How to Choose French Wine as a Gift

A bottle of French wine is one of the easiest gifts to get right, as long as you think about the person and the occasion before you think about the label.

Start With the Person

Do they drink mostly red or white? Do they reach for something familiar, or enjoy trying something new? Will they open it this week, or do they have somewhere to keep a bottle for years? A classic, ready-to-drink bottle suits most people; a wine that needs a decade in the cellar is best kept for someone who has one.

Ideas by Occasion

Birth Year and Anniversary Wines

Only certain wines age long enough to make good vintage gifts, and only certain years were strong. Classified Bordeaux, Sauternes, top Northern Rhone reds and vintage Champagne are the most reliable choices. When buying an older bottle, provenance matters: buy from an established merchant who can say how the wine has been stored, and check the fill level and the condition of the cork and capsule.

Practical Tips

• Add a short note on when to drink it and what to serve it with.
• If the wine is meant for the celebration itself, chill Champagne beforehand or bring it cold.
• Avoid giving a wine that needs years of ageing to someone with nowhere to store it.
• Check the rules before sending wine by post or courier, since many countries and regions restrict shipping alcohol.
• If in doubt, a magnum turns almost any good wine into an occasion.