‘Tis the season…for procrastination, panic, and cursing those “hard-to-buy-for” family members and friends as the holidays creep closer and closer. But have no fear. Mo, our wine buyer, has suggestions for everyone on your shopping list, naughty or nice! Take a look at some of her favorite options for all your loved ones (and those you may not love but have to buy gifts for, anyway.)

For your boss:

Okay, we see you, little Mr. or Ms. Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice. You put in countless hours for “the man” at your job week in and week out, and you still have a heart big enough to make sure you thank your boss for that bi-weekly paycheck. You go, Glen Coco! There’s always a happy medium to strike when buying presents for your higher-ups. You want to say, “I appreciate you,” but without being branded the office suck-up. So how about we cut the difference? The Bethel Heights Æolian Pinot Noir clocks in at $69.99. While we can verify the classically light-bodied, elegant noble grape Pinot Noir in the bottle, this is not your average Pinot. It’s brawny and intense, with red and black-fruit flavors and notes of blood orange and tea. This wine says, “I respect your authority…though you’re probably a bit more fun after a few glasses of this.”

For your beer-drinking brother:

You know the type. The one with countless badges on Untappd, the appropriate beer glass for every style in their otherwise man-cavey apartment, and the type of human who can tell you the minute details of brewing a Cold IPA. “Wine?” They ask as they put on their hipster glasses, stroke their beard, and give you a bit of a condescending glance, “I like my booze with hops included.” Forever earn your bro’s respect by introducing them to the beer-geekiest wine on our shelf: Field Recordings Dry-Hop Pet Nat. This bubbly wine features Mosaic hops. With citrus notes and lack of filtration, it very well could earn a spot in your brother’s rotation next to his favorite hazy. And since it’s only $24.99, it won’t cost much more than a four-pack!

For your mother-in-law, who always has a glass of Stella Rosa Moscato in hand:

You may not agree on much other than your shared love for her kid/your S.O., and you certainly don’t share wine tastes. She likes hers super fruity, too sweet, and with headache-inducing bubbles, ideally under $15.00 a bottle. But what if we could introduce you to a Moscato you might both like? Enter the Enotria Moscato from the Graziano Family of Wines ($12.99) with aromas of ripe peaches, honeysuckle, and lime zest, followed by a hit of lychee on the palate. It’s also perfectly balanced thanks to high acidity that cuts through the sweetness and ensures that the wine in your glass is pleasingly honeyed, not cloying. She’ll probably still subtly criticize your cooking and question the color of your curtains, but she won’t have anything to complain about in terms of what’s in her glass.

For your dad, who swears by his big, bold Napa Cabs:

The thing about finding something you like is you don’t have to worry about the potential stress associated with branching out. This is is why your father has the same shirt in five different colors in his closet, and why he doesn’t really bother straying from the norm with his wine. He loves the burly nature of his Napa Cab. It’s a wine that—let’s be honest—he can drink in front of his buddies without judgement if the beer isn’t cold yet, because it tastes like leather, bacon, tobacco, and other Ron Swanson-eque things. And that’s exactly why he needs to try Vatan Tinta de Toro. At $44.99, it may even be a little less expensive than his favorite bottle from Napa, but it introduces him to a grape that might be new to him: Tempranillo. Spain’s most iconic red grape, Tempranillo is grown all over the country and has many styles. With a growing region and climate that echoes northern California’s Mediterranean climate, he’ll still get great ripeness and intensity of flavor. And he’ll have something new to teach his friends at halftime of the football game.

For your longtime partner:

When you’ve been with someone forever, married or otherwise, you start seeing a pattern with gift-giving. You know you’ve bought a present for your significant other before because while you know they will like what you’re giving them, it’s really for you, too. What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine, and all that. So, since this gift is really your gift, too, and since no person in their right mind would drink an entire bottle of Champagne in front of someone they love without sharing there’s truly no better option than Varnier-Fanniere Grand Vintage Brut Champagne. The Beatles reminded us that money can’t buy love, but it can buy a bottle of this excellent, special-occasion sparkling wine for $109.99. Pair it with a fireplace, your favorite winter blanket, and cuddles.

For the person you just started seeing, and you’re not even sure if you’re exchanging gifts or not:

Cuffing season…the time of year when you swipe right on the person that may not be your forever love, but will definitely get Aunt Becky off your back at Christmas dinner when she asks you for the 7th year in a row whether you’re seeing anyone, yet. But, like, do you even get a gift for someone who may not stay in your phone contacts past January? This is the perfect job for No Es Pituko Cab Franc. Literally translating to “It’s Not Too Fancy,” (read: This Is Not Too Serious) you can say “I think I like you a little. Maybe. But if you don’t get me a gift, I didn’t spend enough on you to make it awkward.” Cute label, good juice inside, and if you end up blocking their number by 2023, you’re not out too much money.

For the cousin you haven’t seen since you were both 12:

We all have those extended family members, right? You don’t see each other often, and you don’t really know each other too well as adults, but you definitely still remember how they tripped you in the post-holiday-dinner pickup hockey game at Grandma’s two decades ago. (Seriously, Aunt Becky, you’re supposed to be the ref. Are you blind? That was a blatant foul!) So, what do you buy for the person you may not even recognize at the big family get-together? Try Matchbook’s The Arsonist Red Blend. A true crowd pleaser, and reasonably priced ($20.99). You won’t have to do too much head-scratching over whether they prefer Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. It has all three!

For your grandparents who love the classics:

Chillable reds? Orange wine? What in the world is a dry-hopped pet-nat, anyway? Kids these days…what happened to good, old-fashioned GSM blends? For a wine that is as classy as grandma still is at 88, the true correct answer is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Regal, respected, and always dressed to the nines, Domaine de la Solitude Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge ($54.99) is the perfect traditional gift for your Nana or Papa.

For your bestie:

You’ve visited all of the wine bars in the metro by now, where you gossip, trade horror stories from your dating lives, and lament the fact that neither of you have found anyone like that dark, brooding hottie from the Netflix show you binge-watch together. But you can at least give them a dark, brooding wine to drink while binge-watching. Gulfi Terre Siciliane Nero Baronj ($41.99) has enough pedigree to make you feel like you are adulting correctly, but also enough easy-drinking deliciousness to assure you that the two of you are not old before your time. Pairs well with anti-wrinkle cream (early prevention is important!), nostalgia for the 90’s, and spontaneous, late-night living room dance sessions.

Still have someone left on your list that we haven’t covered? Stop in and talk with Mo, and she can make a recommendation that is perfect for whoever you’re buying for! Happy holidays from all of us at Dabbler Depot!