Christmas shopping is hard, especially when you have less than two weeks til the big day. One of our absolutely favourite last minute gift ideas is sending food and drink subscriptions. It’s a gift that gives throughout the year and you don’t even have to leave your house to go shopping (read: you can stay in your underpants all day while drinking nog).
Provinces like Alberta have more liberal rules when it comes to alcohol; because of this, they are able to provide a vast selection of unique, quality wines from all over the world. The benefit for the rest of the country is that a couple of these noteworthy subscriptions are available for delivery across Canada (please note that we recommend you contact the company before ordering to ensure that they deliver to your specific province, city or town). You can also go straight to the source and purchase direct from the winery with some producers offering back vintages and exclusive member-only wines. We’ve curated our favourite offerings below. Oh, and if you want to blow someone away, throw in a subscription to a local cheese shop— you’ll for sure win gift of the year. Not that it’s a competition or anything…
Virtual Vino
Virtual Vino is unique in that it is not a subscription service, but they will curate a one time purchase of wine for you. The service offers a selection of Mix Six packages, which feature everything from Pinot Noir vs. Syrah to Kiwi Christmas New Zealand Whites, which are great gifts if you’re not exactly sure what the person drinks, or if they’re a seasoned drinker that’s always on the hunt for something new. If you’re looking for something in particular, it also offers a selection of Same Six and Splurge Worthy wines packages. And the greatest gift of all, they have a kickass sale on everything during the holiday season!
Six-packs start at $85.
Wine Collective
If you have a foodie to buy for, then this is a great little purchase. Not only do the professionals at Wine Collective curate a custom pack of wine for you each month based on things they have tasted themselves, they also include tasting notes and food pairings. There are a ton of different formats to select from as well, from one-time purchases of six wines to year-long subscriptions of two wines each month. While you do have the option of selecting a mix pack or all reds, the wines themselves are a total mystery. If you’re buying for someone who lives far away, you might even want to consider purchasing a subscription for yourself and make a date each month to compare your notes.
Subscriptions start at $149 per year.
Benjamin Bridge
Benjamin Bridge is a bit of a darling in the Canadian wine scene, putting Nova Scotia on the map as one of the world’s greatest regions for the production of sparkling wine. Well, there’s yet another reason to fall in love with them, their wine club is ahh-mazing! The winery offers a quarterly trio of wines that include two bottles of small-batch wines that only members have access to. Just imagine how special it would be to open a box and know you are holding one of only 1,900 bottles ever produced! They only allow as many memberships as the number of small-lot wines produced within the year, so if you’re interested, make sure to reach out through the BB Club link on their website.
Please contact the winery for details.
A Sunday in August
For the natural wine lover on your list, this is the gift of all gifts. A Sunday in August is a small winery located in B.C.’s Similkameen Valley that only produces small runs of naturally fermented wines, with an overall ethos geared towards sustainability. Its Friends of Summer Society wine club includes a one-time delivery of 12 selected wines, brought right to your door. If you happen to live outside of B.C., then this is the only way you’re gonna get your hands on a bottle!
Subscription is $315 per year.
Rosehall Run
Rosehall Run is one of the oldest wineries in Prince Edward County and is known for producing world class pinot noir and chardonnay (Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were sipping the 2014 JCR pinot and chard on their most recent trip to Canada). And, its N/V Ceremony Sparkling is to die for! Its Vintner’s Choice subscription box offers a selection of three wines, four times a year, including access to pre-release wines and its library of blockbuster gems. This thoughtfully curated box also includes tasting notes from the winemaker, recipes and special winery offers.
Subscription is $99 per month.
