From vineyard tours to locally-made accessories, here are some special gift ideas from the Local Wishlist for the wine lovers on your list – and a few for beer lovers, as well. Many of them will even be available right up to the last minute (thank you, gift certificates), and all of them are pretty much guaranteed to be warmly appreciated.
For anyone who wants to try their hand at making their own wine, but without the mess and inconvenience of doing it at home, Vintner’s Cellar offers wine making on their premises in Bedford, with guided instruction throughout the process, and the choice of over 60 wine varieties.
2. Bluenose Bottle Stopper & Corkscrew
Scotian Pens makes their combined corkscrew and bottle stopper from reclaimed wood from the Bluenose II. So not only is it a beautiful, hand-turned gift, but it comes with bragging rights!
3. Ultimate Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting
Not that anyone really needs an excuse to visit the South Shore, but this tour and tasting from Crousetown’s Petite Riviere Vineyards is an excellent reason. Even better, the price makes for a very affordable (and sharable) gift.
4. & 5. Sparkling Mead and Rummed Cider
Neither wine nor beer, but two very giftable products from Port Williams’ Planters Ridge: a sparkling mead made from locally-sourced wild clover honey, and a rummed cider, made with Barrelling Tide Distillery’s award-winning 5 Fathoms Rum.
This little gift basket is stuffed with a Boxing Rock Brewing Company logo tshirt, two beer glasses of your choice, and any two beers from Boxing Rock’s large selection, proudly brewed in Shelburne.
Grape Escapes offers gift certificates and packages for not only various wine tours, but also the Beer Bus, and you can choose to gift a particular experience, or let your gift recipient choose their own.
JAW Pottery’s colourful ceramics are cheerful and sturdy, and perfect for anyone who prefers a tumbler for wine. They don’t have to be used for wine – but why wouldn’t you?
9. Savour Food & Wine Festival Tickets
Savour’s annual festival brings together winemakers, brewers, mixologists and chefs for a series of five events in Halifax, February and March 2019. Gift them with tickets, and grab some for yourself so you can join in.
A fun gift for craft beer fans, available at Made in the Maritimes. A hand-crafted artisanal beer vinegar, made with stout beer, and with a taste that’s deeply malty.
These are just a handful of the hundreds of local gift ideas available in this year’s Local Wishlist. Head to the full list and start browsing!