Festive Wines: A Gift Guide

The key to gifting wine is thoughtful selection, transforming a simple bottle into a gesture of appreciation. While a vintage from a birth year or a bottle from a memorable location can add a personal touch, Culina's Ken Goh, World Gourmet Awards' Sommelier of the Year 2022, offers helpful tips for choosing the perfect bottle for everyone on your list.

For the casual drinker
For casual drinkers, opt for approachable wines. Champagne is always a popular choice, while moscato is a fruity and slightly sweet option that is often ordered at both Culina and The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar.
Bava Moscato d'Asti: Sweet, aromatic, and low in alcohol. This sparkling white wine pairs elegantly with light, fruity, and creamy desserts that are not too rich.
Taittinger Prestige Rosé: Fresh raspberry and cherry, with a high chardonnay content that brings a refreshing zing to go with light canapés and sushi. It comes packaged in a tasteful presentation box.
For the non-drinker
For those who abstain from alcohol, non-alcoholic beverages have come a long way in recent years, with sophisticated options that mimic the complexity of wine or offer unique flavour profiles.
Copenhagen Sparkling Tea BLÅ: Delicate aromas of jasmine, chamomile, and citrus with a distinct white tea profile and crystal acidity. Ideal with delicate flavours of oysters, caviar or sashimi.
Natureo Sparkling Granacha Syrah 2023: Rich and complex with dark red fruit and spice notes. Its full-bodied flavour can stand up to the richness of a meat-based pasta or a beef rib with a sticky, smoky sauce.
For the wine enthusiast
Wine aficionados will appreciate bottles from esteemed regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, or Chianti, allowing them to discover new producers within territories they know and love.
Louis Jadot Beaune 1Er Cru Clos Des Ursules Rouge Monopole 2020: Dark cherry, cassis and red currant, with a throughline of bright acidity. This premier cru from Burgundy is best paired with the earthy flavours of roast duck and mushroom risotto.
Château Brillette Moulis-en-Medoc 2017: Elegant and complex with notes of dark crimson fruit laced with spice, aged 12 months in French oak which gives it a toasty finish. A red Bordeaux is classically paired with the deep flavours of a roast lamb dish.
Beyond the bottle: Wine accessories
From exquisite glassware to precision corkscrews, wine accessories make excellent gifts for the wine lover in your life.
L'Iroquois Urban Corkscrews: These colourful corkscrews come in a range of designs, featuring colourful limited-edition urban motifs that add a touch of contemporary style to any wine enthusiast's collection.
Laguiole Corkscrews: These classic corkscrews have elegant wooden handles and are a sommelier favourite for their precision and durability.
Kvetna Oaked Chardonnay Hand-Blown Glasses: These stylish glasses from the Czech Republic are specifically designed to highlight the aromas of full-bodied white wines.
All wines and accessories mentioned in this article are available at Culina — in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or online. Get your holiday shopping done early and earn Comocredits with every spend.