Harry Letho and his staff at The Bottle Shop are well versed in the art of helping you choose wine. “The way we sell wine is to ask our customers questions about who they are buying for, what wine style or grape varietal they like, and their budget,” Harry explains of their tailored approach. So with the holiday season now in full swing, we thought who better to ask for tips on buying drops to satisfy everyone?

No two family members are the same, of course. From your fussy in-laws, to your significant other, buying the right gift for each person can be a delicate dance. So we asked Harry to help us out with some pointers on the latest trends in wine, the safe bets and those affordable bottles that will help you get the best bang for your buck. When in doubt, he says, just “choose something with the specific person in mind. Wine is so subjective and we are here to make it less complicated.”

A trendy wine for your influencer cousin

Italian or Spanish varietals made in Australia are a big trend right now. A lot of new winemakers are pioneering this style at the moment and a lot of the older winemakers have actually been doing it on the side for a while. It’s a conventional style of wine, but with an experimental twist. Otherwise, you could go for something more alternative, like a natural wine from the Adelaide Hills.

A quality drop to impress your fussy in-laws

Do your research about what they like, or let us do it for you – that’s what we’re here for. Personally I would pick something with a brand name or a recognisable winemaker behind it – something they would associate with quality. The Kalleske family are an old winemaking family from the Barossa, so that’s a good go-to. Or you could go for a bottle of Henschke or Rockford– if someone gave me a bottle of Rockford, I know they know what they’re doing.

A celebratory bottle to enjoy with your significant other

Oh champagne all the way. Ruinart Blanc de Blancs is one of my all-time favourites – it’s so drinkable and exceptional quality. A bottle of Dom never fails to impress and we have the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2008 Legacy Edition available, which is really special.

Or a bottle of one of the grower champagnes is great as well – this is where they grow their own grapes to make the champagne in-house. A lot of the big houses actually buy grapes from other growers in the Champagne region. So grower champagne is great value for money and it is definitely on the rise right now.

A good value wine for your favourite uncle

French reds are a category that’s becoming increasingly popular again and they are often quite affordable if you – like a good Côtes du Rhône or a Bordeaux. Otherwise Duane Coates makes fantastic wines from traditional varietals as well as alternative Spanish/Portuguese varietals that are great value for money. This is something we pump out in the shop – everything of his so far we have loved.

A lucky dip, for when you don’t know who you’re buying for

If you have no idea who you’re buying for or what kind of wine they’re into, then a gift card is always a safe bet. We sell them in The Bottle Shop and online, so it’s a great solution for whenever you’re flying blind. I mean, who doesn’t love the chance to pick out something special for the holidays?

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