Gift ideas for wine lovers, in four price ranges

These Christmas wine gift ideas start with two questions: how much you want to spend and what the recipient drinks. We've divided wines to give as gifts into four price ranges, each with its own collection and two sample bottles selected from our wine shop in Lucca. We looked for variety: reds, whites, and Champagne, Italy and France, eight different producers. The collections show only available bottles and update automatically, so they remain current through Christmas.

Up to 30 euros: Rosso di Montalcino and Arneis

This price range features mainly Italian reds, from Tuscany and Piedmont, with a few whites and French wines. These bottles are ideal as a small gift for colleagues, for someone inviting you to dinner, or to complete a gift alongside panettone.

• Podere Bucine Rosso di Montalcino 2023. Bucine is a small family winery on the northeast side of Montalcino and makes just two wines, the Rosso and the Brunello. The 2023 Rosso spent 18 months in stainless steel and 2 in the bottle before release.
• Vietti Arneis 2024. Vietti has been making wine in Castiglione Falletto, in the Langhe, since the late 19th century. Since 1967, it has made a wine using only Arneis grapes, a white grape variety from Piedmont, and was among the first wineries to do so.

The other bottles are in the collection of wines to give as gifts for up to 30 euros.

From 30 to 60 euros: Champagne and Barolo

With a few extra euros, Champagne, Barolo, and Brunello di Montalcino come into consideration, along with many wines from Burgundy. This is the right price range for a gift for family or a friend.

• Grongnet Tradition Brut. Grongnet is a family of winegrowers from Étoges, in Champagne. It all began in 1885, when Edmond Grongnet bought some vineyards and installed a press; today, the fifth generation works 18 hectares, mostly planted with Chardonnay.
• Borgogno Barolo 2021. Bartolomeo Borgogno founded the winery in 1761. The house's Barolo comes from five historic vineyards in the municipality of Barolo.

All the others are in the wines to give as gifts from 30 to 60 euros collection.

From 60 to 150 euros: a red from Lucca and a Champagne

Here you’ll find grower Champagne, village wines and Burgundy premier crus, Barolo and Brunello from many producers. This is the price range for important gifts, for a family member or a client.

• Tenuta di Valgiano Rosso 2014. This is a wine from Lucca: the estate is in the heart of the Lucchese hills, has belonged to the Petrini Avogadro di Collobiano family since 1994 and has followed the principles of biodynamic farming since 2002. An idea for someone who loves Lucca and lives far away.
• Egly-Ouriet Les Prémices Brut. Egly-Ouriet is based in Ambonnay, a grand cru village in Champagne, and Francis Egly, the family's fourth generation, has led it since 1980. Les Prémices comes from a three-and-a-half-hectare vineyard in Trigny, with equal parts Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier.

The other bottles are in the wines to give as gifts from 60 to 150 euros collection.

Over 150 euros: Chassagne-Montrachet and Brunello

Above 150 euros, there are Burgundy grand crus, vintage Champagne, Barolo and Brunello from historic wineries, older vintages and large formats.

• Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet 2021. The Ramonet domaine is one of the benchmark names of Chassagne-Montrachet, in Burgundy. Pierre Ramonet built it starting in the late 1920s, and since 1984 it has been run by the third generation of the family. Its white wines are known for their freshness and aging potential.
• Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino 2011. Ferruccio Biondi-Santi, at the Greppo estate in Montalcino, is credited with producing the first Brunello, from the 1888 harvest. A 2011 vintage makes a gift for a collector, or for a dinner where you can open it together.

The full selection is in the wines to give as gifts over 150 euros collection.

How to choose wine as a gift

If you know the recipient’s tastes, start there. If you’re unsure, stop by the wine shop: we’ll help you choose based on taste, occasion and budget. In the meantime, here’s how to enjoy the eight bottles on this page.

• For lovers of structured reds: Barolo’s Borgogno and Biondi-Santi’s Brunello 2011. For those who love the Lucca region, Valgiano’s Rosso 2014. Bucine’s Rosso di Montalcino spends less time in the cellar than the Brunello from the same producer and makes a simple gift to open at the table.
• For white wine lovers: Vietti’s Arneis for everyday meals, Ramonet’s Chassagne-Montrachet for a special occasion. The mid-range selections include many white wines from Burgundy.
• For sparkling wine lovers: Grongnet’s Champagne or Egly-Ouriet’s, from two winegrowing families. For the holiday table, the collections also include Champagne in magnums, the one-and-a-half-liter format.
• For collectors: a cellar-worthy white like Ramonet’s, a vintage over ten years old like Brunello 2011 or Valgiano’s Rosso 2014, or a bottle in the over-150-euro range, which also includes older vintages.
• For someone you don’t know well: the STELT gift voucher, available in denominations of 50, 100, 150, 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,500 euros. It arrives by email with a code, never expires and can be used on the website: the recipient can choose their own bottle.

Gift packaging, pickup and delivery

Two practical tips before you order. The first is about packaging: at the wine shop, we prepare gift packages in various styles, from 30 euros and up, including custom options. For businesses, we also prepare packages with panettone and wine, a card with the company’s message, delivery to the business, and an invoice: email us at shop@steltwines.com or stop by the wine shop.

The second is about how to get the gift delivered. You can order on the website and choose pickup: it’s free at the wine shop, and the order is usually ready within 24 hours. Delivery is free within 25 km of Lucca, even for a single bottle: we’ll bring it to you. Shipping is free in Italy on orders over 200 euros and to much of Europe on orders over 800 euros; insured shipping is also available for valuable gifts, at an additional cost.

Give the right wine, for real. We look forward to seeing you at our wine shop at Via Borgo Giannotti 305 in Lucca, Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., open all day; pickup is free, as is delivery within 25 km. All our holiday gift ideas, from panettone to gift vouchers, are on the Christmas Gifts page.