The Drop

10 easy last-minute Christmas gift ideas

Read Time 5 Minutes

Posted 15 Nov 2023

By Vintage Cellars

From Kris Kringle gifts and stocking fillers to those special bottles for good friends, your last-minute Christmas gifts are sorted.

We’ve all been there. You had the best intentions to start your Christmas shopping early. You were going to be all done by the start of November… but Christmas is just around the corner and you haven’t even started! Never fear – we’ve got you covered with the definitive list of last-minute alcohol Christmas gifts and gift packs. And better still, we’ve sorted it into categories to make it even easier to know what to buy for everyone in your life.

Last minute… for the office Secret Santa

Secret Santa, Kris Kringle – whatever you call it, this last-minute gifting situation calls for crowd-pleasing bottles. Don’t worry if you don’t know what your colleague drinks – rosé, tequila, premixed cocktails and festive liqueurs are all guaranteed favourites.

The premium French rosé: You don’t have to look any further than the Chateau D’Esclans Whispering Angel Rose for a rose with wide appeal. A dry rosé made from grenache, cinsault and vermentino in France’s famed Provence rosé region, it’s as good as any French rosé on the market. Perfect for the big-budget work Secret Santa or your book group gift exchange.

The cocktail in a can: Forget who’s smooching who under the mistletoe, this gift will be the talk of the work Secret Santa present exchange – cocktails in a can are one the hottest trending drinks in Australia right now. Available in single cans or as a pack of four, the Melbourne Martini Bar Strength Espresso Martini comes in a gift-worthy gold and black can and has all the flavours and ingredients you’re looking for in this cocktail: smooth-tasting vodka, locally brewed cold-drip coffee and just the right amount of chocolate notes at the end.

The gift box: A perennial favourite, Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur is a must for the festive season and this gift pack is perfect for a Kris Kringle gift. It includes the creamy liqueur and a Baileys hot chocolate mug. Christmas Eve will be sorted!

Last-minute…and on a budget

If all you know is how much you want to spend, browse premium liquor gifts by budget or try these foolproof picks from the great range of vodka, sparkling and red wine.

Under $35 – the Japanese vodka: This cute little present comes in a gift box and is the perfect stocking stuffer (plus it won’t break the bank!). Haku Vodka is made from Japanese white rice and passes through bamboo charcoal filtration. The result is a smooth, clear, clean vodka that shines in cocktails or a simple vodka soda with a twist of lime.

Under $50 – The easy-drinking red: The Barossa Valley is responsible for some of the best grenache blends in Australia, and the Torbreck The Steading Grenache Blend is a great example of the style. Made from grenache, mataro and shiraz grapes, The Steading is a medium to full-bodied red. It’s a great, affordable gift for the red wine lover.

Under $75 – The French Champagne: Gifting French Champagne is always impressive and Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve Exclusive Brut comes at a very accessible price. Made from pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay, it has aromas of pear and apricot and a lovely delicate bubble.

Last minute…and collectable

Premium red wine and Champagne are classic gifts, but if you’re after something extra for the collector in your life, check out these luxe gift packs.

The ‘Baby Grange’: So you’ve got a slightly higher budget…and we’ve got just the gift: the Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2020 Scuba Gift Box. The Bin 389 is often called the ‘Baby Grange’ because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. This Christmas, the collector’s box follows the underwater theme and is shaped like a scuba mask

The gift-within-a-gift: Not only are you giving a bottle of one of the finest Champagnes in the world with the Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV, but this limited edition comes in its own designer Ice Jacket to keep it cool for all your alfresco drinking occasions. Any Champagne lover will appreciate this gift particularly when they taste the balance of fruit aromas from grapes and toasty aromas from the three years of bottle ageing. Prefer to give pink Champagne? The Veuve Clicquot Rosé NV Champagne is also available in a pretty pink Ice Jacket.

Last minute… but make it a show stopper

Anything from the Penfolds range deserves a place under the tree, but Christmas wine gifts don’t get more special than this legendary red.

The ultimate red wine: We know not everyone goes this BIG when it comes to Christmas presents but when you need a show-stopper – and you’re ready to spend – you can’t go past the Penfolds Grange Shiraz 2019 GB. Packaged in a premium red box, this is the perfect gift for the wine aficionado who loves a full-bodied red with the perfect balance of oaked nuttiness and barrel-fermented characters. It goes without saying, this is the wine for someone who loves to look after their cellar – awarding it 98+ points, Andrew Caillard MW says this “elemental, expressive and expansive” Grange release will drink well from 2028 to 2060.

Products featured are available from 15/11/23 to 26/12/