This year, the best Christmas gifts will be the ones that show someone special you’re always thinking of them.

And subscriptions are perfect in that regard: a regular reminder to friends and family that, no matter what’s keeping you busy, you’re thinking of them (not to mention for silent types in your life, they serve as a nudge to pick up the phone once in a while).

In that spirit, we’ve rounded up the best of what’s out there: from organic grocery boxes, to superluxe restaurant kits, to fizz delivered straight to your door. Make sure whoever is on your list eats, drinks and is very merry in 2021!

If natural wine’s your thing, the boys at Top Cuvée (topcuvee.com) have you covered; their £55 (three bottles) or £110 (six) Natural Wine Subscription delivers a mix of red, orange and fizzy whites to your doorstep.

Other London restaurants are getting in on the act too. Spitalfield’s wine bar Crispins (crispinstores.com) now runs a £55 wine club, with the two-bottle delivery available every two, four, six or eight weeks. Bar Douro (bardouro.co.uk), meanwhile, does things quarterly, with six bottles of fine Portuguese priced at £120.

Those wanting to spend a little less should try Savage Vines (savagevines.co.uk) which starts at £29.95 a month for two bottles, while Little Wine (littlewine.co), from £50 a month, is ideal for those getting into organic. Kiss of Wine (kissofwine.co.uk) does independent wines from just over a tenner a bottle every month — the only difference is the wine is split between 16 cans.

That said, the old names are still the best for more usual bottles: the Berry Bros & Rudd (bbr.com) wine club may now be closed, but monthly deliveries can be arranged by emailing wineadvice@bbr.com; they tailor to taste and budget, as does winedelivered.co.uk. Make ours a case of Champagne — though those into prosecco are better off with Pale Fox Prosecco’s Fox Club (palefoxprosecco.com). Prices start at £25.95 for a bottle of their single-estate stuff, though cases can be ordered with 15 per cent off, delivered as often (or not) as you like.

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By David Ellis @dvh_ellis
Evening Standard.