7 Luxurious Canadian Drinks That Make Perfect Host Gifts (All Under $50)
Photo illustration by Aimee Nishitoba.
The best way to ensure the bottle of wine you bring to a party doesn’t end up in the re-gift collection is to look for something not easily picked up off a grocery store shelf—something that says “I’ve thought about you and brought you something special.” This can feel difficult to do when the world of wine is so huge, often opaque, and can seem like a gamble even when you’ve read every online review about what’s in front of you in the sauvignon blanc aisle.
One way out of the maze? Narrow your focus and find something locally made that isn’t exorbitantly expensive. Bonus points if it’s a new-to-your-friend maker. While one person can’t recommend it all to every taste, here’s some of the new things I tried this year that I will absolutely be bringing to the function on the holidays—from haskap gin to a relatively cheap and cheerful bubbly to pop upon New Year’s.
Menaud Camerise, $47
I tried looking for this Claremont, QC-based distillery’s boreal-inspired gin after it was recommended to me a couple of months ago. Their ultra-local approach to sourcing ingredients for their line of spirits and liqueurs is inspiring, and the sleek mid-century bottle design absolutely gorgeous; I figured it would make an extra-special host gift for a party I planned to attend. But alas, they don’t ship directly to Ontario (but do throughout Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba). Unlucky me, I thought, until I encountered them at a wine importer’s pop-up shop recently in Toronto—and got to taste some items from their lineup. I bought this instead: a savoury haskap berry gin with plenty of sweet and sour notes, almost like a Portuguese ginjinha without all the syrupy flavour.
Rosewood Winery NA Charmat Rosé, $25
We have so many excellent options here that the idea of bringing a bottle of good quality local bubbly to a holiday party shouldn’t be a difficult search or cost a fortune. Case in point: Chatelaine favourite Rosewood Winery’s dry and fruity charmat, which rings in at under $30 and would make an excellent celebratory sipper at any party—or to ring midnight for 2026. Plus, the colour looks gorgeous in the glass.
Domaine Le Clos Jordanne 2022 Beamsville Village Pinot Noir
Just down the road from Rosewood’s Beamsville, Ont. location, this winery that operates in Burgundian fashion has a completely different personality, and a set of elegant new releases at a great value, making them excellent gifts whether they’re opened immediately or tucked way for a future celebration. I had the chance to try their latest pinot noir at a dinner recently; it was spicy, fragrant, and absolutely delicious.
Le Vieux Pin 2023 Cuvée Violette, $37
Many of the wines made at this Okanagan Valley-based vineyard would make an impression on the oenophile in your life—rockstar winemaker Severine Pinte has been turning heads globally with the wines she’s been making there since 2010—but this peppery and floral syrah would be a fun one to gift to a host with the intention of saving for the future. Write “Let’s open this together next year” on the card and watch what happens.
Theriantropy ‘The Negotiant’ Cabernet Franc, $32
I’ve kept an eye out for this southern Ontario natural winemaker’s cab franc every year since we first recommended it as a great date night wine in 2021. The fun illustrations on the bottle may change year to year, but the contents are predictably silky, juicy, and lip-smacky. Just dark enough for a single glass to sip on alongside a braised-meat dinner. Just playful enough to introduce a friend to the wonderful world of low-intervention wines.
La Petit Abeille Pierre’s Vermouth, $30
I’ve written about this Penticton, B.C.-based cidery’s vermouth before, but I think it’s worth another year-end shoutout as locally made vermouths are having a bit of a moment and this cherry-based one is truly delicious and would make an excellent mix-in for holiday-based cocktails.
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Chantal Braganza is a writer and editor living in Toronto. She is deputy editor, food at Chatelaine, a cookbook nerd, lover of vintage dish ware, and currently training for yoga teacher certification. Her first book, Story of Your Mother, is out with Strange Light Press.
