The best gift to be fair.

Sometimes, the best thing you can buy someone is a bottle of something nice. Particularly, wine makes a fabulous present around Christmas time. The Ancient Greeks saw wine as a gift from the gods. Ancient Egyptians went so far as to bury their loved ones with a plentiful supply to ensure they were well stocked in the afterlife. Several millennia on and wine has endured the test of time. Sure we spend most of the season drinking the stuff anyway, so it seems like a no brainer. Many of us will treat people we know and love to bottles in the next few months. So, I reached out to my friends in JN Wine, to get some tips on how to buy wine for Christmas. When it comes to selecting the perfect wine for any occasion, not least Christmas, the team at independent wine merchant, JN Wine, know their stuff. “Wine is an easy, risk-free purchase when you know what to look for,” explains Aidan McGrory, “and there is always something to suit all tastes and budgets.” Whether it's to be given as a present, or to be enjoyed at your own Christmas dinner, here are JN’s top tips for choosing a special yet affordable wine: Avoid brand bias Famous names may be tempting but you will end up paying a premium. You can find great alternatives to Bordeaux in the new world, our new range from Chile, Vina Aquitania make high-quality, affordable Bordeaux style cabernet that retails for less than £20 a bottle. Don’t choose based on appearance (GUILTY) Read the label instead as this will give you a better understanding of what to expect from the bottle and where it was produced. European wine labels can be a little tricky at first, so don’t be shy to ask your customer advisor in a wine shop for advice, they will be more than happy to help. Consider food  All wines work with different foods depending on their unique flavours. Some easy pairing options include; pairing Steak and Malbec, fish and chips with Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir with duck or port and blue cheese. Gift something a bit different If you are considering wine as a Christmas gift, why not also consider gifting a ticket to a tasting event or a course, something a little different for enthusiasts! Check out JN’s Introductory Wine Courses taking place in January 2020, ideal for an interested beginner who enjoys wine but would like to bring their level of appreciation to a whole new level. “Above all, whatever you choose, think about the person you are buying for and choose a bottle accordingly,” says Aidan. So there you have it now, happy shopping!