I Used to Buy Every Host a Bottle of Wine, But Now I Do This 2-in-1 Gift That’s 10x Better

Each holiday season, my calendar fills up with back-to-back dinners, parties, and cookie swaps, blurring into a parade of gatherings. For years, I relied on the most classic host gift of all: a bottle of wine. It was easy, reliable, and, let’s be honest, a gift I could easily grab on the way to the next holiday party. At some point, the gesture started to feel more transactional than thoughtful — especially at a time that’s supposed to be about connection. 

No shade to wine. It’s a great gift! But it just felt like default gifting. Helpful? Sure. Memorable? Not at all. And while wine is still a classic for a reason (no host has ever been upset to see one), I wanted to give something that felt a little more personal during the most wonderful time of the year.

On my way to a holiday party one night, I stopped at a book store and picked out a thoughtfully chosen novel to go alongside the bottle. That tiny addition completely transformed the gift and the moment. The host was awed by the cover and asked why I chose it, and lit up in a way I’d never seen over a bottle alone. After that, the wine-and-book combo became my signature holiday host gift. It’s simple, affordable, and surprisingly meaningful. 

A bottle of wine by itself is lovely, sure. But when paired with a book, the gift is an entire experience — something your host can savor long after the dishes are done and the last guest has gone home. The wine will be enjoyed that night, or maybe the next, but the book will linger — even after they finish reading it. And in the whirlwind of the holidays, it feels like giving someone a reminder to slow down. 

The first time I tried it a few years ago, I picked a Cabernet Sauvignon for a friend who loves reading thrillers. She was grateful for the wine, but it was the book she cooed over. The gift shifted from just “something to bring” to “something you picked for me.”

While I nailed it on the Cabernet Sauvignon with the thriller, I wanted to know how to level-up my gift giving this year — so I reached out to some pros to figure out exactly the best wine varietal to pair with what kind of book. That’s when I found Scott Woltz, the director of operations and beverage director at Bibliotheque in SoHo, New York City, a wine bar and bookstore that champions the idea that wine can be paired with storytelling, and Andrea Card, the director of winemaking for Francis Ford Coppola Winery. 

They both made me realize that the secret is simple: Pairing books with wine works best when you think in terms of feeling. Ask yourself what kind of wine matches the energy of the book, and the combinations will practically choose themselves. Think vibe-matching, not rule-following. 

And while Woltz and Card gave both wine types, as well as specific label recommendations, and Woltz even went as far to recommend specific books, use this story as a guidepost. You don’t need to buy the exact label Chardonnay or romantic comedy, for example, to make a great gift. The point is knowing what your loved ones like in a wine and in a book — and shopping accordingly. 

Without further ado, here are the wine and book pairings the pros recommend.

Take rom-coms. Woltz pointed out that their charm comes from being light, bright, and easy to fall into — so why not choose a crisp white that feels the same? He suggested a lively Verdicchio from Italy, like Andrea Felici. It’s full of citrus and cheer, reflecting the upbeat tempo of a quick, heartwarming read like Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld. For those who prefer a non-alcoholic option, Woltz recommends Duché de Longueville French Sparkling Cider.  “This works beautifully as a stand-in for sparkling rosé. It has bright fruit, lively bubbles, and a clean finish that feels celebratory without any alcohol.”

For readers who prefer their romances sweeping and magical, he recommended a Barolo. A great choice would be Brovia Ca’ Mia Barolo (Piedmont), which “has depth, roses, and a slow-building intensity” and “mirrors the sweep of good Romantasy.” Look for a similar bottle to pair with immersive romantic fantasies like Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros or The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. Or if your friend isn’t a fan of red, Card recommends a Prosecco — a bubbly pairing to a sweeping romance.

Fans of murder mysteries, thrillers, and crime novels would need something darker and more structured. Woltz likes Cabernet Sauvignon here — something like Corison Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) — not because it’s heavy, but because it carries a quiet tension that mirrors a smart, twisty plot. Look for something similar to pair with moody page-turners like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson or The Guest List by Lucy Foley, where every chapter feels like a breadcrumb. 

A Cabernet Sauvignon can also complement horror stories. Card recommends theirs, as its “warm spice and subtle smokiness creates a comforting vibe when the storyline gets creepy.” For Gothic fiction, she suggests the winery’s Pinot Noir: “Silky, shadowy, and a little brooding, this Pinot mirrors atmospheric mansions, family secrets, and slow-building emotional drama.” Some great horror books to pair (in my opinion) might include the classic Stephen King novel The Shining or the soon-to-be-in-theaters Gothic fiction novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

Meanwhile, holiday-obsessed readers unsurprisingly call for sparkle. Woltz recommends a sparkling wine that feels festive, like Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rosé, which he calls “berry toned and cheerful.” Pairing the wine with cozy holiday reads like A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote or Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle works beautifully for a host gift that’s “sweet and seasonal.” 

If you’re looking for something for someone more introverted or introspective — the kind of person who likes contemplative literary fiction — grab a bottle of orange wine. For example, Foradori Fuoripista (Trentino Alto Adige), which Woltz says is a “textured and thoughtful” wine that “rewards slow sipping,” complements a meditative book that lingers, like Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, or The Friend by Sigrid Nunez. A non-alcoholic option that brings all the literary vibes are the St. Agrestis Phony Negronis, Wolz says. “This is a great fit. It’s aromatic, lightly bitter, and complex in a way that mirrors the depth of a good novel.”

For the friend who loses themselves in massive, world-building epic fantasies, Woltz suggests going bold with a powerful red. You can pick your own bold red here. His suggestion is quite luxurious (with an exceedingly luxurious price point, to boot): the Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva, which matches their scale. “Rich, dark, and expansive,” an Amarone like this would go down lovely during long winter nights reading books like The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss or The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.

Card, for her part, recommends a much more affordable Coppola Diamond Chardonnay to pair with epic fantasy: “It’s generous, golden, and a little transportive. Its lush texture fits sweeping quests and richly built worlds without overwhelming the storyline.”

Finally, for Young Adult (YA) fans, Woltz likes a light chillable red, like Anne Sophie Dubois Fleurie L’Alchimiste. “Vibrant and lifted,” this Gamay pairs effortlessly with heartfelt YA novels like The Fault in Our Stars by John Green or Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, which hit that sweet spot of cozy and affecting.

Whether you’re headed to a formal holiday dinner or a friend’s annual ugly Christmas sweater gathering, a wine-and-book pairing is the rare host gift that is both low-effort and high-impact. It’s unexpected but accessible, personal but not precious — and it gives your host something they’ll truly enjoy once the party is over.