Is wine a good employee appreciation or work anniversary gift? Yes, for team members you know enjoy wine. Send one boxed bottle to their home with a note that names what they did. Offer anyone who doesn't drink a different gift, and never ask why.
Recipients must be 21 or over, and an adult signature is required at delivery. This guide covers the moments outside the holiday season. For year-end gifts, see our employee and client holiday gift ideas.
Three checks before you send wine
Run three checks first.
- Check your policy. Some workplaces set rules on alcohol gifts. Confirm yours before you order.
- Know the person. Give wine only to someone you know enjoys it. For everyone else, choose a gift that is not wine.
- Keep it apart from reviews. A thank-you gift is not a bonus. Send it on a different day from pay or performance talks.
Send it to their home, where they can open it on their own time.
Which gift fits which moment?
Match the gift to the moment, and let the note carry the thanks.
| Moment | What to send | A note line | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee Appreciation Day or a team appreciation week | The Classic Vintner Wine Gift, with the same choice of Vintner wine for everyone | "Thank you for the care you bring to this team, every week of the year." | A private choice between wine and a gift that is not wine |
| A first work anniversary | The Cheers to You! Gold Shimmer, toast etched on the bottle | "One year in. Thank you for everything you've built since your first day." | The start date in your own records, so the gift lands on the right week |
| A milestone anniversary, such as five or ten years | The Congratulations Etched Wood Gift Box with a Reserve wine | "Ten years of steady answers and good judgment. Thank you." | Each box holds one bottle, so place one order per gift |
| A new hire's first week | The ONEHOPE Digital Gift Card with a welcome note | "Welcome aboard. We're glad you're here." | Only for a new hire you know is 21 or over and enjoys wine; otherwise send the welcome note alone. The card works online only. |
| A big project finished | The Classic Etched Shimmer Wine Gift in the Thankful for You design | "The launch went out because of the care you put into it. Thank you." | Thank everyone who did the work, not only the lead |
| Administrative Professionals Day | The Thankful for You! Gold Shimmer | "Thank you for keeping every calendar and every trip on track." | Whether they would prefer a gift that is not wine |
For a new hire you know enjoys wine, a gift card lets them choose, since you don't know their taste yet. If you would rather send a bottle, see what wine to give when you don't know their taste.
Which wine should you choose?
The Classic Vintner Wine Gift sets one Vintner wine in a magnetic gift box with gold foil ONEHOPE branding. You pick the wine for each person:
- Vintner Chardonnay: green apple, bright citrus and vanilla. It suits fresh crab or dijon chicken.
- Vintner Sauvignon Blanc: lime, lemon, guava and star fruit. Pour it with oysters or grilled artichokes.
- Vintner Red Blend: cherry, raspberry, cocoa powder and vanilla. It stands up to grilled bacon burgers or BBQ ribs.
- Vintner Sparkling Brut: pineapple, citrus and crisp green apple, with a rich, creamy finish. Try it with fish and chips.
The Cheers to You! and Thankful for You! bottles are Gold Shimmer, a crisp California sparkling brut in a gold glitter bottle. Expect green apple, luscious pear and tropical aromas, with scallops or lemon tart.
The Classic Etched Shimmer Wine Gift sets one etched Gold Shimmer bottle in a white gift box. Choose the Thankful for You or Cheers to You design.
For a milestone anniversary, the Congratulations box is a wooden box etched with "Congratulations!" that stays on a shelf after the bottle is open. Choose the wine inside:
- Arroyo Seco Chardonnay: lemon, pineapple, sweet cream and vanilla, with lively acidity. It suits sage-butter halibut.
- Monterey Pinot Noir: dried cranberry, cherry and sassafras. Suggest it with cheese and chutney.
- Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon: dried herbs, vanilla and chocolate. It suits a blue cheese stuffed flank steak.
- Vintner Sparkling Brut or Cheers to You! Gold Shimmer: bubbles for a toast, with green apple and tropical fruit.
What about a whole team, a long list or someone who doesn't drink?
Give every team member the same gift or the same choice. Our holiday guide explains how to keep a team gift fair.
For anyone who doesn't drink, our gifting team can swap the wine in most gifts for a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling tea. For a long list, start on our Corporate Gifts page, where the team can ship each gift straight to its recipient and arrange that swap. ONEHOPE wine gives back.
What should the note say?
Name the work, not the wine. One specific thing they did is the line people keep. A note in their manager's own words reads warmer than a company card.
Five examples:
- "Five years, and your onboarding guide still trains every new hire. Thank you."
- "You kept this team steady all quarter. We noticed."
- "Thank you for covering the front desk all week without being asked."
- "Your first month has already changed how we run Monday meetings. Glad you're here."
- "Thank you for the Friday notes that keep us all on the same page."
Skip jokes about drinking.
Sending to each person's home
We ship wine to 47 states and Washington, DC. State laws prevent us from shipping wine to Delaware, Rhode Island or Utah, so plan a different gift for anyone there.
Ask each person privately for a home address. Tell people a gift is coming, because someone 21 or older must be home to sign. Our guide on how to send wine as a gift covers each step.
Saying goodbye rather than thanks? See retirement and farewell wine gifts. Thanking a client instead of your team? See our client appreciation gifts. For a product launch on a tech team, see our gift guide for AI and tech teams. Celebrating a friend's new job or promotion? See wine gifts for a new job or a promotion.
Frequently asked questions
Is wine an appropriate gift for employees?
Yes, for team members you know enjoy wine, where your workplace policy allows it. Send it to their home, and offer a gift that is not wine to anyone who prefers one.
What is a good work anniversary gift?
For a first anniversary, the Cheers to You! Gold Shimmer carries the toast on the bottle. For five or ten years, the Congratulations Etched Wood Gift Box with a Reserve wine leaves a keepsake.
What should I give a new hire?
Start with a welcome note. If you know they are 21 or over and enjoy wine, the ONEHOPE Digital Gift Card lets them choose their own wine online. It is not valid at the winery.
How do I gift a whole team fairly?
Give everyone the same gift, or the same choice. In the Classic Vintner Wine Gift, every box looks alike and you pick each wine.
What if an employee doesn't drink?
Ask everyone privately whether they would like wine, and don't ask for reasons. Our gifting team can swap the wine in most gifts for a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling tea.
Can each gift ship to the employee's home?
Yes, within the 47 states and Washington, DC where we ship wine; we cannot ship wine to Delaware, Rhode Island or Utah. Each person must be 21 or over, and someone 21 or older signs at delivery.
