Skipping the buzz—and the calories – has gotten much more enjoyable. Even in the past six months, the non-alcoholic wine space has improved dramatically, with new offerings showing surprising complexity. My list this year includes a couple of debuts and some old favorites. I’ve noted how these beverages were made – some start with fermented grapes – actual wine—then use complex chemistry to remove the alcohol. These might hew closer to a traditional wine to many palates. Then there are beverages that use a mixture of teas, juices, spices or other elements to give the experience of wine – mouthfeel, complex nose and palate. These alternatives are generally not meant to emulate a particular varietal, but rather give the drinker a pleasing adult beverage to enjoy in situations where you’d normally drink wine. Here are this year’s top picks.
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Best Travel Backpacks
20.11.2023 - 12:01 / forbes.com
In addition to a reliable suitcase, most frequent travelers will tell you a trusty backpack is a must for any trip. But what makes the perfect travel backpack? It depends on the scenario, but most would agree that it’s a combination of the right size, an array of organizational pockets, comfortable shoulder straps, and a durable, ideally weather-resistant material. With all of these factors in mind, I’ve rounded up some of the best knapsacks out there right now. Whether it’s a carry-on size bag that’s suitable for a five-day trip or a packable daypack that you can carry at all times, here are the best travel backpacks to gift this holiday season.
Really just about everything Peak Design makes is extraordinary, but their travel backpack has continually topped “best” lists, and for good reason. It boasts some of the most desirable features you could drum up such as multiple access points, a variety of pockets including hidden stashes, several grab handles, stowable straps and hip belt, luggage passthrough, and theft-deterrent zippers. The recycled nylon shell is both weatherproof and durable, withstanding the most rugged adventures. And at 45 liters it can easily be used for multiday trips. This is the type of backpack your loved ones will want to keep and use forever—and thankfully it’s backed by a lifetime warranty to help them do so.
If you have someone on your list with a hyper-organized, type-A personality, this option by Aer might just be the perfect fit. The 35-liter backpack is separated into three compartments and has a whopping number of pockets—16, to be exact—that includes a lined sunglass stash, quick-access side pocket, padded laptop slip, and a discreet AirTag slot. This X-Pac version also sports a neon orange lining so belongings can be easily spotted. And rest assured that everything will stay dry thanks to the weather-resistant fabric and waterproof zippers.
The O.G. maker of the wearable duffle now offers a new option for travelers who want to stay a little more organized. The entire bag—body fabric, straps, lining, webbing—is made from recycled materials and is coated in a recycled TPU laminate that makes it resistant to the elements. The backpack is separated into two sections and has a clamshell design, making it very easy to pack. The main compartment features three zippered pockets, a great way to keep clothes separated from undergarments. The back section has been designed for tech and accessories, boasting a variety of pockets, key leash, zippered document sleeve, and a laptop holder with a Velcro strap for easy removal when going through airport security. And if you decide to switch things up, the hip belt doubles as a shoulder strap or you can tuck away all of the straps and
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Best Gifts For People Who Love Japan
Japan is already primed and ready to be the hottest travel destination in 2024.
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Top Gifts For Pasta Lovers
Either you love pasta or you love pasta. And pasta lovers are dedicated to their starchy passion. Whether it’s edible, wearable or decorative, if it’s pasta, it’s on brand. For the giftee whose entire identity is pasta, here’s what to give a gluten glutton this season:
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Best Gifts For Bookish Travelers
Compelling books on travel inspire readers to not only learn about destinations and cultures across the globe, but also, lock in that bucket list trip they’ve been dreaming about. As most travelers can attest, exploring a new locale keeps the brain sharp, curiosities peaked, and humanity intact. Much may be gleaned through reading the memoirs, poems, and true tales of adventurers; seeing beautiful photography; and following writers down the rabbit hole, through verdant valleys, and up and over mountain peaks.
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: 11 Great Gifts For National Park Enthusiasts
Know someone who feels perpetually drawn to America’s most beautiful spaces? Treat them to a National Park-themed gift for the holidays. From hand-drawn maps to outdoor apparel, these gifts will keep National Park enthusiasts connected to the most cherished landscapes in the country. Some of these treasures might even put new parks on their radar, inspiring their next adventure in the great outdoors.
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The 9 Best American Single Malt Whiskeys Of The Year
When it comes to single malt whiskey, America has been, fittingly, like the Wild West. Sure, there are some basic rules that everyone follows—the whiskey must be produced from malted barley at a single distillery in the United States—but after that things have been wide open.
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Best Disney Gifts For Travelers
Disney and travel just go together! Whether travelers love visiting the Disney theme parks, enjoy having an adventure on a private island during a trip with Disney Cruise Line, or long for a European river cruise from Adventures By Disney, they can experience the magic of Disney all over the world. While the Disney enthusiast in your life satiates their wanderlust, help them enjoy their journeys in style with these fun gifts. There’s something that’s sure to inspire joy for every kind of Disney traveler on your list.
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Best Luxury Gifts For Polar Explorers
For the boldest explorers, notable achievements in exploration include firsts in reaching the highest, deepest and furthest points on Earth. Locations such as the North Pole, South Pole, Mount Everest, the deepest point on earth, the Mariana trench and the surface of the moon. For those defined by their legacy of polar exploration, these are the best luxury gifts for polar explorers.
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: Best Travel Gifts For Stress-Free Getaways
Taking a much-needed vacation shouldn’t come with hassle, but let’s face it—every traveler faces a little bit of stress at some point during the journey. That’s where a stress-relieving travel gift can help this holiday season. From innovative suitcases and smart luggage tags to on-the-go styling tools and self-care products, these travel gift ideas can help globetrotters navigate the challenges of exploring the world and look and feel their very best, no matter what a trip throws their way.
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Best Gifts For Wilderness Explorers
Pushing the limits of wilderness exploration can mean extreme weather conditions, hours or days spent outdoors, and lots of pulling and hauling, all to achieve an extraordinary experience. The products you wear, use and carry can be like superpowers that put impossible journeys within reach. Here are the best luxury gifts for exploring the great outdoors:
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: Best Gifts For Taylor Swift Fans Traveling To The Eras Tour
Taylor Swift has set pretty much every record in the book this year, thanks to her unprecedented Eras Tour. The three and a half hour extravaganza covers 17 years of her music and fans are traveling around the world to experience it in person.
Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Best Presents For People Who Love Korea
Whether the person you’re shopping for this holiday season has been a longtime devotee or is a new fan of hallyu—which translates to “Korean wave”—the global obsession with South Korea and its creative industries, from film to skincare, is undeniable. Because there are so many options out there, refer to this handy and well-curated gift guide of Korean experiences and items.