Christmas is coming and you’re wondering what to give someone who loves wine? A bottle is always a safe bet, but you can do so much better. Here are 10 gift ideas for a wine lover, ranked by budget, with a uniquely Lyonnais option at the top of the list.
Budget £25 — The immersive experience
A visit to Le Petit Musée du Vin, Lyon
The perfect gift for the wine lover based in Lyon — or visiting. Le Petit Musée du Vin offers an immersive one-hour journey through its 18th-century vaulted cellars, concluding with a tasting of 8 wines.
This is not just a tasting — it is a genuine cultural and sensory experience. The gift voucher is available as a printable digital version.
Price: £25 / person · Book on Smeetz
Budget £30–50 — The essential accessories
A quality sommelier’s corkscrew
The Pulltex or the Laguiole en Aubrac are timeless classics. A good double-lever sommelier’s corkscrew costs between £30 and £60 and lasts a lifetime.
A wine aerator
For lovers of full-bodied reds, an aerator instantly oxygenates the wine as it is poured into a decanter. Practical and elegant.
A book about wine
- “Wine Folly” by Madeline Puckette: the most complete and accessible visual guide to understanding wine quickly
- “The World Atlas of Wine” by Jancis Robinson: the reference for anyone wanting to explore wine regions in depth
Budget £50–80 — The fine bottle
A cellaring wine from a great Beaujolais cru
Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent or Fleurie from a good vintage — 2019, 2020 and 2022 are all excellent years. Avoid the supermarket; go to a specialist wine merchant.
Maison Bugnazet, a partner of Le Petit Musée du Vin, offers exceptional cuvées from the Beaujolais — ask for advice directly at the museum.
A themed tasting case
A “Tour of Gamay” case, a “Natural Wine Introduction” selection or a “Beaujolais Crus” gift set — Lyon’s wine merchants put together bespoke cases on request.
Budget £80–120 — The sensory kit
Le Nez du Vin (12 or 24 aromas)
The world reference for wine olfactory training kits. Reference vials allow you to train your nose on the great aromas: red fruits, woodland floor, spices, leather, minerality… Available in a 12-aroma (£80) or 24-aroma (£120) set from specialist wine merchants.
Paired with a visit to Le Petit Musée du Vin where our olfactory library provides the revelation — the perfect combination.
Budget £120–200 — The premium experience
A wine appreciation masterclass in a vaulted cellar
Le Petit Musée du Vin offers “Introduction to Wine Tasting” workshops in small groups, in a guided and educational format. A memorable experience in a truly unique setting.
Enquiries: [email protected]
A weekend with a winemaker
Several estates in the Beaujolais, the Rhône Valley or Burgundy offer “accommodation + vineyard tour + tasting” weekends. Total immersion in the world of wine.
A final word of advice
Whatever your budget, prioritise experience over objects. A wine lover often already has their accessories — what they lack is time to learn, discover and share. The Le Petit Musée du Vin experience gift voucher is precisely that: an extraordinary moment that creates a lasting memory.
These ideas work for other occasions too: see our selections for Father’s Day gifts in Lyon or Mother’s Day gifts in Lyon if you are looking for a gift for another occasion. For everything about the museum and its printable gift vouchers, visit the dedicated page — and check the practical information for opening times and how to get there.
Happy Christmas — and may your glasses always be filled with good wine.