Sending Wine As a Gift: A Guide to Perfect Pairings + FAQs

There is never a wrong time to gift someone a great bottle of wine. Wine can be given for special occasions, to pair with the meal you’ve been invited to, or just because. 

You can show your friends you care with the perfect wine gifts. Our guide to sending the perfect wine gift will help you choose what to get for traditional wine lovers and even those who pass on alcohol. We’ll include tips on shipping wine as a gift, and why it’s so much easier — and just as delicious — to consider non-alcoholic wine to send. 

Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé

$26.99

Award-winning non-alcoholic California sparkling rosé with crisp, light notes of strawberry, pear & tropical fruits. Rosé all day without the hangover.TASTING NOTES: Flavors of soft strawberry, pear, and tropical fruit notes are balanced with a light acid for a full… Read More

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Selecting the Best Wine Gifts

Sending the perfect wine pairing for your gift recipient can be a grand gesture, but what are the best wines to give as a gift? Knowing your friend or loved one has a preference for a specific type of wine is a good start to choosing the best wine gift, but there are other factors you can use when making your pick.

Outside of knowing the recipient’s taste preferences, you can use the occasion, season, cost, and shipping to select the best gift. 

• Occasion — Some occasions, like celebrations, call for something more bubbly like Veuve Clicquot, while a holiday or dinner event may have you looking to send a nice malbec. 
• Season — French rosé is a perfect summer gift, whereas a more hearty and bold red wine may be better suited for a winter holiday gift.
• Cost — When you send wine to a friend you have the additional cost of shipping. Make sure to determine your budget for the gift. The good news is that high-quality wines come at different price points!
• Shipping — You’ll want to consider your shipping speed and the temperatures your gift will be in during transport. The ideal temperature in a wine cellar is 55° F, depending on the season, the mail truck may be significantly warmer or cooler than that. You don’t want to handpick a gift only for it to arrive spoiled.

Best Wine Gifts for New Drinkers

Friends who haven’t developed a wine palate just yet may be a little harder to shop for, but it’s easy to find inoffensive varietals that suit most tastes.

• Go for fizz. If you’re looking for a birthday gift, bubbles are celebratory wines. If you’re feeling generous, pair a bottle of champagne with a box of chocolates or truffles. Champagne works with salty snacks, too, if they don’t have a sweet tooth.
• If they have a sweet tooth, dessert wines like Gewürztraminer or sweet riesling are great introductory wines. Watch the labels, though, since dry whites would be less approachable for new drinkers. Stay away from heavy, fortified wines like ports or sherry.
• Versatile, light-bodied red wines like pinot noir or Beaujolais are best-sellers for beginners who want to dip a toe into red wines. If you think they can handle something a little bolder, many merlots are medium-bodied but still fruit-forward.
• Questioning the alcohol? Send a bottle of dealcoholized wine. Surely non-alcoholic pinot noir is light, juicy, and a great intro to wine. Our wines are made just like the “real” thing because they are the real thing. The alcohol is just removed at the end.
• You can always consider gifting a wine club membership to a friend, giving them access to explore and develop their palate!

Non-Alcoholic Bubbly Red Can 4-Pack

$26.99

A jammy and fruit forward blend of alcohol-removed Cabernet & Pinot Noir with fun effervescence, dark cherry notes and a nice dry finish.TASTING NOTES: Complex blend with notes of dark cherry, blackberry, plum and black currant. Hints of french Oak,… Read More

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Best Wine Gifts for Pregnant Friends Missing Wine

Show your pregnant pals that they’re still a good time in your eyes with pregnancy-safe wine gifts. These options would work well for baby shower mocktails, too, especially if you want to bring something over that keeps the guest of honor in mind.  

A quick note here: Non-alcoholic drinks like Surely wine don’t require pregnancy warning labels as they’re less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. While many expectant moms are comfortable with dealcoholized wines, it’s best to talk to your doctor before making any dietary changes. 

• If your pregnant friend is missing out on rosé all day, send them a non-alcoholic sparkling rosé that will remind them of the good times. Our version is the perfect summertime sparkler that tastes like the real deal.
• Get a 4-pack of non-alcoholic rosé if you don’t want your friend to have to rush through a whole bottle. With the cans, they can have fresh bubbles multiple times and it’s perfect for sipping on the go.
• Pregnant pals who love a wine spritzer don’t have to give that up with Surely’s Sauvignon Blanc. This dry, citrus-forward white wine favorite is delicious all on its own, too.t
• If you want to get a little more festive with your wine gift, pack a basket of pregnancy-safe treats that your pal can snack on as they sip. Nuts, fresh fruit with nut butter, popcorn, and hard or pasteurized cheeses are all safe for noshing.

Best Wine Gifts for Health-Conscious Friends

The perfect gift shows that you care. If your friend is on a special diet or just watching their calories, give them wine or a wine gift set that meets their dietary needs. 

• If your friend is watching their weight, sparkling wines like prosecco are usually lower-calorie wines. If you really want to get into their good graces, Surely’s non-alcoholic sparkling Brut only has 45 calories in an 8-oz serving.
• Wines are naturally free of gluten, but trace amounts of gluten are possible in wines that aren’t explicitly labeled gluten-free. Inkarri Wines, Radius, and Surely are all high-quality options for friends following a gluten-free diet.
• While it might seem like all wine should be vegan, some winemakers use animal products in their fining process. Impress your vegan friend with a wine you know is vegan-friendly. Sites like Barnivore can help you find certified vegan wines.
• Most keto dieters consider red wine OK in moderation. If you know your friend is trying to reach peak ketosis, choose low-carb wines like dry white wines or pinot noir. They’ll appreciate your effort to support their effort.

Best Wine Gifts for Your Sober Curious Friends

There has been a cultural shift towards mindful drinking. Is giving wine a good gift? Giving wine can still be a good gift for your sober curious friends when they are non-alcoholic wine gifts. 

Whether you’re throwing a sober party or exploring the world of alcohol substitutes, there are options! 

• If they love bubbles, pick up non-alcoholic champagne. You know you weren’t getting a bottle of Dom Pérignon anyway. Surely’s non-alcoholic Brut comes in cans, too, so it’s the perfect option for a more mobile gift box.
• A non-alcoholic pinot noir is a great red wine gift for friends who want something versatile and easy to pair. If your friend loves pizza, send a gift card to their favorite pizza shop and a 4-pack of Surely’s Bubbly Red  
• If your pal prefers white wine gifts, a non-alcoholic sauvignon blanc is crisp, bright, and fruit-forward enough that they won’t miss the alcohol content. You can send a wine and a fruit basket of ingredients to make yummy white sangria. 
• Expand your friend’s horizons with non-alcoholic beers and non-alcoholic spirits as part of their wine basket. They may not know they have this option as part of a booze-free lifestyle. 

Best Wine Gifts for Cheese Lovers

Wine and cheese are best friends when it comes to natural pairings. If you have a friend who has turned charcuterie boards into an art form, choose wine varietals in your gourmet gift baskets that compliment the cheeses you know they love.

If your friend loves Gouda…

Choose full-bodied red wines or red blends high in tannins that will stand up to a smoky Gouda. Cabernet sauvignon or Bordeaux blends from France are a good option. If you’re sending an aged Gouda, pick up a higher-quality red wine or vintage chardonnay that will match the quality of that cheese.

If your friend loves Brie…

Go for acidity with a sauvignon blanc to cut through that decadent creaminess. A crisp white wine will also help cleanse your palate between bites of Brie, especially if it’s warmed up and gooey. This is also the perfect cheese to pair with a champagne gift. 

If your friend loves Gruyere…

Choose a lighter red that compliments this medium-bodied Swiss cheese. Pinot noir works well. If they prefer white wine, choose a wine style that won’t taste too heavy on the palate. Pinot grigio or chablis, a lighter chardonnay varietal, would work well. 

If your friend loves gorgonzola…

Pair this funky cheese with a sweeter wine. It’s generally a good rule to go sweeter with wine pairings if you’re snacking on stinky cheeses like this one. Ports are a classic combination with funky cheeses, but if your friend isn’t into fortified wines, send a Moscato from Italy instead.

If your friend loves mozzarella…

Choose a white wine that keeps the flavor profile mellow. An Italian pinot grigio pairs well and keeps things on theme. A delicate rosé would also make a great pairing, but opt for a dry style to not overpower the cheese.

Shipping Wine FAQs

How can I send a bottle of wine as a gift?

You can send a bottle of wine as a gift if you follow wine shipping rules. The state you’re shipping from and the state you’re shipping to both matter. While California has few limits on shipping wine, you can’t ship wine to friends in Mississippi.

Most states allow wineries to ship directly to consumers. Others allow direct shipping from anyone with a permit. That doesn’t mean you can go out and get a wine shipping permit, though. It’s safe to assume you can’t just wrap up a bottle of merlot to send to your out-of-state friend.

What are the rules for shipping wine in the U.S.?

The rules for shipping wine in the U.S. vary by state. Most states allow wineries to ship to consumers, the exceptions are Utah, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. Ohio and Louisiana have limited shipping to consumers. 

Some states limit how many bottles of wine you can send at one time. Others don’t allow wine shipments and don’t care that you want your pal to taste your favorite wine from the Sonoma Valley.

These rules date back to agreements made during Prohibition when states obtained the power to handle booze in the way that worked best for their state.

What is the best way to send wine?

The best way to send wine to a friend is to ship directly from the winery or an online retailer with a permit.

Shipping in-state from an online retailer like Wine.com or Drizly is the easiest way to ensure you’re not breaking the rules with your wine delivery. Gift basket specialists like Hickory Farms and Harry & David are another option if you want to get fancy. 

For out-of-state sales, you have to worry about rules in the state you ship from and the receiving state. Amazon sells wine, too, but those same rules apply. 

Different rules apply to wineries, so if you’re at a wine tasting in Napa Valley and have tasted a delightful California wine, the vintners will tell you if you can set up a shipment.

How much does it cost to send wine as a gift?

Shipping costs will depend on the weight of the package. Single bottles that weigh less than 3 pounds can usually be shipped for less than $15. Some wine clubs and gift basket retailers offer free delivery services with purchases of a certain amount. 

Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc

$22.99

Award-winning alcohol-removed California Sauvignon Blanc. Citrus meets pear and apple to create a crisp, bright, dry sip. TASTING NOTES: Crisp, clean, and bright like a diamond. This perfectly balanced, dry Sauvignon Blanc is citrus-forward with soft pear and sweet apple… Read More

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Send Non-Alcoholic Wine as a Gift with No Limitations

Wine will always be a great gift option for friends, family, and loved ones. Choosing the best wine gift baskets can get complicated once you start thinking about restrictions on alcohol through the mail and limitations on what your friends can and can’t drink. 

You can make it easier on yourself by sending Surely non-alcoholic wine. 

Sources

1. Wine Fining with Plant Proteins
2. Spanish Ketogenic Mediterranean diet: a healthy cardiovascular diet for weight loss