The best gift for a wine connoisseur isn't a bottle, but something that makes every bottle better. A connoisseur prefers to choose his own wine and usually has definite tastes. What he does value is good equipment: a decanter suited to the wine, a thermometer, a pump that keeps an opened bottle fresh for longer. This guide brings together 15 luxury gifts from €39 to €800, grouped by what he does with his wine: opening, serving, preserving, tasting and celebrating.
In short
- Best gift under €50: the Peugeot Epivac Vacuum Pump (€44.90), for both wine and sparkling wine.
- Best for Christmas dinner: the L'Atelier du Vin Wine Thermometer (€65.00), because temperature shapes how a wine tastes.
- Best complete set: the Personalised Wine Tasting Essentials Set (€138.95).
- The grand gesture: the Oeno Box Connoisseur (€800.00), a handmade case full of accessories.
How we chose: every gift comes from our own range. We selected for what each one adds to opening, serving, preserving or tasting. Product details come from the brands themselves.
Why a bottle is rarely the best gift
A bottle of wine seems the logical choice, but for a connoisseur it's the riskiest one. He usually knows exactly which regions, grapes and vintages he's after. A bottle that misses the mark stays on the rack or gets opened out of politeness.
An accessory avoids that problem. It doesn't have to match his taste, only his habits. It also lasts longer than one evening: he will use a good decanter or pump with every bottle he opens afterwards.
Which gift suits your wine connoisseur?
Look at what he already does. That way you choose something he will really use, and you avoid giving him a corkscrew that adds nothing.
| His habit | Choose | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Keeps tasting notes | Printworks Wine Tasting Journal | €39.00 |
| Opens bottles over several days | Peugeot Epivac Vacuum Pump | €44.90 |
| Watches serving temperature | L'Atelier du Vin Wine Thermometer | €65.00 |
| Mostly drinks young red wine | Peugeot Capitaine Decanter | €79.90 |
| Has a cellar of older bottles | Peugeot Ibis Decanter | €89.90 |
| Plans his travels around wine | Assouline Wine & Travel France | €120.00 |
| Appreciates classic tools | Oeno Motion Trésor | €240.00 |
TEAM TIP: We love the L'Atelier Du Vin Wine Thermometer the most as a gift for the wine lover because you should drink a wine at it's appropriate temperature.
Opening: a corkscrew that suits him
A wine connoisseur almost always owns a corkscrew already, so a new one has to add something: more ease, or a finer ritual.
1. Peugeot Baltaz Corkscrew · €99.00
A lever corkscrew with grippers that hold the bottle firmly, so the cork comes out smoothly. Peugeot says it fits all bottle necks, and it comes in a case.
Best for: anyone who often opens bottles for guests.
2. Peugeot Line Reverse Electric Corkscrew · €119.90
One press on the neck and the cork is out. A single charge uncorks up to 80 bottles, and a foil cutter is included. Peugeot backs it with a 5-year guarantee.
Best for: the gadget lover who values convenience.
3. L'Atelier du Vin Oeno Motion Trésor · €240.00
A handcrafted vertical lever corkscrew with a solid walnut handle, in a red lacquered wooden box with laser engravings. According to L'Atelier du Vin, sommeliers have known the Oeno Motion for more than 15 years.
Best for: the man who sees the box as an object in its own right.
Want to know more about the different types first? Read our article on choosing the perfect corkscrew.
Serving: temperature and decanter
This is where a gift makes the biggest difference in the glass. According to Wine Folly, sparkling wine is best served at 3 to 7 °C, white wine at 7 to 12 °C, light red wine at 12 to 15 °C and full-bodied red wine at 15 to 20 °C. As Wine Spectator explains, decanting has two purposes: it separates an aged wine from its sediment, and it aerates a young wine so that its aromas and flavours are more vibrant.
4. L'Atelier du Vin Wine Thermometer · €65.00
A slim thermometer that you lower into the bottle to read the temperature straight away. It's small, but it removes all doubt.
Best for: the connoisseur who leaves nothing to chance.
5. Peugeot Capitaine Decanter for Young Wine · €79.90
A decanter of mouth-blown glass with a generous shape, giving young red wine plenty of air to release its aromas.
Best for: young, powerful red wines.
6. Peugeot Ibis Decanter for Aged Wine · €89.90
A slender decanter of mouth-blown glass with a long neck, which aerates mature wine gently. An older bottle gets the gentle handling it needs.
Best for: mature wines from his cellar.
7. L'Atelier du Vin Developer Wine Decanter · €160.00
Six pouring grooves let the wine run slowly along the walls, so it takes in oxygen gently. The Developer Boule, an aerator, is included.
Best for: the man for whom decanting is a ritual.
Preserving: keeping an opened bottle fresh
A connoisseur likes to open a good bottle without having to empty it straight away. What counts then is how well the rest keeps.
8. Peugeot Epivac Vacuum Pump · €44.90
This pump removes air from a bottle of wine and adds air to sparkling wine, so the bubbles last. According to Peugeot, opened bottles keep for 2 to 8 days this way. It comes with 2 wine stoppers and 1 sparkling wine stopper.
Best for: anyone who drinks both wine and bubbles.
9. L'Atelier du Vin Gard'Vin On/Off Power · €76.50
A fully automatic vacuum pump that, according to L'Atelier du Vin, is also used by oenologists and restaurants. The three stoppers record the vacuum date, so you can see at once when a bottle was opened.
Best for: the connoisseur with several bottles open at once.
Tasting and learning: for the man who never stops discovering
A true connoisseur keeps learning. That makes a book or tasting journal a safe gift, because you don't need to know his taste.
10. Printworks Wine Tasting Journal · €39.00
In it he records the type of wine, the occasion, how it was served and his rating for each bottle. A sweetness chart and a wine glass guide complete it.
Best for: anyone who wants to keep his tasting notes.
11. Assouline Wine & Travel France · €120.00
Enrico Bernardo, named the World's Best Sommelier in 2004, travels through the French wine regions. The book has 312 pages and more than 400 illustrations.
Best for: the connoisseur who loves visiting wine regions.
12. Assouline Oak, Wine & Spirits: Tale of Alchemy · €120.00
This book follows the French company Charlois and explains how the oak barrel shapes the tannins, texture and aromas of wine and spirits. A deeper read for the man who wants to understand what he's tasting.
Best for: the connoisseur who also drinks whisky or cognac.
Celebrating: for the holidays and the big occasion
Around Christmas and New Year he opens his best bottles. These gifts make the opening an occasion.
13. Laguiole Champagne Saber · €79.50
A sabre with a brown pakka wood handle for opening a bottle of champagne in style. Use a well-chilled bottle and always point it away from people. Also read how to sabre champagne.
Best for: the host on New Year's Eve.
14. Personalised Wine Tasting Essentials Set · €138.95
A personalised gift box with the De Gaulle corkscrew, the Pourer Leaf and the wine thermometer from L'Atelier du Vin.
Best for: anyone looking for a complete and personal gift.
15. L'Atelier du Vin Oeno Box Connoisseur · €800.00
A handmade case of solid maple and birch with the Oeno Motion, the Bilame, the Garçon and the Gard'Vin On/Off: four accessories for opening and preserving wine and bubbles. For something smaller in the same style, look at Le Globe (€340.00).
Best for: marking a milestone or anniversary.
How to make the most of your gift at Christmas dinner
A Christmas dinner with several courses calls for several wines, and so for some planning. Give your gift beforehand if you can, so he can use it.
- The day before: stand older bottles upright so the sediment settles at the bottom.
- Before the guests arrive: check the temperature with the wine thermometer. Red wine in a heated dining room soon gets too warm.
- Before serving: decant young red wine well in advance. Decant older wine very gently, just before serving.
- After dinner: seal half-full bottles with the vacuum pump, so there is still something to taste on Boxing Day.
Two gifts that work together
Torn between two gifts? You can also combine them. They complement each other and feel like a considered choice.
- Wine Thermometer and Peugeot Ibis (€154.90 together): for the man who wants to serve his older bottles well.
- Epivac and Wine Tasting Journal (€83.90 together): for the man who tastes a bottle over several days and likes to take notes.
- Assouline Wine & Travel France and Peugeot Capitaine (€199.90 together): for the man who discovers on his travels what he wants to pour at home.
What should you not give a wine connoisseur?
Three gifts often disappoint a connoisseur. He already owns a simple corkscrew. A cheap set of loose gadgets tends to end up in a drawer, while a curated set of tools he really uses does find its place. And wine glasses are risky, because many connoisseurs have strong preferences for shape and brand. If you're not sure, choose something from this guide.
Wine gifts by budget
| Budget | Our picks |
|---|---|
| Under €50 | Printworks Wine Tasting Journal (€39.00), Peugeot Epivac (€44.90) |
| €50 to €100 | Wine Thermometer (€65.00), Gard'Vin (€76.50), Laguiole Champagne Saber (€79.50), Peugeot Capitaine (€79.90), Peugeot Ibis (€89.90), Peugeot Baltaz (€99.00) |
| €100 to €250 | Peugeot Line Reverse (€119.90), Assouline books (€120.00), Wine Tasting Essentials Set (€138.95), Developer Wine Decanter (€160.00), Oeno Motion Trésor (€240.00) |
| Over €250 | Oeno Box Connoisseur (€800.00), or Le Globe as an alternative (€340.00) |
Frequently asked questions about gifts for wine connoisseurs
What do you give a wine connoisseur who has everything?
Give a wine connoisseur who has everything something he is unlikely to buy himself, such as a wine thermometer (€65.00) or an Assouline book (€120.00). He usually owns a corkscrew and glasses already, but tools for temperature or preserving less often.
Is a bottle of wine a good gift for a wine connoisseur?
A bottle is only a good gift if you know for certain what he drinks, because a connoisseur has definite tastes. If in doubt, give a book or a tool he can use with his own bottles.
What is a good wine gift under €50?
Under €50, the Peugeot Epivac Vacuum Pump (€44.90) is the strongest choice, because it works for both wine and sparkling wine. The Printworks Wine Tasting Journal (€39.00) is a good alternative for someone who likes taking notes.
Which decanter should you choose for a wine connoisseur?
Choose the decanter based on what he drinks. For young red wine, a wide decanter such as the Peugeot Capitaine (€79.90) fits well. For mature wine, a slender decanter such as the Peugeot Ibis (€89.90) is better, because it aerates the wine more gently.
How long does an opened bottle of wine keep?
That depends on the wine and on how you seal the bottle. According to Decanter, white, rosé and sparkling wines may last 2 to 3 days in the fridge, and reds more like 3 to 5 days in a cool, dark place. With the Peugeot Epivac, Peugeot says an opened bottle keeps for 2 to 8 days.
When is the last order date for Christmas?
That depends on the country of destination: Belgium/Netherlands next day, Germany/France 1-2 days, Italy 2-3 days, rest of Europe 3-5 days. Saturday delivery available. See all delivery times on our service page.
Order by December 23rd (BE/NL), 22nd (DE/FR), 20th (IT), or 18th (rest of EU) for Christmas delivery
Haven't found what you're looking for?
Browse all wine accessories or our wine sets. Looking for something more personal? See our guide to personalised gifts for the wine lover.