Pops That Pop Bottles: The Best Father’s Gifts for Wine Lovers
If the man you are celebrating on Father’s Day knows his way around a wine list or can tell you the type of hops used in a beer in one sip, this compilation of gifts is for you.
For the Camper
When it comes to camping, comfort is the name of the game. Anything that adds ease to the situation is key. The High Sierra flannel from California Cowboy is a multifunctional flannel shirt that not only has a dry pocket to keep your phone in if it’s raining and a sunglass loop, there is also a pocket specifically for canned beverages with a koozie inside and another pocket with a bottle opener—perfection!
Pop a High Water Campfire Stout in your koozie pocket and enjoy this dark stout brewed with graham crackers and molasses—it’s s’mores for grownups.
Sometimes beer and wine won’t cut it and a cocktail is in order. Camp Cocktails by Emily Vikre is the perfect gift to pack in your rucksack for easy bevs to make at your site.
If cocktails are your guy’s preference, but setting up a bar on-site seems like too much, give Miami Cocktail Company’s ready-to-drink cocktails a try. Each spritz has an organic rosé base and real ingredients layered in to make a variety of flavors, such as Paloma, Bellini, Mimosa, Sangria and Margarita. BONUS— they are vegan, low in sugar, gluten-free, non-GMO, and only 110 calories.
You’re going to need somewhere to put all these beverages, and Kelty Folding Cooler is perfect for camping. Easy to carry and soft-sided so it collapses to a height of 4”, it will keep Dad’s drinks cold and has cup holders on top as an added asset.
Many pops might forgo wine glasses while camping but the WineGrasp will hold his glass so he can enjoy his wine from a legit glass without spills. It has a clamping system and rubber grips that easily attach to outdoor chairs and tables.
Keep dad’s canned drinks cool on hot days with Yeti’s Rambler Colster Slim Can Insulator. For wine lovers, the GSI Outdoors Wine Glass Set will keep wine bottles chilled and safe from breakage. The neoprene-insulated wine tote has a shoulder strap for easy carry and a carafe opening for easy pouring—it even comes with a set of two nesting wine glasses. Another option for keeping things cool is the VoChill freezable glass chiller. Throw the cradle in the cooler until you are ready to use it and then simply sit your glass inside it.
For the Golfer
Dad can aerate his wine in style with the Golf Ball Decanter from Prestige Haus while displaying his bottle in the Golf Bag Wine Bottle Holder from IWA.
When it comes to enjoying a beverage on the greens, the SWIG Golf Partee Stemless Wine Cup is the way to go. This golf ball-shaped tumbler keeps drinks cold for up to 9 hours and has a lid to keep the bugs out.
Enough with the accouterment! What is dad putting in these fun items? The Venn-diagram of golf and wine intersect with Ernie Els. The South African professional golfer has been making premium wine in the Stellenbosch region since 1999.
For ease on the greens, Sans Wine Co. is an eco-friendly, natural canned wine that dad can pop right into a koozie.
For the Learner
There are so many books out there for pops that want to learn more about the craft beverage industry. The following are great references in regards to wine, beer, cider and cocktails.
Red Wine by World Wine Guys and Kevin Zraly
The Less is More Approach to Wine by Charles Dion Springfield
Atlas of Beer by Nancy Hoalst-Pullen and Mark W. Patterson
American Cider By Dan Pucci and Craig Cavallo
Nightcap by Kara Newman
Booze by Bear by Chef Bear
For dads who are interested in discovering great wines from beautiful regions around the world, gifting him a subscription to the Winetraveler Wine Club is the gift that keeps on giving. He’ll receive a welcome pack of 6 wines from around the world, and then 6 new bottles of wine featuring a new wine region each quarter complete with educational materials. But it doesn’t stop there, he’ll be able to participate in live tastings with the winemakers and get access to unique vacations and travel experiences you can’t find anywhere else. Note that the wine club is only available to pre-register at the moment, so this gift may be more optimal for next year.
Another way curious dads can delve deeper into the beverage world is with in-person classes and tastings at a local wine shop or school. If that is not available or virtual is more dad’s speed, check out Sunday School Wine for a variety of class subjects each Sunday. The Florida Wine Academy is also a great organization to learn with in partnership with WSET. Tell them Winetraveler sent you!
For the Entertainer / Culinarian
The ultimate gift for pops that pop bottles is champagne! If your pop likes to entertain, Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Sous Bois, is a complex cuvée that is sure to delight guests at his next soirée.
It would be a travesty to serve wine without cheese! The Turntable Cheese Board is a fun way to display dad’s favorite pairings.
For dads that consider themselves mixologists, a great addition to the bar is SKORDO’s It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere Set. A range of ingredients will get dad excited to up his cocktail game.
Stylish glassware is imperative. Viski’s Smoke Deco Cocktail Glasses are sleek and functional for most cocktail recipes.
When choosing gifts to add to dad’s home cocktail bar, upgrade with better-for-you booze and premium products. Frankly Organic Vodka is made with real roots, fruits, and botanicals and comes in a variety of unique flavors. The apple-ginger flavor is a hit with whiskey drinkers because of its complex and spicy taste.
Bitters are a barman’s best friend, and Bittercube is the perfect collection of slow-crafted bitters made with natural ingredients and real botanicals.
If dad is a tequila aficionado, he will enjoy how Código 1530 Añejo Tequila delivers in complexity due to its extensive agave aging and barrel resting in Napa’s finest oak wine barrels. The richness derived from this process makes it sippable on its own.
Another option is The Vice Wine, a Napa Valley luxury line of single varietal wines from 12 of the 16 AVAs. One of the coolest releases is their Cabernet, “Extra Añejo”, Mount Veeder, 2015 (aged like a fine Extra Añejo tequila).
The GlenDronach Port Wood Scotch is a departure from the often used sherry cask matured scotch. Instead, after it is matured in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, it then undergoes a second maturation in port pipes from the Douro Valley in Portugal. The finish is smooth and velvety.
The Ultimate Father’s Day Gift for Wine Lovers
After the year we’ve had, maybe you want to splurge on dad and make Father’s Day super special by surprising him with a trip to his favorite wine region. Consider booking an all-inclusive trip or customizable private tour to a legendary wine region like the Douro Valley in Portugal.
Go for a bike ride and wine tasting in Tuscany, Italy. Venture off-the-beaten-path to explore the wines of Croatia and mix in a day of scuba diving followed by a local wine tasting. Finally, consider a trip to Spain’s stunning Basque Country for doses of the outdoors, history and wine.