The Vinous 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

BY ANTONIO GALLONI | DECEMBER 9, 2024

Finding that perfect holiday gift can be a challenge. This year’s Vinous Holiday Gift Guide highlights some of our favorites, including stocking stuffers, glasses, maps, books and more. Whether you are shopping for someone who is new to wine or for a savvy collector, we’ve got something for everyone.

Masnaghetti 30th Anniversary Double Trilogy Set

Alessandro Masnaghetti has established himself as the world’s foremost vineyard cartographer in a brilliant career spanning four decades. To celebrate his 30th anniversary, Masnaghetti has produced a stunning set of six maps featuring never-before-seen detail of Chateau d’Yquem and Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia). The Yquem trilogy includes maps of vineyards, soils and lieux-dits, while the San Guido - Sassicaia maps are organized by vineyards, varieties and historical place names.

The Double Trilogy is available only in 150 signed, numbered limited-edition boxed sets. Maps are printed on 320-gram Japanese Takeo Vent Nouveau papers. Single maps (not signed) are also available. Readers in Europe can order the maps directly from Masnaghetti’s Enogea site, while readers in the US can order from the Rare Wine Co., Masnaghetti’s importer. Please note, we have been informed that maps will arrive in the US in early 2025. (€150/$195: Enogea, Rare Wine Co.)

Neal Martin – The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide

Neal Martin’s The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide is one of the most significant wine books published in recent years. The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide takes the reader on a trip through time, stopping through dozens of Bordeaux vintages, the great, the average and those that are nearly forgotten. An anecdote on a historical event, a significant piece of music and a movie made that year accompany each vintage, all delivered with Neal’s mix of deep expertise and wit. I doubt there are many people in the world who have tasted and drunk more fine, older Bordeaux than Neal Martin. His perspective on how Bordeaux wines age is invaluable, not only for both the serious wine lover, but also for those who are just beginning their forays into wine. (List Price $45/£35: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Blackwell's)

Vintage Crime: A Short History of Wine – Rebecca Gibb MW

Rebecca Gibb MW’s new book Vintage Crime: A Short History of Wine Fraud takes an in-depth look at some of the more important frauds in the world of wine. It is a refreshing change from most other books on the market in that there is no discussion of vintages, wineries or sustainable farming, but rather a focus on some shady characters and the crimes they committed. Vintage Crime will appeal to the hardcore wine lover who wants to learn more about these dubious episodes in history, but its focus on crimes of notable daring also makes the book appealing to those who might have more of a passing interest in wine. Rebecca is donating a portion of her book royalties towards finding a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, an especially severe version of MD that her son suffers from. (List Price $29.95/£25: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Blackwell's)

Who’s Afraid of Romanée-Conti – Dan Keeling

Dan Keeling is best known as the co-owner of the Noble Rot wine-themed restaurants in the UK and the editor and co-owner of the irreverent wine magazine of the same name. Who’s Afraid of Romanée-Conti is a collection of short articles and vignettes that trace Keeling’s personal journey in wine. Musical references sprinkled throughout the text harken back to Keeling’s former career as an A&R executive. Some chapters read more like general advice on wine appreciation, such as the section devotes to focusing on better wines from less well-known appellations. Other chapters are brief forays into specific regions, often inspired by wines that made a particularly strong impression. The chapter dedicated to a very special tasting of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s famed Romanée-Conti is a sort of climax. Keeling’s informal, conversational writing flows with humor. There doesn’t really seem to be any sort of organization to Who’s Afraid of Romanée-Conti, but that makes it easy to jump in and out of the book. Who’s Afraid of Romanée-Conti has enough substance to be interesting for the serious wine-lover but enough approachability and focus on hipster winemakers to be a great read for those who are just getting into wine. (List Price $45/£30: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Blackwell's)

The Durand Corkscrew

The Durand Corkscrew makes a fabulous holiday gift for the serious oenophile. Two blades work alongside a conventional corkscrew to easily extract even the most fragile, brittle corks. Gone are the days of losing a crumbling old cork into a bottle and then having to scurry around to salvage the wine. Quite simply, the Durand is a must-have for anyone who appreciates the joys of older wines. The Durand is practical, functional and essential. ($145, Durand, Amazon)

Glasvin Glasses

Designed in New York City, the Glasvin glasses have quickly become staples in our office and at our events. We tested two models this year. The All-Purpose glass, from Glasvin’s GV Home collection, is a fine all-around glass. Slightly thicker glass vis-à-vis the Universal glass from the Glasvin collection is especially well suited to home use or settings that require an added element of sturdiness. The Universal glass, from the New York City Artist Series, features thinner glass and an overall lighter feel. It, too, is an excellent glass for a wide range of wines. We find it more durable than many other lighter glasses and a terrific value in its peer group. (From $36, Glass.Vin)

Josephinenhütte Glasses

Josephinenhütte is the newest project from Kurt Josef Zalto, the visionary designer who co-founded the glass company that still bears his name. There are four wine glasses in the collection, along with two water glasses, a decanter and a carafe. Light in feel and overall weight, Josephinenhütte glasses are mouth-blown and made from thin glass. The bowls are flared near the stem, a choice made to enhance aeration. That feature works well, although these glasses need a little more attention in cleaning. The aperture is not as narrow as it is with Zaltos, which has long been one of my critiques of those glasses.

I tried the No. 1 White Wine, No 2. Universal, No.3 Red Wine and No. 4 Champagne. My favorite was the No. 3 Red Wine, which I found to be quite versatile. With its small bowl and striking design, the No. 4 Champagne is a very attractive and functional glass. I found it worked best with Blanc de Blancs rather than Rosé or Champagnes with a high percentage of Pinot Noir. To be fair, though, that is how I generally feel about Champagne glasses. Josephinenhütte glasses will make a superb, elegant gift. (From $99, Josephinenhütte)

Vinous California Vineyard Maps

Vinous Vineyard Maps will make a fine gift for anyone who loves California wines. Our narrative maps, printed front and back, show vineyards in unprecedented detail, with in-depth historical backgrounds and descriptions of key sites. Vinous Maps result from numerous visits, extensive first-hand research and countless hours spent in the vineyards. These maps are the ultimate reference for anyone who wants to explore this fascinating and diverse regions of California. We have four new maps: Sta. Rita Hills ($30/folded map) and Coombsville ($30/folded map) are First Editions, while Howell Mountain ($30/folded map) and St. Helena & Conn Valley ($30/folded map) have been updated in Second Editions.

Common Ground – Charting the Future of Napa Valley - Richard Mendelson

Few people know Napa Valley better than Richard Mendelson. A practicing attorney based in Napa Valley, Mendelson has played a critical role in helping many appellations submit successful petitions for official recognition as AVAs (American Viticultural Areas). In his latest book, Common Ground – Charting the Future of Napa Valley, Mendelson shares his views on the importance of safeguarding Napa Valley’s historic vineyard sites. Common Ground is an essential read for wine lovers who want to delve further into some of the critical issues that are shaping Napa Valley today. ($40, Common Ground)
 

© 2024, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or re-distributed without prior consent from Vinous. Doing so is not only a violation of our copyright, but also threatens the survival of independent wine criticism.

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