Wine to Suit Every Personality

At Christmas, choosing the right gifts for each of your friends and family can sometimes be a little overwhelming. Some individuals are harder to buy for than others, and everyone has such different tastes. It’s often thought that gifting a bottle of wine is the ‘easy’ thing to do. You simply pop a bottle of the plonk you like into a smart-looking bag and voila – you have your Christmas present sorted. But for us, there’s much more to it than that.To inspire your gift selection this year, and to help take the stress out of your Christmas shopping, we’ve put together a Gift Guide. In it you’ll find an array of characters with some hand-picked exceptional wines we’re sure they’ll love, to help you pair the perfect wine with the perfect person. Plus, to give you extra prestige in your present-giving, we’ve included some tasting notes as well as food pairing suggestions to really impress your recipient with.

For the Foodie
Whether it’s that friend who is always first in line to sample the what’s on offer at their local farmers’ market, or your uncle who is loves to experiment in the kitchen, we all know a Foodie.This wine, the famous Condrieu, from the Rhone Valley, is made from the Viognier grape, which has a wonderful viscosity and weight on the palate, making it a truly gastronomic wine. With aromas of orange blossom, golden apple, nectarine and fresh pineapple, alongside some nutty and honeyed notes from bottle ageing, this wine will stand up to many dishes.From lemon chicken to vegetable samosas, as well as punchy aromatic spices, perhaps you could inspire your Foodie friend to get creative and serve up the perfect dish to match this delightful wine.

For the Party Host
Nothing quite says “Celebration” like Champagne. The fizz, the pop of the cork, and the golden colour are all so evocative of opulence and festivity. From the famous Champagne region of Reims, Jean Boucton Champagne is perfect for celebrations, whether that’s to accompany an entrée on Christmas Day or to welcome the New Year in style. Jean Boucton Première Cuvée has great concentration and structure, with white blossom and lemon pith notes intermingled with pastry characters balancing with a broad mouthfeel, fine mousse and crisp acidity. Pairing with Moules Marinère, a salmon wellington or a rich cheese fondue will best enhance the complexity of the wine. But for whatever the event your party-throwing friend is hosting, this is a very special bottle for a very special occasion.

For the Conscious Sipper
At My Fine Cellar, we are a wine importer certified by the Organic Farmers and Growers, so being environmentally conscious is something we take seriously. We are all too aware that changes in the quality of soil and weather conditions have a massive impact on wine production and ultimately the taste of the wine itself. Understanding and preserving our ecosystem is key to future generations, and the future of wine production. We are proud to stock a variety of sustainable wines from Organic and biodynamic producers.For your friend who is an avid environmentalist, or just keen to make more green choices, we recommend this deep, dark red wine from Château Barbanau, a wonderful Organic winemaker in Provence.A blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache, this wine is full bodied and weighted. The warmth of the Provençal sun brings a pronounced nose of cassis, blueberry and dark cherry interlace with cedar, leather, and juicy acidity. This is a wonderful red expression from the sun-kissed vineyards of the South of France. Your eco-conscious friend can try pairing this with mushroom and sage ravioli or beef bourguignon for a decadent gastronomic experience.

For the White Wine Lover
Most White Wine lovers enjoy a Sauvignon Blanc but this aged Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux, L’Audace, couldn’t be further away from your zippy and fresh New Zealand style. With pronounced aromas of golden apple, guava and passionfruit, alongside buttered toast and almonds, and a textured mouthfeel from ageing, this wine will certainly be something new for the White Wine Lover in your life to try.This wine has so much flavour and yet its acidity is still fresh and vibrant, permitting a variety of dishes to work beautifully. Pair with pan-fried scallops in a saffron cream sauce or a chilli king-prawn linguini.

For the Rosé Lover
The Rosé Lover sips Rosé all year round, and Château Barbanau, in Provence, packs enough flavour to be enjoyed during any season. With an array of cherry blossom, strawberry and raspberry, alongside grapefruit, red apple crunch and flint developing, this fresh and delicate pale rosé has a multitude of floral, fruit and mineral flavours. We recommend that your Rosé-loving pal enjoy this wine for an aperitif with tapenade, warm breads and soft cheeses or even pair it with Moules Marinière with thin cut fries. Absolutely stunning – a winning gift.

For the Wine Collector 
For the colleague, family member or distinguished friend who is a true wine buff and connoisseur, our René Bourgeon Clos de la Baraude, Pinot Noir from Burgundy, will make a brilliant present. As soon as they see the famous Givry 1er Cru on the label, they’ll know you’ve done your homework (or we have for you!).
Generous and juicy, this is a structured yet elegant Pinot Noir with notes of black cherry and balsamic strawberry interlaced with liquorice and a fresh acidity.
Producing just 45,000 bottles a year, René Bourgeon wines are incredibly special, making this a truly exceptional gift.

For the Adventurous
An adventurous friend isn’t scared of trying something new, and the Gewurztraminer grape is certainly a little more ‘out there’ when it comes to wine. With expressive notes of rose petals, lychee and gingerbread, the exotic characteristics of Gewurztraminer bring a truly exciting glass of wine.
Made for food, your intrepid pal can get adventurous with this wine, as this Gewürztraminer pairs well with aromatic, spicy dishes. Thai curries, grilled meats and vegetables, and even some desserts will work well with its fascinating aromas.