Canadian Wines and Spirits to Gift for the Holidays

As the Holidays approach, Canadian wines and spirits to gift for the Holidays stand out as refined, authentic, and meaningful choices. From Québec distilleries to the best wineries across the country, Canada offers an impressive range of carefully crafted wines and spirits, ideal for gift baskets, host gifts, or pleasing a discerning enthusiast. Gifting a bottle made at home is a way to celebrate local craftsmanship, the richness of our terroirs, and the excellence of a fast-evolving industry, while adding a distinctive and elegant touch to the holiday table. Please note that our selection highlights wines most commonly available at the SAQ, but we encourage you to explore beyond and discover other remarkable Canadian bottles.

Wines

Canadian wines, true expressions of local terroir and national craftsmanship, stand out for their diversity, precision, and ability to integrate seamlessly into festive tables or elevate a refined gift set.

Sparkling Wines

Festive by nature, Canadian sparkling wines bring brightness and elegance to holiday celebrations, making them ideal for toasting at aperitif hour or marking the season’s most memorable moments.

The Blanc Brut by Domaine Bergeville

Probably the greatest sparkling wine in Quebec, it’s their specialty. You can’t go wrong here. No matter which product you choose from their range, they are all delicious. It’s not champagne, but it’s really not far off. You could say it’s Quebec’s “champagne.” Several products are available at the SAQ, in fine grocery stores, at the estate (and online), but to start with, try Le Blanc Brut.

The Blanc Brut in SAQ

• SAQ Code : 13374562

Bouquet from Artisans du Terroir Winery

This is a lovely surprise. It’s a very dry wine, not sweet at all. It’s acidic and salty. It’s a perfect wine to pair with oysters or something quite rich, as it cuts through the flavours nicely.

Available in SAQ

• SAQ Code : 15254388

Mousse des bois brut and extra-brut – Domaine Vallier Robert

A sparkling wine made from maple sap, an Acer (not to be confused with Acérum). But don’t be fooled, it’s not sweet at all; it’s actually really interesting. A beautiful way to discover Quebec’s sparkling wines. Pair it with a fine foie gras, and you’ll be in heaven. Available at the Quebec Arts and Crafts Show until December 21, 2025; otherwise, you can find it at Avril Markets throughout the province of Quebec. Not available at the SAQ.

Limestone Spark! Riesling from Tawse Winery

A sparkling wine I tasted during our visit to the estate in 2016 and had the opportunity to rediscover a few years ago during a The Art of Steak Masterclass. It was one of the first Canadian sparklers I tasted and it was incredible. It’s a very lively bubbly with some acidity reminiscent of green apples. On the palate, it’s a crisp acidity with a delicate mousse. It’s perfect with lobster, raw oysters, fried vegetable spring rolls, or simply as an aperitif.

Available at LCBO

• LCBO Code: 370361

White Wines

We love white wines, whether for oysters and creamy seafood starters like Coquilles Saint-Jacques—it’s hard to do without them, and we make excellent ones here.

Chardonnay Signature from Vins Guy Lafleur 2022

This excellent wine, made at Tawse Winery in Ontario, is simply incredible. A truly great Chardonnay that has nothing to envy from European or Californian wines. A very fine wine that deserves a place on the holiday table. It will accompany you throughout the meal.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 14363523

Riesling Naramata Ranch Okanagan from Martin’s Lane 2021

An excellent product here, I’m certain. I tasted Martin’s Lane products a few years ago, and it’s probably one of the most incredible wineries in the country. Straightforward wines, crafted with incredible attention to detail by a small team. You don’t want to miss this wine described as opulent and full of texture.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 14573475

Riesling Beamsville Bench 2022 from Hidden Bench Estate Vineyard

I remember tasting this wine from a different vintage, during my visit in 2016, a wine with an apricot presence and the fruit comes through beautifully on the palate, where the honey side complements the mineral side of wines from the region. Perfect with fresh seafood like a reimagined shrimp ring (not the grocery store kind).

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 14963094

Tradition Chardonnay from Domaine Queylus 2021

Freshness and roundness are what you’ll find in this great Chardonnay tasted at la Grande Dégustation de Montréal 2024. What’s more pleasant than drinking wine that’s still rich yet fresh. You never miss the mark with a Queylus.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 15333748

Charles Baker Riesling from Stratus Vineyards 2019

The last time I tasted this wine (a younger vintage, I must say) was a few years ago with Mr. Baker himself at a small wine show, and it was quite a discovery. A Riesling in pure Canadian tradition. Round and appetizing with citrus is very present. Like German wines, put it on the table with grilled sausages or in pastry, a winning pairing.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 12718482

Discovery Series P3 from Inniskillin

Recently tasted at a Jessica Harnois Wine Show, this Ontario wine returns to its winning formula from the early days, with Pinot Noir at 51%, Pinot Gris at 34%, and Pinot Blanc at 16%. It’s a festive, lively, and incomparable wine, at the crossroads between a rosé, a white wine, and an orange wine. Perfect with your cheese and charcuterie board.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 13880246

Red Wines

Canadian red wines, whether structured, indulgent, or smooth, demonstrate remarkable maturity and represent choice gifts for enthusiasts of exceptional discoveries.

Furie Lincoln Lakeshore by Pearl Morissette 2021

While their restaurant is among the best in Canada in many respects, the vineyard’s reputation speaks for itself. Here we have their version of Cabernet Sauvignon. I haven’t tasted it, but I don’t hesitate to recommend it, as their wines are incredible. Note that these wines, under the supervision of Quebecer François Morissette, will evolve from the first to the last sip, which is what surprised me during my visit in 2016. If you find the Roselana cuvée, grab it.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 15109148

Pinot Noir Simes Vineyard from Martin’s Lane 2019

Once again, this great Canadian estate. It’s impossible to go wrong with a wine of such high quality. I have no problem recommending this Canadian Pinot Noir, even though it’s been a long time since I tasted this product.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 15027361

Le Grand Vin from Osoyoos Larose 2020

Here’s an exceptional wine. Le Grand Vin is a success vintage after vintage. We interviewed Caroline Schaller, the general manager and winemaker, a few years ago, who has since been replaced, but the wines have never declined in quality despite the region’s challenges. This exquisite liquid, a Merlot-based blend, will be the star of your evening. Make room for Le Grand Vin.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 10293169

Terroir Caché Meritage Beamsville Bench from Hidden Bench Estate Vineyard 2021

Another wine tasted long ago, but I have so much confidence in Harald Thiel’s wines that I can only recommend them. A clever blend of Merlot 47%, Malbec 29%, Cabernet Franc 24%, and other varietals. As I said in my article about Terroir Caché: it’s a wine that doesn’t resemble anything I knew before, but that brought together familiar yet unique flavours.

Available at SAQ and LCBO

• SAQ Code: 12306411
• LCBO Code: 505610

Cabernet Franc Signature from Vins Guy Lafleur 2020

A great wine here. The Flower (le démon blond in French) liked making wines he loved. It’s probably still the case. I remember tasting these wines and they were incredible. Tawse Estate is behind it; you can’t go wrong. One of the rare Canadian Cabernet Francs available at the SAQ. Don’t miss your chance.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 14363507

Gamay Gameret from Domaine Inselberg

Wine lovers, here’s one that will delight you. A lovely blend that surprises and brings out the fruit without being sweet. It will pair wonderfully with your cheese board. In line with the wines we want to see in Québec.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 15460202

Spirits

Driven by increasingly confident artisanal distillation, Canadian spirits stand out for their character, originality, and quality, perfect for a gift with a distinctive profile.

Vodka

Pure, clean, and elegant, Canadian vodkas rely on ingredient quality and distillation precision to seduce cocktail enthusiasts and tasting connoisseurs alike.

PUR Vodka by Duvernois Creative Spirits

This vodka needs no introduction. With all its awards, it can easily replace vodkas from elsewhere. Don’t hesitate and add it to your cart.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 13536031

Vodka by Menaud

Here, it’s a grain-to-bottle vodka, which is why it’s more expensive. Made in smaller quantities, it’s a vodka worth discovering.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 15525299

Aupale Vodka

Another excellent product from Quebec. A bit trendier, but that’s what makes vodka what it is.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 14555171

Raspberry Cranberry Vodka from Cirka Distillery

This isn’t the sweet vodka it might appear to be with this colour. Interesting notes of Quebec fruits with a very present acidity. It will be perfect for your reinvented Cosmopolitans.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 15527796

Gin

Inspired by nature and local botanicals, Canadian gins offer rich and nuanced aromatic profiles, ideal for a modern and creative gift.

Jardin Verde Glam by BluePearl Distillery

A festive gin with a slightly lower alcohol content at 30% with the same flavours as the original Jardin Verde. It will be perfect for your Christmas cocktails.

Available at SAQ and LCBO

• SAQ Code: 15115898
• LCBO Code: 35300

Romeo’s Gin by Duvernois Creative Spirits

Launched in 2015, it’s one of the pioneers of Québec’s gin revolution. A really interesting, versatile product, in perfect harmony with Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic for winning gin and tonics. Also available in France.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 13735305

Km12 by The Fjord Distillery

Here, it’s a slightly more boreal gin, and it can be interesting to add to your salmon gravlax, for example. It’s just as good in a Negroni to give it a slightly more Nordic twist.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 13394918

Bleu Royal Gin by BluePearl Distillery

Here, it’s the perfect gin for your coloured martinis thanks to the butterfly pea flower. The taste is that of a very floral, unflavoured dry gin, contrary to what its colour might suggest. It doesn’t go unnoticed.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 13864238

Whisky

Aged with patience and mastery, Canadian whiskies combine tradition and innovation, offering complex and accessible expressions that please both connoisseurs and the curious.

Whisky No. 3 by Cirka Distillery

Whisky No. 3 is a four-year-old rye whisky, composed of 93% local Quebec rye and 7% German chocolate malted rye, finished in 30-year-old Oloroso sherry casks imported from Spain. No colouring has been added and the whisky is not cold-filtered. On the nose, there are notes of leather, roasted hazelnut, and fig, while on the palate it’s more cacao, raisins, caramel, and hazelnut. Beautiful persistence and a warm finish with notes of spice and caramel.
*Producer’s notes

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 14713343

Sortilège Prestige

What a magnificent product. Note that we’re more in the liqueur category than pure whisky here, more precisely a Canadian whisky aged over seven years in oak barrels and pure Québec maple syrup from the first harvest. I tasted it at the Groupe Dandurand Odyssée event this fall. Fun fact: one of my high school friends is the Liquid Management and Product Development Director at Station 22, which produces this liqueur.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 11795961

Single Malt Whisky Premium Series by Côte Des Saints Distillery

Here’s probably the most promising whisky according to our specialist Jean-Philippe Charest, excluding Menaud’s project. The network of Dr. François Marquis, behind the project, seems to have led to the purchase of casks that even great Scottish producers have difficulty obtaining. The terroir advantage means the whisky reaches maturity faster, according to our columnist. Don’t hesitate to have it in your bar.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 15475199

Northern Harvest Rye by Crown Royal

Highly recommended by our columnist Jean-Philippe Charest. Northern Harvest Rye by Crown Royal is an extraordinarily unique and flavourful blend, artfully crafted from 90% rye whisky by our team of master blenders. Savoury and unique notes of oak, vanilla, and butterscotch create a smooth and creamy experience that is undeniably Crown Royal.
*Producer’s notes

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 12820364

Acerum

Derived from the fermentation of maple sap, acérum embodies a resolutely Canadian identity, offering a refined and distinctive alternative for an off-the-beaten-path gift.

Acerum Aged 2 Years by FOVE Distillery

What an exceptional product, not to mention the magnificent bottle. It’s not a sweet product; it’s an acerum, a distilled maple eau-de-vie, rum-style and not at all a liqueur—there’s a huge difference between the two. It’s delicious, it’s fascinating, a pure Quebec product.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 15308921

Acer

Acer is a fermented maple wine crafted from pure Quebec maple sap, offering a unique and sophisticated alternative to traditional grape-based wines. With its subtle sweetness and complex flavour profiles, this distinctly Canadian beverage showcases the innovation and terroir of Québec’s artisanal producers.

Sweet Acer Val Ambré 8 Years by Domaine Vallier Robert

What a beautiful product. Close to acerum, but slightly sweeter, acer is a fermented maple wine, so a very different production that gives a surprising result. Available at the Quebec Arts and Crafts Show until December 21, 2025, or at the SAQ.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 15460211

Cream Liqueurs

Smooth and indulgent, homegrown cream liqueurs add a touch of sweetness and comfort to the holidays, perfect for gifts, add to your cocktails, or savouring after dinner.

Crème de Cassis by Cassis Monna & Filles

We’ve lost count of the reviews and awards praising this homegrown cream that’s perfect everywhere. Whether in cocktails, like a Kir Royal or a Bramble, for example. You’ll love it.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 10381661

Tricoté Serré by Au Pied de Cochon

Here, it’s not really a light product—if you know the Au Pied de Cochon restaurant and Martin Picard, who are behind this product, you’ve probably guessed. It’s a very indulgent product; the sweetness of the maple syrup is also dominant. In short, it’s perfect at the end of a meal or to warm you up by the fire.

Available at SAQ

• SAQ Code: 15392730

Conclusion

Whether intended to accompany a festive meal, enrich a home bar, or mark a well-chosen gesture, Canadian wines and spirits make excellent gifts for the holidays, as they are both elegant and meaningful. By choosing bottles from here, we celebrate not only the quality and creativity of local producers, but also the identity and expertise of a terroir reaching full maturity, not to mention strengthening our economy. From sparkling wines to characterful whiskies, through acerum and indulgent cream liqueurs, these selections invite us to offer much more than a bottle: an experience, a discovery, and a genuine moment of sharing around the holiday table.