What is a Good White Wine for a Gift? 10 Best Varieties and Bottles
Finding a good white wine for a gift can be complicated. The right bottle often depends on the occasion, the season, and your recipient's personal taste. But don't worry, we've got you covered.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the ten most popular varieties of white wine gifts, when and why each one makes a great choice, and suggest some of the best bottles from Wine Club Canada wineries to make your gift-giving experience stress-free.
1. Riesling
Riesling is a good wine for a gift thanks to its sweet, fruit-forward flavours and versatility. It can range from light to medium-bodied and is often produced dry, though you'll also find some great off-dry versions.
The high acidity of Riesling makes it the perfect choice to pair with spicy foods, while sweeter varieties are ideal for a gift basket with salty cheese, such as aged gouda, feta, or parmesan.
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Bottle |
Notes |
Price |
|
Nose: Mineral, floral, citrus. Palate: Light-bodied, lime, grapefruit. |
$19.95 |
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|
Nose: Grapefruit zest, floral. Palate: Lime, green peach, minerality, honeyed lemon. |
$25.15 |
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Nose: White flowers, tropical fruit, peach. Palate: Candied peach, citrus, pineapple, guava. |
$28.00 |
2. Chardonnay
As the world's most popular white wine, a nice bottle of Chardonnay makes for a safe gift for any white wine lover. It typically features stone or tropical fruit flavours but can vary greatly depending on the winemaking process. Oaked Chardonnays tend to have buttery, vanilla, spice, and creamy hints, whereas unoaked varieties have a crisp and fresh mouthfeel.
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Bottle |
Notes |
Price |
|
Nose: Toasty apple, oak spice. Palate: Full-bodied, baked apple, caramel, tangerine, rich oak. |
$28.85 |
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Nose: Toasty apple, minerality, oak spice. Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, apple, balanced oak. |
$32.00 |
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Nose: Toasty apple, spice, oak. Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, apple, lemon, caramel. |
$34.95 |
3. Pinot Grigio
Also known as Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio is another popular wine that makes a great gift for any special occasion. Pinot Grigio can vary depending on the winemaking process. A medium to full-bodied style typically features a balanced acidity and a slight sweetness, while a lighter-bodied version boasts a crisp, refreshing taste.
While a white wine grape, Pinot Grigio is a mutation of Pinot Noir and has many similarities with the red wine variety, despite their differing colours. As such, it makes a great white wine gift when you are unsure of your recipient's preferences.
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Bottle |
Notes |
Price |
|
Nose: Mineral, peach pit, floral. Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, white peach, lemon, a hint of bitterness. |
$27.70 |
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Nose: Toasty, peachy, oak spice. Palate: Medium- to full-bodied, dry, peach, lemon, lingering finish. |
$34.95 |
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Nose: Spicy, minerally, toasty, peach pit. Palate: Medium-bodied, honeyed white peach, oak, elegant. |
$40.24 |
4. Sauvignon Blanc
A green-skinned grape variety, Sauvignon Blanc's distinct herbaceous flavours make it one of the world's most unique white wines. Its robust taste profile often includes notes of bell pepper, grass and green apple, with hints of fruit flavours.
As such, this dry white wine often pairs well with herb-heavy dishes, making Sauvignon Blanc a refined holiday wine to accompany common Thanksgiving and Christmas food pairings.
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Bottle |
Notes |
Price |
|
Nose: Grapefruit, guava, passion fruit, tropical fruit. Palate: Tropical fruit burst, big bubbles, sweet garden herbs. |
$22.00 |
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Note: Ruby red grapefruit, guava, lime, celery heart, capsicum. Palate: Grapefruit, lime, orange zest, nervy acidity. |
$28.00 |
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Nose: Gooseberry. Palate: Bone dry, radiant acidity, minerality. |
$29.70 |
5. Viognier
Viognier is an aromatic white wine that delights the senses with its stone fruit, lavender, and herbal notes. Whether you choose a dry style with a rich, smooth taste or a sweeter option with low acidity and a well-rounded finish, Viognier offers a memorable experience.
Best served chilled, it's the perfect white wine gift for a summer birthday or a backyard barbecue, bringing a refreshing touch to any occasion.
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Bottle |
Notes |
Price |
|
Nose: Peach blossoms, wet stone. Palate: Light, lively, orange water, peach, apricot pit, dry mineral finish, white pepper. |
$24.95 |
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Nose: Mineral, honeysuckle, white peach. Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, peach, melon, fine acidity. |
$28.85 |
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Nose: Honeysuckle, jasmine, nectarine, yellow apple. Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, stone fruit, tropical fruit, citrus. |
$30.00 |
6. Gewürztraminer
With fragrant floral notes of lychee, rose, spice, and honey, Gewürztraminer is another white wine that is best known for its aroma. However, while pleasant on the nose, this sweet white wine has an equally pleasing taste profile and a low acidity that is best suited for dessert pairing.
The floral bouquet and sweet profile make Gewürztraminer a thoughtful white wine gift for the fall or winter holiday season, offering a warm and inviting touch to any celebration.
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Bottle |
Notes |
Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Nose: Minerally, spicy, lychee, floral, touch of sulphur. |
$23.15 |
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Nose: Lychee, cardamom, grapefruit. |
$25.40 |
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Nose: Honeysuckle, ginger. |
$26.55 |
7. Vidal
In Canada, Vidal is most often used in the production of icewine. But while icewine is powerfully sweet, late harvest Vidals can be slightly more tempered, with aromatic, fruity aromas and a delightfully sweet caramel taste.
Vidal is best served chilled, making it a great choice for a wine gift basket accompanied by nuts, dried fruit, and cheese plates.
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Bottle |
Notes |
Price |
|
Nose: Sweet peach, pear, citrus, honey. Palate: Honey-rich, apricot-flavoured, mouth-filling. |
$15.95 |
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Nose: Lychee, grilled pineapple. Palate: Tropical mango, pineapple, easy-drinking, smooth. |
$18.95 |
|
|
Niagara College Teaching Winery 2016 Balance Late Harvest Vidal |
Nose: Marmalade, honey, poached pear, apricot compote, ginger. Palate: Luscious, full, balanced acidity, long finish. |
$28.95 |
8. Ehrenfelser
Ehrenfelser isn't a wine you will often find at your local liquor store. This makes it a unique gift for self-proclaimed white wine enthusiasts. Originally from Germany, it found a special home in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, with small growing areas in Washington State and New Zealand.
So if your recipient thinks they have tried them all, get them a bottle of Ehrenfelser for a fun white wine with vibrant aromas and distinct honey and fruit flavours.
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Bottle |
Notes |
Price |
|
Nose: Mineral, pear, grapefruit. Palate: Honeyed grapefruit, nectarine, balanced citrus acidity, great length. |
$25.29 |
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Nose: Intense apricot, citrus, tropical aromas. Palate: Bold, aromatic, tropical undertones. |
$26.55 |
9. Pinot Blanc
Pinot Blanc is another white wine grape that is often used in Canada's production of icewine. However, traditional Pinot Blanc wines are also great varieties for gifting, with a medium body and pronounced acidity.
The wine's flavour profile includes distinct notes of tropical fruit, apple, almonds, vanilla, and spices, making it a great fit for a grilled chicken food pairing or Asian dishes.
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Bottle |
Notes |
Price |
|
Nose: Tropical fruit, stone fruit, minerality, green apple. Palate: Stone fruit, green apple, citrus. |
$18.45 |
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Nose: Melon, pear, peach, apple. Palate: Orchard fruits, red apple, pear, melon, citrus finish. |
$24.14 |
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Nose: Pineapple, persimmon, cantaloupe, honey, guava, nectarine, orange blossom. Palate: Lemon, grapefruit, apricot, white peach. |
$26.55 |
10. Muscat
Muscat is one of the oldest and most well-known grape families in the world, with over 200 different grape varieties. This makes it one of the most versatile white wines, with styles ranging from dry to powerfully sweet.
In Canada, Muscat tends to lean towards the sweeter side, and is typically used the blend different varieties or in the production of icewine. Thanks to its versatility, Muscat makes for an exciting wine as a gift, rewarding unique experiences with every bottle.
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Bottle |
Notes |
Price |
|---|---|---|
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Nose: Yellow apple, sweet citrus, golden kiwi, ripe melon, summer rose, orange blossoms. |
$24.14 |
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Nose: Citrus, peach, tropical fruits, floral notes. |
$26.95 |
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Nose: Floral aromas, hints of spice. |
$30.00 |
Can't decide which white wine gift to choose? Let us take the guesswork out of gifting. With a Wine Club Canada white wine gift basket, your recipient will enjoy some of Canada's finest white wines, expertly curated to delight and impress. Order now and make their celebration unforgettable!
