Here are 10 great bottles of wine to give as Christmas presents

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This year, we searched for a selection of wines that would make suitable gifts ranging from as little as $24 to $240. Each has a strong personality and story; most could be aged if you have the willpower.

Choose a bottle from the price range that fits your budget, wrap it up, and you’re done. Don’t be afraid to buy a few bottles for yourself — I’ll never tell.

Jabber The Winemaker The Blend Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile $19.99

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Jabber is the work of famed New Zealand winemaker and Sauvignon Blanc czar Kim Crawford inside Chile’s super cool Casablanca Valley. Crawford’s label reveals the potential of this cool-climate region, ideally suited to Sauvignon Blanc yet virtually ignored by most wine retailers in the Western world. It is ready to serve with mussels, clams, or freshly shucked oysters to any Sauvignon Blanc fans.

Blue Mountain Estate Cuvée Pinot Blanc 2023, $26

If you are looking for a workhorse holiday white, or hostess gift, track down this uber-cool, dry white that takes you toward Burgundy before stepping off in Pkamagan Falls. It is filled with orchard stone fruits, white flowers, and a creamy palate made for food.

Boutinot La Côte Sauvage Cairanne 2019, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Rhone Valley, France $33

The flagship Boutinot label relies equally on elegance and persistence. The rich and savoury blend includes fully ripe, hand-picked, old bush vine Grenache and Syrah with a bit of Mourvèdre.

Black Hills Bona Fide 2022, Okanagan Valley, $36

This wine took home a prized platinum medal at the 2024 National Wine Awards; it is a delicious, juicy affair of black and red fruits dusted in savoury South Okanagan scrub and sagebrush.

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Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir Old Block McLean Creek Vineyard 2022, Okanagan Falls, $44

OK, Falls is Pinot country, exemplified by this wild strawberry, fresh cherry, lilac and baking spice-scented red packed with loganberries, cherries and strawberries. Silky and seamless, it is ready to drink.

Burrowing Owl Meritage 2020, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, $53

One of the best Burrowing Owl wines we have tasted, from its enticing nose of fresh, savoury ripe fruit and umami nuances to the damp earth, blackcurrant, raspberry palate. A succulent blend to drink or hold.

Ridge Lytton Springs 2021, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, $88

A valid California cult wine, Lytton Springs has delivered a ridiculous quality year in and year out. Look for red licorice, crushed strawberries, black pepper meaty notes, bright acidity and dense sweet tannins.

Champagne Louis Roederer Collection 244, Champagne, France $91.99

Louis Roederer moved from its non-vintage Brut to the multi-vintage collection series in 2021, referencing the years (244) since the winery was founded. The blend is 41 per cent Chardonnay, 33 per cent Pinot Noir, and 26 per cent Meunier. Beauty and purity stream from its green apple, fresh almond, lemon, and crunchy hazelnut aromas and flavours. It is ready to celebrate.

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Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407 2020, South Australia, $109.99

Bin 407 is a multi-five-regional blend whose fruit density and weight are mind-boggling. The tannin profile is refined, dense, and sweet, creating a seamless textbook Cabernet Sauvignon worth every penny.

Ornellaia Rosso 2021, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy $240

Although this iconic red is a hefty 15 per cent alcohol, it remains an elegant expression of Tuscany’s west coast Bolgheri region. It is a vintage that can be collected and stored in a cellar for decades. You won’t be sorry.

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