo to someone who turned out to be teetotal), I've learned there's a better way: the wine subscription gift.

WHY WINE SUBSCRIPTION GIFTS OUTSHINE ONE-OFF BOTTLES

A thoughtfully chosen bottle makes a lovely present, but a wine subscription gift delivers joy month after month. Here's how to nail both approaches this Christmas season.

GIFTING INDIVIDUAL BOTTLES: THE ESSENTIALS

THINK OCCASION, NOT OBLIGATION

For the Christmas party host:

• Choose crowd-pleasing bubbles or an easy-drinking red that won't clash with the turkey
• Select something they can enjoy in January, after their holiday stock is depleted
• Simply ask what they'd like (revolutionary, I know)

For the in-laws you're trying to impress:

• Look for something with a bit of age or pedigree
• Classic regions work well – Bordeaux, Burgundy, or Barolo show you've made an effort
• Always remove the price sticker (a mistake we've all made once, and never again)

For the friend who knows their wine:

• Go off-piste with something unusual – Loire Chenin Blanc wine or something Savignin from Jura
• Ask a nearby wine expert for guidance rather than guessing
• Don't try to out-wine the wine person – they'll spot your bluff faster than a sommelier spots a corked bottle

PRESENTATION MATTERS

Basic rule: Never hand over a naked bottle

• Even supermarkets sell gift bags now – there's no excuse
• A simple ribbon transforms a bottle from "grabbed on the way" to "chosen with care"
• Remove the receipt, for the love of all that's holy and Bacchus

Level up your gift wrapping:

• Wooden boxes feel luxurious (and can be repurposed for storing love letters or hiding biscuits)
• Add a handwritten note about why you chose this particular wine
• If your handwriting resembles a seismograph reading, typed is fine – it's the thought that counts

WHEN IN DOUBT, BUBBLES

Champagne: The failsafe option

• You simply can't go wrong with proper Champagne (unless they're teetotal)
• Grower Champagnes offer better value and more character than big brands

Beyond Champagne:

• English sparkling wines are having a moment – Hundred Hills and Sugrue South Downs punch above their weight
• Crémant (French sparkling from outside Champagne) offers serious bang for buck
• Pét-Nat for the adventurous – slightly wild, occasionally cloudy, like that interesting person at a dinner party who doesn't work in marketing

THE WINE SUBSCRIPTION GIFT: THE GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING

The truly thoughtful choice? A wine subscription gift. It's the present that continues to delight long after the Christmas decorations have been packed away and the New Year's resolutions have begun their inevitable decline.

We've seen Ourglass wine club gifts transform relationships over the years, consistently generating the most appreciation of any gift. A mate –  previously a dedicated beer drinker who viewed wine with the suspicion normally reserved for estate agents – received a three-month wine subscription gift last Christmas. By February, he was texting me tasting notes. By April, he was suggesting wine pairings. The transformation was like watching someone discover The Beatles after a lifetime of Ed Sheeran.

The stories keep coming. A partner at a well-known London law firm gave her executive assistant a year's subscription after a particularly demanding quarter. What began as a guilt-offering evolved into a shared passion, with the two now comparing notes on recent deliveries during Monday morning meetings. "It's changed our working relationship entirely," the partner confessed.

Then there was the retired couple who received a six-month subscription from their children – lifelong supermarket wine buyers who'd never ventured beyond familiar labels. They've since joined a local wine tasting group and planned their first trip to Burgundy. As the husband put it, "We thought we were too old for new hobbies. Turns out we were just drinking the wrong wine.

FIVE REASONS WINE SUBSCRIPTION GIFTS WIN CHRISTMAS

1. They extend beyond Christmas Day

• Most gift anxiety comes from that moment of unwrapping – with a monthly wine subscription, you're giving multiple moments of discovery
• No concern about whether they'll like one specific bottle – they'll experience variety
• A wine club gift feels significantly more generous than the actual monthly cost (we won't tell if you don't)

1. They suit different recipients perfectly

• The curious but uncertain: People who enjoy wine but pronounce 'Meursault' differently every time
• The time-poor: Those who'd love to explore wine but consider a trip to Waitrose an expedition
• The hard-to-buy-for: When you've exhausted all other gift options and refuse to surrender to another scented candle
• The newly cohabiting: Nothing says "I acknowledge your domestic experiment" like regular wine deliveries

1. They educate without lecturing

• Quality wine subscription boxes include proper tasting notes and background information
• Recipients learn about wine naturally through experiencing it
• They discover their preferences at their own pace, without a tweed-jacketed expert hovering nearby

1. They create anticipation

• Unlike a one-off gift, a wine subscription creates something to look forward to each month
• Each delivery becomes a mini-Christmas morning
• The element of surprise keeps the gift experience fresh (unlike that gym membership they'll use twice)

1. They're effortless to give

• No need to wrap oddly-shaped bottles
• Can be purchased last-minute but don't feel last-minute
• Available at various price points to suit any budget (from "I like you" to "I'm hoping to be in your will")

WHAT MAKES OURGLASS DIFFERENT

We're humans, not algorithms. We tell stories, not marketing. We expand horizons without pushing people off cliffs.

Our team tastes everything personally – no computer-generated recommendations. We find wines with genuine stories worth telling. We balance familiar styles with gentle boundary-pushing, like a good friend who takes you to interesting restaurants but never makes you eat insects.

Unlike some wine clubs that are harder to escape than a cult, we're refreshingly straightforward. Gift recipients can pause or adjust their wine subscription without awkwardness. Different price points are available to suit your budget (our £90 four-bottle monthly wine box hits the sweet spot of discovery without requiring a second mortgage).

Each wine delivery feels like a proper gift with thoughtful presentation. Detailed but accessible tasting notes enhance appreciation without veering into pretentious territory. We offer the excitement of discovery without the risk of choosing blindly – like having a knowledgeable friend do your Christmas shopping.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT WINE SUBSCRIPTION GIFT

Match the subscription style to the recipient:

• For beginners: Choose a wine club with clear educational materials
• For the adventurous: Look for subscriptions featuring unusual regions or styles
• For classicists: Find a club that includes benchmark wines from renowned regions

Consider duration:

• Three months: A perfect introduction to wine subscription experiences
• Six months: Allows for seasonal variety and deeper exploration
• Twelve months: The ultimate wine gift for special recipients (or exceptional guilt)

Set the right budget:

• £50/month: Quality everyday drinking wines
• £90/month: Special bottles that expand horizons
• £180+/month: Fine wines and collector's items

FINAL THOUGHT: WHY WINE SUBSCRIPTION GIFTS MATTER

A thoughtful wine subscription gift isn't just about the bottles – it's about the journey you're enabling. It's a monthly moment of discovery, whether shared with others or savoured alone. It can transport someone to vineyards and cultures around the world, expanding their horizons sip by sip.

Whether you choose a carefully selected single bottle or the ongoing adventure of a wine subscription gift, the key is thoughtfulness. And if all else fails, Champagne. Always Champagne.

The gift of a wine subscription is the gift of discovery. Down the rabbit hole they go – hopefully emerging wiser rather than just dizzier.

EXPLORE MORE?

Check out our 100 things you've always wanted to ask about wine (but were too afraid to ask) piece or explore our packages ready for gifting those near and dear.