Finding the perfect bottle for a colleague—or yourself!—is never easy, so I’ve narrowed the choices for you.
I’m lucky to receive wine samples almost daily from winemakers and publicists seeking my opinion. I mention this not as a humblebrag but to explain that I can’t always spotlight every wine that deserves attention—whether in print or at one of my seminars, like the ones I host at the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen or Charleston. That’s why I love creating this annual gift guide: to shine a light on some of the standout bottles I’ve tasted this year and help take the guesswork out of your holiday shopping. Here, you’ll find two lists—great wines under $100 and splurge-worthy selections over $100. Choosing the perfect gift might still be tricky, so my advice? Try them yourself first.
Great Bottles (mostly) Under $100
CHAMPAGNE
Mercier Brut, Champagne France $38
Bright, toasty, and effortlessly elegant.
Aubry Premier Cru Brut Champagne France $52
Lively citrus, brioche, precise finish.
Andre Clouet Brut Millesime Champagne France 2018 $70
Creamy texture, red fruit depth.
Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Champagne France $99
Mineral purity, crisp and complex.
Jean Vesselle Prestige Brut Millesime Champagne France 2011 $100
Mature notes, rich mousse, long finish.
SPARKLING WINES
Juve y Camps Reserva de la Familia Gran Reserva Brut Nature Cava Catalonia Spain 2016 $23
Dry, refined, almond-tinged bubbles.
Langlois-Chateau Cremant de Loire Reserve Brut France NV Loire Valley, France $31
Elegant orchard fruit and chalk.
Enrico Serafino ‘Oudeis’ Brut Rosé de Saignée Alta Langa Brut 2023 $38
Wild strawberry, spice, and finesse.
Paula Kornell Blanc de Noir Napa Valley 2020 $55
Lush apple, toast, and cream.
Ca’ del Bosco Cuvee Prestige Franciacorta DOCG Italy NV $53
Polished texture, golden fruit, luxurious.
WHITE WINES
Cattleya ‘Alma de Cattleya’ Chardonnay, Sonoma County California 2023 $30
Juicy pear, citrus, California brightness.
Jean-Luc Colombo Saint-Peray ‘La Belle de Mai,’ Rhone France 2021 $40
Rich stone fruit, floral lift.
Viberti Giovanni Derthona Timorasso Colli Tortonesi Piemonte, Italy 2023 $40
Savory minerality, textured, distinctive white.
Domaine Chanson Bourgogne Chardonnay Burgundy France 2022 $43
Classic balance, crisp and elegant.
Auteur ‘Bacigalupi’ Chardonnay Russian River Valley California 2023 $65
Ripe, layered, with saline edge.
RED WINES
Donnafugata Floramundi Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Sicily, Italy 2022 $30
Lush cherry, spice, and silkiness.
Marchesi Frescobaldi ‘Castelgiocondo,’ Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Italy 2020 $80
Powerful tannins, dark cherry, long.
Donnachadh Family Vineyards Estate Syrah Sta Rita Hills California 2021 $70
Smoky, peppery, beautifully restrained.
Aperture Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley California 2023 $75
Plush blackberry, cocoa, fine tannins.
Early Mountain Vineyards ‘Eluvium’ Virginia 2021 $90
Polished texture, black fruit, Virginia finesse.
Splurge-Worthy Wines
CHAMPAGNE
Alfred Gratien Brut Millesime, Champagne France $110
Deeply toasty, layered, vintage richness.
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin ‘La Grande Dame’ Brut, Champagne France 2018 $200
Elegant power, citrus, and cream.
Champagne Bollinger ‘La Grande Année’ Champagne France 2015 $270
Opulent, nutty, muscular Champagne classic.
Frederic Savart ‘Haute Couture’ Grand Cru Extra Brut Champagne France $290
Chalky tension, wild energy, precision.
Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut Millesime, Champagne France $300
Ethereal texture, floral depth, pure luxury.
SPARKLING
Rhys Vineyards Perpetual Reserve Sparkling Wine California NV ($105)
Intense, leesy depth, California grandeur.
Domaine Carneros by Taittinger Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Brut, Napa Valley, 2017 $120
Creamy citrus, honeyed, refined bubbles.
Fratelli Lunelli Ferrari ‘Giulio Ferrari’ Riserva del Fondatore Metodo Classico Trentodoc, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy NV $200
Alpine purity, golden fruit, power.
Iron Horse Vineyards Cuvee Joy, Green Valley, California NV $210
Toasted brioche, berry zest, long finish.
Bellavista Vittorio Moretti Riserva Extra Brut, Franciacorta DOCG, Italy $220
Elegant structure, hazelnut, persistent mousse.
WHITE WINES
Kosta Browne ‘One-Sixteen’ Chardonnay Russian River Valley California 2022 $115
Rich, balanced, beautifully textured.
Baron de Ladoucette Pouilly-Fume ‘Baron de L’ Loire France 2022 $130
Flinty, precise, Loire classic.
William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru ‘Les Clos’ Burgundy France 2023 $260
Taut, mineral, and commanding.
The Sadie Family Die Ouwingerdreeks ‘Mev. Kirsten’ Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa $210
Honeyed, saline, deeply expressive.
Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux Bordeaux France $350
Rare opulence, citrus and floral precision.
RED WINES
Anseillan, Pauillac, France 2020 $110
Polished Bordeaux tannins, graphite, cassis.
Hirsch Vineyards Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California $111
Earthy complexity, red fruit focus.
Campo alla Sughera ‘Campo alla Sughera’ Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy $138
Dark fruit, spice, Tuscan elegance.
E.Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d’Ampuis Rhône France 2021 $230
Silky texture, smoked violet, power.
Il Caggio IPSUS Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany, Italy $306
Majestic depth, balance, refined tannin.
SIP IN STYLE
The Parkside Flask from High Camp combines rugged design with refined function — crafted in stainless steel and wrapped in textured leather, it keeps your wine perfectly chilled. Ideal for concerts, picnics, or adventures under the stars, it’s the smart, stylish way to carry your favorite bottle anywhere. highcampflasks.com
