Some gifts are lovely. Others make the whole room stop for a second when they come out of the wrapping. If you're shopping for the second kind this Christmas, this is where to start. We've gathered our favourite Champagne, magnums and sparkling wine gifts for 2026, from a very festive new arrival from Moët & Chandon to big bottles in wooden boxes that will be the centrepiece of any Christmas table.
Every one of these can be gift wrapped, packed and delivered straight to their door, so all you need to do is decide who's getting what.
The star of the season: Moët Impérial Red Limited Edition
Every year Moët & Chandon dresses its most famous Champagne up for the festive season, and this year it's gone red. The Moët & Chandon Impérial Red Limited Edition is the same Moët Impérial so many of us reach for when there's something to celebrate, in a striking red box made for Christmas. Inside, it's fresh and expressive, with green apple, pear and citrus zest, white flowers and a hint of brioche and almond, followed by a crisp, vibrant palate and a clean, elegant finish. At €70 and 12.5% ABV, it's a gift that feels special before the wrapping even comes off, and it looks wonderful on the table too. Stock is very limited, so if it's on your list, we wouldn't wait.
Why a magnum makes the best Christmas gift
There's something undeniably generous about a magnum. At 1.5 litres it holds the same as two standard bottles, and it brings a real sense of occasion to any gathering. It isn't only about size, though. Wine ages more slowly and gracefully in a magnum thanks to the ideal ratio of wine to air in the bottle, which gives more freshness and complexity in the glass. In other words, it's the gift that impresses before the cork is popped and rewards everyone lucky enough to share it.
For Champagne lovers, the Champagne Jean Pol Hautbois Grande Reserve Magnum (€110) is grower Champagne, made by a family who tend their own vines rather than buying in grapes. It's an equal blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, aged for five years in the cellar, with fresh almond, butter and honeysuckle on the nose, a full and elegant palate and a finish of pink grapefruit, lemon and hazelnut. It arrives in a gift box with your personal message.
For the red wine collector, the Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro 'Gold Fever' Gran Selezione Magnum (€215) is something truly special. It's a strictly limited release from the exceptional 2021 vintage, with each edition of Ruffino's Oro magnum dedicated to a unique piece of artwork. Mainly Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the Conca d'Oro, the most prestigious part of Chianti Classico, it shows intense cherry, plum and violet, with hints of eucalyptus, chocolate and black pepper over elegant tannins.
Closer to Christmas dinner, the Bodegas Navajas Reserva 2017 Magnum in Wood (€60) is a firm customer favourite from a small family bodega near Navarrete, founded in 1918. It's 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo from the estate's oldest vineyards, aged in American oak and then for a further four years in bottle before release, giving a heady mix of ripe fruit, vanilla and warming spice with soft tannins and a very long finish. Brilliant with lamb or a hearty casserole over the holidays.
And if they prefer white, the Attis Fine Lees Albariño Magnum Gift Box (€70) brings a taste of the Atlantic coast to the table. From the family-run Attis winery in the Salnés Valley in Rías Baixas, it's a rich, lightly oaked Albariño with ripe apricot and peach, a buttery salinity balanced by fresh acidity and a crisp, mineral finish. Made for Christmas Eve seafood.
Cava that rivals Champagne
Don't overlook Spain when it comes to bubbles. The best Cavas are made in exactly the same way as Champagne, with their second fermentation in the bottle, and the top Gran Reservas spend years ageing on their lees. The Avinyó La Ticota 2017 Gran Reserva Magnum in Wood (€100) is Avinyó's top Cava, made only in truly exceptional years and in tiny quantities from Xarel·lo vines planted in 1940. Six years in bottle before release give it golden tones, fine bubbles and a complexity that stands up to any high quality vintage Champagne.
Not sure which bubbles are right for you? Our quick guide to Champagne, Cava and Prosecco clears it up in a few minutes.
Champagne gift boxes
Sometimes a bottle needs a little company. New for this year, The Moët Indulgence (€125) pairs a bottle of Moët & Chandon Champagne with artisan chocolates from Butlers and premium cheese from Sheridans Cheesemongers, all presented in an elegant wooden gift box. Champagne, chocolate and cheese, made for sharing. If you'd like to keep it simpler, Moët & Chandon & Chocolates (€90) pairs a full bottle with a large box of handmade Irish Butlers chocolates.
Our Champagne Chocaholics (€75) is a gift that never fails to make someone smile, with a bottle of Jean-Pol Hautbois Brut, a grower Champagne partly made in oak for lovely toasty, brioche notes, alongside a 200g rose gold keepsake box of Butlers Milk Chocolate Flake Truffles. And for a proper celebration, The Celebration Box (€110) brings together two Avinyó Cavas, a Brut Rosé and a Vintage Reserva Brut, with Butlers chocolates, Forest Feast dark chocolate almonds and a set of four champagne flutes, so they can start celebrating the moment it arrives.
For the true wine lover
If you're buying for someone who loves to explore, The Decanter Gold Medal Case 2026 is a wonderful way to taste some of the year's very best wines. It brings together six Gold Medal winners from the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards, each judged blind by a panel of experts and scoring at least 95 points, from Croatian Malvazija and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to Rioja Crianza and Mendoza Malbec. It's €135 for six, down from €150, or €270 for a dozen with two of each.
Get your gifting sorted early
Many of these gifts are limited, and the best of them always go first. Order early and let us take care of the wrapping, packing and delivery straight to their door. You'll find even more ideas in our full Christmas Collection, and if you're shopping to a budget, our guide to wine gifts in Ireland for every budget has plenty more.
Champagne and magnum gift FAQs
What is the Moët Impérial Red Limited Edition?
It's Moët & Chandon's classic Brut Impérial Champagne in a limited edition red bottle released for the festive season. The Champagne inside is the same, fresh and elegant with green apple, citrus and brioche notes. It's €70 a bottle at WineOnline.ie and 12.5% ABV.
How big is a magnum of wine?
A magnum holds 1.5 litres, the same as two standard 75cl bottles, which is around ten to twelve glasses. Wine also ages more slowly in a magnum, so it often tastes fresher and more complex.
What is grower Champagne?
Grower Champagne is made by the same family who grow the grapes, rather than by a large house buying grapes from many growers. It tends to show more of the character of its own vineyards. Jean Pol Hautbois, found in our Champagne Chocaholics gift and our magnum gift box, is a grower Champagne.
Is Cava as good as Champagne?
The best Cavas are made using the same traditional method as Champagne, with a second fermentation in the bottle. Long-aged Gran Reserva Cavas like Avinyó La Ticota can easily stand alongside high quality Champagne, often at a lower price.
Can WineOnline.ie deliver a Champagne gift directly to someone?
Yes. We can wrap, pack and deliver your gift straight to their door, so you can order online and send it directly to the person you're buying for.
Sláinte!
Sarah
