A look at the books, coasters, wine glasses, and other favorites that stood out this year.

Each and every year, the market is flooded with new wine adjacent products that are poised to redefine the way you engage with the beverage. Unfortunately, quantity does not equal quality in this scenario and with the pressure of holidays creeping up, picking out the perfect gift for your nearest and dearest can feel like an insurmountable task. That’s why we’ve compiled this list—a comprehensive guide to what we here at Swurl believe to be the most thoughtful and practical wine books, accessories, and glassware currently on the market.

The books were hard to put down, far too easy to finish and left us with a renewed sense of appreciation for just how expansive, vibrant and culturally rich the world of wine really is: Bianca Bosker’s obsessive dive into sommelier life, Alice Feiring’s sharp clarity, Neal Rosenthal’s decades of perspective, and a wartime narrative that illustrates the indelible connection between wine and identity. The objects are pieces that made our tiny apartments feel like French bistros, from Frattini’s smoked-glass decanter to our go-to dinner-party cutlery, the coasters that look better than they behave, and the fridge that quietly does its job. Then there’s the glassware, ranging from sculptural, hand-blown stems to durable sets built to survive a crowded table.

All of the above earned their place by being as user friendly and intuitive as they are enriching, informative and downright fun. This is a guide for people who prefer fewer, better things, and gifts chosen with intent rather than seasonal obligation.

Sofia Smoked Glass Decanter

Designed by Gianfranco Frattini for Italian fine-dining restaurants in the 1980s, this smoked-glass decanter has the elegance of a bauhaus sculpture and the practicality of a daily tool. It looks just as good in use as it does sitting out on a shelf and one we love to have on the table at dinner parties.

Wine Enthusiast 24-Bottle Wine Fridge

It might not be as flashy as the Rocco wine fridge, but it’s far more affordable and gets the job done just as well. And if you want to see it in person, Wine Enthusiast just opened their first brick-and-mortar shop in SoHo, Manhattan.

Mira Cutlery

Hosting a dinner party is great, hosting one with great cutlery is even better. This stainless-steel set is one we keep reaching for, and if you’re looking to splurge, the Sabre set is our go-to.

Spiral Coasters

They’re not the most practical for wine glasses, slightly wobbly, but the swirl shape earns them a spot here. Better for water glasses than stemware, but still a great addition to the table.

MYSA Natural Wine Starter Pack

For when you want a consistent flow of wine without picking out bottles yourself, MYSA’s monthly pack takes the guesswork out of it. They also offer gift sets, starter packs with great value and a range of other curated options.

Mitts Three-Pack Sponge Set

Mitts is our wine-alternative to the Scrub Daddy sponge. If you haven’t broken a wine glass while cleaning it, congrats, you’re officially part of a different kind of 1%. One of our greatest fears is placing our beloved wine glasses in the dishwasher and them breaking, and if you’re like us, Mitts is for you.

Verre Rouge Wine Glass

We love a chunky wine glass now and then, and for the design-forward people in your life, this is the one. Designed by French glass studio Laurence Brabant and hand-blown in their workshop, they’re as eye catching as they are functional.

Josephinen Tasting Set

As much as we’ll happily drink wine out of whatever’s around, when we want true stemware, we reach for our Josephinen set. They’re undeniably pricey but when each glass is handmade and takes seven people to produce, the cost starts to make sense.

Gabriel-Glas Universal Wine Glass

If you want a universal glass on the more affordable end, this is our go-to. The machine-blown version runs about $35 per glass, while the handblown option comes in at roughly three times that. Both are durable, well-shaped, and consistently great to drink from. Plus, my grandma loves them, and when Paula approves, we take that as a win.

Spiegelau All-Purpose Wine Glass

This set of 12 is ideal for having people over. At roughly $12 a glass, a broken one won’t ruin your night. They’re durable, easy to replace, and look good on any table.

Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker

This is our go-to book for anyone just starting to get into wine. We loved the candid peek into journalist Bianca Bosker’s journey from cellar rat to sommelier. It’s a quick, captivating read. You’ll pick it up and won’t put it down until you get to the last page.

For the Love of Wine by Alice Feiring

Written by one of our favorite wine writers, this is a book that should be on everyone’s list. When we talk about falling in love with wine through the people you meet, the places you go, and the history you uncover, this is what we mean.

Reflections of a Wine Merchant by Neal Rosenthal

Reflections of a Wine Merchant is Neal Rosenthal’s look back at decades spent working with small, family-run producers across France and Italy. He takes you into the cellars and homes of the growers he’s championed, offering observations on tradition, integrity, succession and what’s at risk in the modern wine world. It’s a book we regularly give to our writers because it grounds you in what truly matters in wine.

Wine & War by Donald Kladstrup & Petie Kladstrup

Wine & War looks at how French winemakers protected their cellars and vineyards from the Nazi’s during WWII. As the Germans moved in, growers used every tactic they could to hide, disguise or safeguard the bottles that defined their culture. The book is a sharp, informative account of the people who fought to preserve not just wine, but a piece of France’s identity.

The SWURL Holiday Gift Guide: The Things We Loved This Year