The Holidays are always an exciting time for us here at the winery. Orders fill our mailbox. Emails with gift requests stream in through the computers. The phone begins to ring constantly. It’s fun for us to help patrons select the perfect gifts for family, friends and colleagues. Through the rush of the Holiday Season, we often discuss with each other which gift collection we would give (or want to receive!). It can be a heated debate sometimes! We thought it would be fun to share which are our favorites and why, so I posed the question to team members, “If you were giving a Hafner Vineyard gift of wine, what would you give and why?”

I enjoy Chardonnays and like comparing wines, so I would give the 2014 Main and Reserve Chardonnay Collection. For a “Wow!” gift, I’d splurge for the mixed case. I really enjoy tasting and comparing the differences between two wines with friends. This Collection lets you try two Chardonnays from the same vineyard and year but made in two different styles – Californian for the main Chardonnay and French for the Reserve. Not only do you get to enjoy two fabulous wines, but you also have the opportunity to learn a little, and I love to share that with friends and family. ~Laurie

Hafner Vineyard Instant Cellar. No question. It’s a little bit of everything – three bottles each of our main releases from 2017. That’s 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 Next Red, 2014 Reserve Chardonnay and 2015 main Chardonnay. Six bottles of red wine and six of white wine. This is particularly great if you don’t know what your friend likes. There’s something for everyone. And it’s a great case to share with friends and family. Plus it has the much coveted Malbec based blend, Next Red, which is my favorite. ~Sandy

I would give the Annual Tasting Program. With that gift, my friends would be able to try all the wines we make, plus I’d include the Rosé in their Program because I love it. It’s a gift that comes throughout 2018, so they will have a splash of the Holidays all year long. And there’s a surprise gift or two which is always fun. ~Sarah

I want to give the most exciting gift of the season and that would have to be the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Double Magnum. It will be THE gift of the year. It’s impressive in both its size at 3.0L (or the equivalent of four regular sized bottles) and its age at thirteen years old. Plus, the recipient would want to share the double magnum with friends and that would make the gathering even more special. ~Scott

Oh that’s tough! Too many choices! I would probably give the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Collection. It comes in a nice wooden box that makes for beautiful presentation and storage. My friends could either host a vertical tasting and open all of them together or they could open each on a different night. These wines are at different points in their life, so it’s a great way to taste the development of Hafner Cabernets. Plus it’s rare to be able to give a thirteen year old wine! ~Ricardo

The Gift Pack is my “Go-To” gift each year for friends and family. A bottle of red and white wine is sure to make everyone happy, particularly when I don’t know their wine preference. It’s a safe gift and at a great price. ~Michele 

I would give the 2013 Reserve Chardonnay Magnum. It’s my favorite wine, and it pairs well with so many meals. It’s wonderful with chicken, salmon, turkey or even just a glass with hors d’oeuvres. Plus it’s an impressive gift as it comes in a wooden box with a bar cap cork. ~Parke

Hmm...that is hard! For my best friend, I’d give the Hafner Vineyard Instant Cellar because I know he’d be very excited to try all of the different wines. For other friends and family, I’d probably give the Gift Pack since it’s a nice variety and easy on the wallet. ~Steve

As I posed this question to everyone, they gave thoughtful answers, and I was surprised by the variety that people would give, very little overlap in gifts! But as they finished describing the gift they would give, some also said, “Wait! Don’t you want to know what I’d like to receive!?”

So I flipped the question back to them with a bit of a spin. “Which gift of Hafner wine would you like to receive? And in five words or less, why?” This yielded some creative responses.

Sarah: 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Double Magnum – “Fun, festive, fabulous party wine!”
Scott: 2007 Cabernet Magnum – “Big, red, elegant, fun, celebratory!”
Laurie: Annual Tasting Program – “Variety arriving throughout the year!”
Michele: Vertical Collection of 2007 and 2012 Cabernets – “Cabernet is my favorite!”
Steve: Mixed Case of Chardonnays – “Love main and Reserve Chardonnays!”
Ricardo: Vertical Collection of 2004, 2008 and 2012 Cabernet – “Fun comparison, handsome packaging, delicious!”
Sandy: 2007 Cabernet Magnum – “Impressive party in a bottle!”
Parke: 2013 Reserve Chardonnay Magnum – After a long winded answer about how elegant and balanced the Reserve is, I reminded Parke/Dad of the 5 word limit. He gave me a look that only a father gives a daughter saying in his head, “Really!? How serious are you?” Then he thought for a few moments and being the wise guy he is said, “I love all wine.” Then he smiled and headed back into the lab.

For me, well I’d give the Annual Tasting Program. It surprises people with a fun selection of wines and spreads my gift throughout 2018. All the wines are at the best price, and I’m not billed until February, so it lightens my Holiday spending.

As for what I’d like to receive, the Hafner Vineyard Instant Cellar – “Great assortment, ready to enjoy.”

Please note that some of these packages have sold out. We always try to make something similar available each Holiday Season. If you don't see what you are looking for, we are always happy to help. You can reach us via email or call us at 707-433-4606.