Think outside the bottle with unique wine gifts

Sure, you could gift your wine-loving friend, partner or colleague a bottle of wine this holiday season. But that’s so (yawn) … predictable. Instead, think outside the bottle with one of these unique (and mostly local) wine gifts.

For the wine nerd — “The Oxford Companion to Wine”: Now in its fifth edition, the recently updated “Oxford Companion to Wine” by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, Tara Q. Thomas and team is its most comprehensive yet. With contributions from more than 250 wine writers from around the globe, this weighty tome offers more than 4,100 entries on everything you want (and didn’t know you wanted) to know about wine, including winemaking, viticulture, wine grapes, history, geography and philosophy. Any curious wine lover will find loads to consume in its nearly 1,000 pages of short, digestible entries, making it a perfect gift for wine nerds and novices alike. $65. Available at Levin & Co. (306 Center St., Healdsburg) and Readers’ Books (130 E. Napa St., Sonoma), and online at Amazon and JancisRobinson.com.

For the day tripper — Tickets to Anderson Valley’s 2024 White Wine Weekend: Located just 26 miles northwest of Cloverdale, the Anderson Valley wine region is perfect for a day or weekend getaway with its intimate charm and memorable, well-priced wines. On Feb. 17-18, 2024, Anderson Valley’s White Wine Weekend will celebrate the heritage of the region’s cool-climate white wines — like gewürztraminer, riesling and pinot gris — with dozens of food and wine experiences throughout the valley. It’s recommended to book lodging early. Tickets start at $95. To purchase tickets, visit avwines.com/white-wine-weekend.

For the thirsty traveler — VinGardeValise wine suitcase: If you’ve ever had someone at the airport announce your suitcase is leaking “red juice” — I have — you’ll recognize the challenge of traveling with wine. FlyWithWine has made it their mission to clean up this inconvenience with VinGardeValise, a suitcase line designed to safely transport your wine bottles in cargo or in your carry-on. The Piccolo ($289.95) holds five bottles while the Petite ($339.95) holds eight and the Grande ($379.95) holds 12. The inserts are removable so you can pack your clothing on one side and your cabernet on the other. Available at California Luggage Co., 609 Fourth St., Santa Rosa; 707-528-8600.

For the music lover — Library wine and Modest Mouse vinyl pairing from Winery Sixteen 600: Presented by Winery Sixteen 600 in Sonoma, Vintage from the Vault is a new series of library wine and vinyl record pairings curated by winemaker Phil Coturri. Available through the wine club or a la carte, Vol. 1 includes three library wines (2014 Simons Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017 Mountains of Sonoma Syrah and 2018 Simons Vineyard Marsanne) paired with a limited-edition double-vinyl picture disc of Modest Mouse’s “Lonesome Crowded West” album, plus an exclusive signed print from the band’s LCW anniversary tour. Price: $325, or $300 for wine club members. To purchase, stop by the tasting room at 589 First St. W., Sonoma; 707-721-1805, winerysixteen600.com.

For the explorer — Extradimensional Wine and Aromatics Experience: A perfect gift for the sensory wine explorer, the Wine and Aromatics Experience from Sonoma’s Extradimensional Wine Co. Yeah redefines wine tasting by immersing it in a sea of scents and sounds. Winemaker Hardy Wallace will guide the nearly two-hour event, which will feature five wines paired with unique scents and music for an experience Wallace compares to “an aromatic version of a sound bath.” He also promises guests will have “the most fun they’ve had with wine in years!” Price: $80. Upcoming dates are Jan. 6 and Jan. 28. To buy tickets, visit winecoyeah.com/tastings.

For the go-getter — “Snatch That Wine List” from Sutro Wine: Just 20% of restaurant wine orders are placed by women, according to winemaker and artist Alice Sutro, and she’s determined to change that. This holiday season, Sutro Wine Co. is selling a Snatch That Wine List gift pack, which includes one to three bottles of wine and a guide designed to empower women to place wine orders. Tips include how to navigate a wine list, basic pairings, book recommendations and more. Gift packs include Sutro Wine Co. cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc and/or merlot. Prices begin at $75. To order, visit sutrowine.com.

For the change-maker — Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum: Give a gift that supports meaningful change with a donation to the SommFoundation’s Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum, a program committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the wine industry. One of its most important initiatives is “Do the Work,” an educational series focused on diversity and equity training for wine industry professionals and a forum for industry changemakers. To learn more or make a donation, visit sommfoundation.com or diversityinwineforum.com.

For the wine taster — Cuvaison small-lot tasting kit: Perfect for modest sipping, this tiny trio of small-lot wines from Napa’s Cuvaison winery makes a great stocking stuffer for your favorite wine lover. Featuring three 100-milliliter bottles of Cuvaison’s 2022 Methode Beton Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Coeurtina Chardonnay and 2021 Spire Pinot Noir, they’re perfect for picnics or a post-work pick-me-up. Price: $50. To purchase, visit cuvaison.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Sarah Doyle at 707-521-5478 or sarah.doyle@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @whiskymuse.