Despite the time and effort that goes into making your delicious homemade wine, giving it as a gift may feel a little stingy! But don’t despair, we’ve come up with some creative ideas to turn your wine gift into a festive phenomenon no one will turn their nose up at.
1. Spruce up your wine bottles.
It’s the little details that can turn a plain-looking bottle into an artisanal masterpiece. A shrink cap or even a wax seal, for instance, gives your bottles a refined look and elegant touch. A handcrafted label tied around the neck, or applied to the body of the bottle also adds to the presentation. For a touch of festivity, incorporate a bow and a sprig of holly and voila, the perfect festive homemade wine. These methods are all affordable and thanks to the internet, easy enough to do.
2. Gift as part of a hamper.
Now you’ve smartened up your bottle, why not go one step further for that special someone? Add a bottle or two to a wicker basket or wooden crate filled with shredded paper or straw and pack it with other goodies. Chocolates, biscuits, and cheese, crackers and chutney, are all popular choices that will no doubt be devoured over the Christmas period alongside your wine.
3. Include ingredients to make Mulled Wine.
There are few things more Christmassy than mulled wine, so why not gift some of your homemade red wine along with the ingredients needed to turn it into this festive favourite? Put your wine, the ingredients below, a copy of the recipe in a hamper and add some Christmas decorations. For this one we recommend using SG Wines Gold or Platinum Merlot or Shiraz for the red wine, but it will work well with any red style.
Mulled Wine Recipe
Ingredients (to include in hamper):
- 750 ml bottle of homemade red wine
- 1 large cinnamon stick
- 2 star anise
- 4 cloves
- 1 lemon
- 4 tbsp caster sugar (include in a small jar or container).
Method:
- Put the red wine, cinnamon stick, star anise, 2 strips of lemon zest, and sugar in a large pan. Cook on low heat for 10 mins.
- Remove from the heat and cool, leaving to infuse for 30 minutes.
- To serve, heat without boiling and pour or ladle into mugs or heatproof glasses.
4. Serve it up as Christmas Sangria.
If you’re having guests over this Christmas, another way to treat them to your homemade wine is by making a Christmas Sangria. We recommend using SG Wines Gold or Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon, or Classic Red for this recipe, but as above, any red style will work well.
Christmas Sangria – serves 6-8.
Ingredients:
- 750 ml bottle of homemade red wine
- 100 ml Spanish brandy
- 3 tbsp caster sugar
- 1 tbsp mixed spice
- 300 ml lemonade
- 1 apple
- 3 clementines
- 1 pomegranate or a pack of pomegranate seeds
- Ice to serve
Method
- Chop up the apple and clementines, tip into a large serving pitcher and sprinkle the caster sugar and mixed spice on top. Leave to stand for 1 hour.
- After 1 hour, pour in the red wine, Spanish brandy, and lemonade, and add some ice.
- Stir in the pomegranate seeds and serve.
