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A Wine Gift Basket: The Perfect Gift for Somebody Special

Posted by Kim Allarie - January 10th, 2009

by Kim Allarie

Wine gift baskets are more than just wine; they also contain a fine combination of accompanying foods with the wine. They make wonderful gifts for just about anyone. So, if you’re trying to pick a way to present a nice Port or Bordeaux, consider using a wine gift basket.

There are many great options to consider when you are having a wine gift basket made up for someone. You can have nuts included, tasty cookies, chocolates, fresh fruits, and a whole lot more. No doubt the tasty treats and the wine will make a great impression.

A wine gift basket may hold just the vintage you’ve been seeking. Everything from a creative Cabernet to a zingy Zinfandel can be found nestled among a dozen other delightful treats. A wine gift basket can hold that precious Syrah you’ve been dying for months to try. Or the centerpiece may be a quirky new Gewrztraminer you heard about at a party yesterday.

Bottle sizes range from miniature hotel-type samples to a magnum of champagne. A wine gift basket could be filled out with a dozen small bottles of a favorite varietal. Or, it might be a breathtaking variety that allows you to sample a new wine every month. A giant bottle from your favorite region in France or Italy can form the centerpiece of an outstanding package.

Of course the wine is just the start of a great basket. You’ll find a variety of other great items in a wine gift basket as well. Chocolates go wonderfully with a sweet Sangria. Perhaps you’ll find truffles and gourmet crackers. With a nice Chardonnay, dried fruits are often a great choice as well.

If you know someone who is a fan of Brut Champagne, then you may want to consider adding it to a basket. Adding a few gourmet cheeses to the basket will no doubt complete the basket for a wonderful gift that will be a big hit.

The basket itself can be part of a great wine basket gift as well. You can choose from a variety of baskets. Some come in contemporary metals, and others may even come in dark wickers. There are many designs that you can choose from, and you’ll be sure to find the basket that is the perfect fit.

No matter what the occasion may be, a wine gift basket is a great gift. Anniversaries are wonderful times to give these gifts. The couples will be able to celebrate with a wonderful glass of wine and some tasty treats. Even giving your boss a basket at work to celebrate that new promotion is a great idea as well.

Whether it is a birthday, anniversary, or even a corporate event, you’ll find that a wine gift basket is a wonderful idea. Everyone will appreciate it, and it will be a gift that they remember for a long time.

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Wine and Cheese Gift Basket

Posted by Vina Zevigny - December 21st, 2008

by Vina Zevigny

My husband and I exchange gifts with several of our neighbors each year for the holidays. It seems that each year it gets more difficult to think of a gift. This year we decided to give them wine and cheese gift baskets. We did not like the pre-made cheese gift baskets that are available in the kiosks in the mall so we decided to create the baskets ourselves.

The pre-made cheese gift baskets included processed cheese spreads. We were concerned about how long some of the baskets had been sitting around. We thought that if we made our own baskets the cheese would be of higher quality and we could choose varieties that we knew our friends liked.

We went to an import store and found wicker baskets to place the cheese in. The store had inexpensive cheese cutters so we purchased one to place in each of the cheese gift baskets. We then went to a local deli. This deli wraps the meat and cheeses in paper. We did not want this for the gift basket. We decided to go to the supermarket and purchase large rounds of four cheeses. We were making four cheese gift baskets so we would quarter each round and wrap the wedges in clear plastic wrap. We also purchased boxes of specialty crackers to place in the baskets. We went to a paper supply store and bought shredded paper to use in the bottom of the baskets as filler. We also bought curling ribbon to decorate the handles of the baskets.

We brought our purchases home and cut and wrapped the cheeses. I placed the filler in the bottom of each basket then arranged the cheeses, cutters and crackers in each. I used several strands of the curling ribbon and tied the strands to the handles. The wine and cheese gift baskets looked very nice and we knew that the cheese was high quality and fresh.

Each of our neighbor’s was very pleased with the wine and cheese gift basket we gave them. They all like entertaining during the holidays and so the wine and cheese could be served at their gatherings. My husband and I decided that we are going to make similar baskets for our brothers and sisters. This is a gift that can be assembled quickly just prior to giving it so that freshness and storage do not become an issue. We simply purchase the baskets in advance and then the day we are giving the baskets we purchase and cut the cheeses. We decided we could also include a bottle on wine and other goodies for other people that we give larger presents. Anyway, we made wonderful baskets for everyone and could feel really ready for the holidays.

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