Great wines shine brightest when paired with great food. Here are six wine and food gift ideas to keep your favorite gourmands happy this holiday season.

1. For Lovers of Italian Reds

Gianni Gagliardo 2020 La Morra Barolo and Urbani White Truffle Salt

This red wine (average price $64) is a great example of why the Barolo region, particularly La Morra, is so renowned. The La Morra area is considered to produce the most elegant and aromatic Barolo wines due to its high elevation and calcareous clay soils, which produce lighter, softer, and more aromatic wines.

Indeed, this wine is refined and elegant, with notes of fresh red berries, red cherries, and rose petals, plus hints of earthy spice, stone, and iron. Its soft yet firm tannins and bright acidity balance the fruit, creating a wine that can be enjoyed today or cellared for years.

To make the gift even more thoughtful, include a jar of Urbani White Truffle Salt ($31.90). Urbani is the world’s leading distributor of Piedmont’s fresh Alba white truffles. With its unmistakable aroma, this luxurious salt is perfect for dishes like risotto and pasta or sprinkled on one of my all-time favorite snacks: truffled popcorn. And if you want to go all-out, add a box of Eataly’s scrumptious tagliatelle egg pasta with truffles ($28).

2. For Lovers of Dry Riesling

Appassionata GG Riesling 2018 and Dresden Stollen PGI Christmas Bread

The Appassionata GG Riesling is a passion project by renowned German winegrower Ernst “Erni” Loosen. The wine, produced in Oregon, is made in the same way as the Dr. Loosen Grosses Gewächs (“Great Growth”) Rieslings he produces in Germany, yet comes from old vines planted in 1976 in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. The GG designation indicates a dry-style wine from a vineyard of special distinction.

This dry Riesling (SRP $50) has plenty of refreshing acidity, floral aromas, and flavors of lemon and marzipan, making it an excellent companion to both savory and sweet treats.

Learn more about this German holiday treat here

Pair it with Dresden Stollen PGI—a nod to the winemaker’s origins. This rich, buttery German Christmas bread is studded with candied citrus peel, raisins, almonds, and marzipan and is often flavored with spices like cardamom and cinnamon. Dresden Stollen PGI is crafted under strict regulations to ensure authenticity and high standards, with each loaf originating from the city of Dresden.

Emil Reimann crafts a premium stollen called Dresdner Stollen, a 26.4 oz version that can be sliced into 12-14 servings. You can find it on Amazon.com or The Vermont Country Store.

3. For Lovers of Napa Cabs

Ehlers Estate Portrait Red Blend 2022 and Zingerman’s Cheese Gift

This organic-certified wine combines 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16.4% Cabernet Franc, 16.3% Merlot, and 1.3% Petit Verdot to make a bold, expressive Napa red. It delivers blackcurrant, plum, and dark cherry flavors with hints of cedar, tobacco, and baking spices. The wine’s firm tannins and balanced structure make it a standout for pairing with flavorful foods.

Pair it with an artisanal selection of cheeses from Zingerman’s that stand up to the wine’s bold profile. Creamy and nutty cheeses will soften the wine’s tannins, while sharper or aged varieties tend to enhance complexity and bring out the fruity notes.

4. For Lovers of Bordeaux

Tempo d'Angelus 2022 and D'Artagnan Sliced Charcuterie Bundle

Tempo d'Angelus 2022 is an elegant, organic Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. This wine, designed to be enjoyed young, is a perfect introduction to the wines of Bordeaux at an affordable price of $25.

Its rich aromas of ripe blackberries, cassis, and a hint of violet lead to juicy, fruity, mineral (iron), and earthy (dried leaves) tastes. The soft tannins are ideal for casual sipping or pairing with savory foods, like D'Artagnan’s Sliced Charcuterie Bundle of premium cured meats. This gift pairing is a deliciously indulgent combination, perfect for a holiday spread or a cozy evening at home.

5. For Lovers of Spanish Reds

Beronia Vareia Beronia Single Vineyard 2020 and Turrón de Alicante Nougat

The Beronia Vareia Beronia Single Vineyard 2020 is an organic Rioja Tempranillo from a single vineyard plot planted in 1950. This complex wine offers flavors of blackberry, plum, and hints of spiced oak, balanced by silky tannins. It’s a sophisticated choice that reflects the heritage and craftsmanship of Spanish winemaking.

Pair it with Turrón de Alicante PGI, a type of Spanish nougat crafted according to strict traditional methods in the Alicante region. This crunchy, sweet treat, made with high-quality roasted almonds, honey, sugar, and egg whites and encased with edible wafer paper, is a cornerstone of Spanish holiday celebrations. The wine’s dark fruit and spice notes beautifully complement the sweetness and nuttiness of the turrón, creating an authentically Spanish pairing. Find Turron de Alicante on Amazon.com ($15 for a pack of 2).

6. For Lovers of Port Wine

W. & J. Graham’s Trio Port Pack and Enstrom Mini Turtles

The W. & J. Graham’s Trio Port Pack (SRP $55) gives you three 200 ml-sized Ports, each with its own personality:

Six Grapes Reserve Port: A full-bodied, fruit-forward ruby-style Port with flavors of ripe plums, blackberries, cherries, and a hint of dark chocolate. Rich and approachable, it’s perfect for pairing with desserts.
10-Year-Old Tawny Port: Aged for a decade, this tawny Port has nutty, honeyed, and caramelized fig flavors with a touch of dried fruit. An everyday, delicious Tawny Port.
20-Year-Old Tawny Port: With two decades of aging, this one is layered with notes of honey, toffee, ripe dark fruits, and orange peel. It’s a real treat for special occasions.

Pair these mini Ports with Enstrom Mini Turtles—creamy caramel and pecan clusters coated in milk chocolate. The chocolate plays off the Six Grapes dark chocolate and fruity notes, while the caramel and pecans are a natural match for the Tawnys’ nutty, caramel flavors. It’s a simple yet decadent pairing, perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth.