When it comes to tough-to-please people on your gift list, it’s hard to go wrong with a bottle of California sunshine. From the sloping valleys of Sonoma County to the craggy mountains of the Sierra Nevada, the Golden State is home to some of the best vintners, brewers, and distillers in the world. A beverage-based gift lets your aunt, brother, or boss enjoy the excellence of California-crafted potables all year long. Explore these boozy gift ideas—with some nonalcoholic options in the mix.
Gowan’s 1876 Heirloom Applewine Cider, $12
Taste the fruits of six generations’ labor. The Gowan family planted its first apple tree in Anderson Valley nearly 150 years ago. Today, they remain as dedicated as ever to cultivating heirloom apples in Philo the slow-fashioned way. This applewine cider has won dozens of awards for its crisp effervescence punctuated with floral notes.
L'Apéro les Trois Green Walnut Apéritif, $40
The brainchild of three female founders—a James Beard Award–winning cookbook author, a slow food–focused winemaker, and a winery owner, all based in Winters—L’Apéro les Trois develops unique aperitifs in the French farmhouse style. Recognized as the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition’s Best in Class winner, the Green Walnut is something special. Its unusual mix of cloves, baked apples, and mulled wine drinks like a holiday get-together in a glass.
Free Spirits Speakeasy Bundle, $79
For the sober or sober-curious friends in your life, consider a trio of nonalcoholic spirits. Founded in Marin County, Free Spirits was developed to give imbibers the freedom to enjoy cocktails, minus the buzz. The spirit-free bourbon, gin, and Milano (a Campari-style liqueur) are crafted from distilled botanicals and infused with nutrients like B vitamins to boost your mood and enhance your cheer.
Fess Parker 2016 Fesstivity Anniversary Cuvée 1.5L, $130
Just try to unbox a big bottle of bubbly without cracking a smile. The 1.5-liter celebratory Cuvée honors Fess Parker’s 30th anniversary, and it’s the perfect gift to get the party started with an exhilarating “pop!” The blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir was plucked from the winery’s 714 acres of rolling vineyards surrounding Los Olivos and aged for nine months in French oak, plus an additional three years in tirage.
Pure Hops Monthly IPA Subscription, $75/month
Get your hops-lover their monthly fix from San Diego County, the unofficial mecca of IPAs. Voted the No. 1 brewery in California by Yelp reviewers for 2023, Pure Project focuses on sustainably sourced local ingredients. The IPA subscription yields a monthly delivery of three different fresh, vibrant IPAs, including fan favorites, seasonal specials, and pre-release brews.
Fine Feathers Kombucha Co. Variety Pack, $48
The husband-and-wife team behind Fine Feathers in Long Beach shares a passion for punchy flavors and this variety pack lets you sample six of their nonalcoholic fermented teas, including Lavender Chamomile, Sencha Guayusa, and Lemongrass Oolong. For the ambitious sipper, the company also offers a Kombucha Starter Kit with everything you need to DIY your own brew.
Shelter Distilling Agave Yolo, $125
While true “tequila” only comes from one region of Mexico, this tequila-style agave beautifully embraces its Golden State origins. When Shelter Distilling, based in Mammoth Lakes, set its sights on developing a 100-percent made-in-California agave, they partnered with Yolo County farmer Craig Reynolds, who moonlights as a camp host in Yosemite National Park’s Tuolumne Meadows. The result? A stunning, sustainable spirit with notes of fruit and earth.
Estate Cabernet Vertical, $320
Three bottles of highly rated Cabernet Sauvignon from Ridge Vineyards will wow any oenophile on your list. Harvested from a low-yield, high-altitude vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, these refined bottles provide a hint of Ridge's revered Monte Bello bottling for a fraction of the price. As a nice added bonus, the gift pack comes with a complimentary Ridge Gift Box, with the option to upgrade to a wood box for an additional cost.
.
Martha Stoumen Harvest Trio, $114
What started as a one-woman project in Sebastopol has blossomed into a female-led natural wine movement. Martha Stoumen limits production to fewer than 10,000 cases each year, focusing on low-intervention techniques with grapes grown in warm, breezy climates. The Harvest Trio showcases the season’s bounty with bottles focused on Nero d’Avola (a Sicilian-born grape). Original label design from Oakland-based artist Carolynn Haydu makes the bundle extra gift-worthy.
Midtown Spirits Horseradish Vodka, $30
Few things pair better with a holiday brunch than a stiff Bloody Mary. The Horseradish Vodka from Midtown Spirits in Sacramento was made with just such an occasion in mind. Fresh horseradish packs a punch of earthy sweet heat, developed by the past winner of a silver medal at Absolut Vodka’s Best Bloody Mary in America contest.
