The 2024 Brunello Bombshell Gift Guide
For wine lovers, cinephiles, and the bon vivant in all of us.
Feeling a little extra anxiety this week? Already caught up on awards season movies and finished that bottle you’ve been saving for a rainy day? Here’s an excuse to do some retail therapy and get ahead on holiday gifting. Or, treat yourself today! You deserve it.
If you haven’t done so already, go vote. And when you’re ready, add these fun trinkets to your cart. Happy shopping!
For Wine Lovers
The wine professionals in my life are constantly hauling multiple bottles of wine home, and a well-made wine tote (preferably with insulated compartments large enough to store Special Club Champagne) would go a long way towards alleviating our back pain and our preoccupation with proper serving temperatures. Personally, I’m still on the hunt for a great leather tote bag that fits the bill, but this is a great 3-bottle option for bringing home sample bottles.
Good wine glasses go a long way towards currying favor with wine enthusiasts. I’m loyal to Gabriel Glas as a brand for many reasons, one of which is its dishwasher-safe designation. The StandArt all-purpose glasses are on my personal wish list, and probably will be every year.
The Wino Shop is one of my favorite wine-related apparel brands, and this fun shirt has been on repeat for me this summer. There’s nothing like the labels of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti that gets people talking about their favorite bucket list wines.
New study material makes a great gift! Internationally lauded sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier will finally be releasing the English version of her book One Thousand Vines later this month, which promises to be a vine-to-glass study on wine appreciation. I can’t wait to savor this book over the winter holidays.
Raise your hand if, like me, you’re studying for a wine exam in December! Get your blind tasting reps in with the great kits from Master The World. The 24 bottle Advent Calendar sold out fairly quickly last year, but I’m keeping tabs when this year’s version comes up for sale. There are specific kits for WSET and CMS exams, and I’m also interested in trying Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon’s Textbook Wines before sitting for the Advanced Sommelier Exam.
For Cinephiles
Every single movie fan I know wants to expand their physical media library, and the Criterion Collection is still the gold standard for 4K Blu-Ray editions of a thoughtfully curated list of classic movies.
The only things a cinephile truly needs are movie tickets and more popcorn. Shout out to Cinelounge Tiburon for providing a comfortable moviegoing experience and some insanely good refreshments options, including these specialty popcorns that can be ordered online.
Maria’s Pick: Cinelounge Rosemary’s Popcorn ($8)
Enrico’s Pick: Cinelounge Once Upon A Time In… Popcorn ($7 on sale!)
Make It A Trio: Cinelounge Some Like It Popped ($7)
Awards season watchers have been taking note of the wide variety of marketing collaborations happening with Wicked (coming to theaters November 22). Am I abnormally excited to see my all-time favorite candle brand release two new scents for the movie? Absolutely! But there are priorities. I would love to rep Shiz University with this forest green college-inspired crewneck when I turn up to the movie theater.
Membership to the Academy Museum in Los Angeles would be a welcome gift for the LA-based cinephile. For the person who is not local to Los Angeles, a museum visit during awards season would be a fun way to vacation.
One of these years, I’ll actually read all the original source material for the Oscar nominated Adapted Screenplays. I’m (hopefully) getting ahead by ordering the novel version of Conclave - so far, it’s one of my favorite screenplays of the year.
For The Person Who Has It All
Give a gift subscription to Brunello Bombshell! Since you’re already a fan of wine and movies (and you have exquisite taste, if I do say so myself), share your favorite wine and movie pairings with a friend. And thank you for being a Brunello Bombshell subscriber!