What are the 4 Best Wines and Whiskies to Give as Holiday Gifts?

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‘Tis the season for holiday entertaining and gift giving. What if you’d like to give someone a bottle of wine or spirits? How do you know which one to choose? Here to help us with that is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com

Welcome back, Natalie. So if choosing the right wine is so tricky, why should we give wine as a gift at all?

When you give the gift of wine, doubles are fine unlike toaster ovens, there are no wrong sizes unlike that ugly sweater and regifting is so much easier compared to fruitcake or a bathroom scale.

And let’s be honest, has anyone ever said, “Oh no, not another bottle of wine!”

Sounds great! Let’s start with the best white wine to give as a gift. 

You can’t go wrong with the Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc.

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

It put New Zealand on the wine map forty years ago and brought worldwide attention to the country’s wines – it’s that good and remains the gold standard for fresh Sauvignon Blanc.

Feel free to smell or taste.

It’s bursting with aromas of ripe honeydew melon, passionfruit, and lemongrass which makes it not only a great gift wine but also a wonderful match for turkey and stuffing.

Tell us about the next wine.

For those who love full-bodied reds, you can’t beat the Terrazas Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. It’s like wrapping yourself in a cashmere blanket on a cold night.

Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina

This wine is bursting with aromas plum, cherry and mountain spices. The vines are planted in the stunning Andes Mountain Range. It’s got altitude and attitude.

Feel free to smell or taste.

This wine will also pair well with your holiday cranberry sauce and gravy because let’s be honest turkey is really the side dish. We’re here to double down on the cranberry sauce.

What do you have for us next?

I love this Pelee Island Wine Advent Calendar – is a masterpiece of anticipation—like a countdown to joy, one cork at a time.

Pelee Island Winery Wine Advent Calendar
Ontario V.Q.A., Canada

Who needs chocolate Santas when you have Cabernet to keep you company? I detect aromas of surprise and delight.

The kit includes 12 half bottles of red, white, rosé and sparkling wines so you can try something new every second day. Pair with this good conversation and laughter, but please, not fruitcake – or only if you insist.

You can buy the Pelee Island Advent Calendar in the liquor store or order it online at www.peleeisland.com.

I see you’ve brought us a whisky.

I have indeed brought you one with a history as rich as its flavour. The Nikka Whisky founded by Masataka Taketsuru (Masa-taka Taak-et-su-ru) also launched the entire Japanese Whisky industry.

Nikka Whisky Yoichi Single Malt
Japan

In 1918, he travelled to Scotland to learn about whisky-making from the finest producers, returning to Japan to create what became a global phenomenon. His incredible story was actually made into a TV mini-series.

Feel free to smell or taste.

The distillery in Yoichi (Yo-eee-chee ) is ideally situated because the climate is similar to Scotland’s – crisp and cool.

The Yoichi Single Malt is bold with seductive peaty notes and a briny finish from the neighbouring sea breezes.

Natalie, these suggestions are fantastic! Any final words of wisdom for our viewers?

The perfect bottle is more than a drink; it’s a gesture, a memory, and, often, the start of a great conversation.

Thank you, Natalie! Where can we find you and these drinks online?

On Instagram, I’m at @NatalieMacLeanWine and my website is nataliemaclean.com.

Posted with the permission of CHCH TV.