Feb 17th 2008 11:27 am How to Buy Wine Gift Basket
Whenever it comes to buying gifts for friends, family or work colleagues, it can be so difficult. Especially when we now live in an age where everyone has everything they could possibly want or need. One of the best gifts in this situation would be to buy a gift basket. But what sort of gift basket would be appropriate? There are so many to choose from such as beer gift baskets, bath, candles, chocolate and even wine.
If the person you are buying a gift basket for loves wine then this will certainly be one gift they’ll have pleasure in receiving. Wine is also a great gift for many occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, Mother and Father Days, Christmas or even a new job. A wine gift basket makes a wonderful choice whatever the occasion. It will certainly help you get in the party mood, how much energy it will give you so that you party ’til you drop I can’t say. LOL.
Wine Gift Basket Ideas
A wine gift basket can be as simple or ornate as you would like it to be. The type you choose will obviously depend on the reason for your purchase. If you are buying for someone you don’t know that well or it’s just a token gift, keeping it simple is probably best.
However if it’s a very special occasion such as wedding and you know the couple very well, you can really splash out and get something extra special. An excellent combination is a bottle of Champagne and a pair of crystal champagne glasses.
If you want to include a variety of other gifts with your wine then you can include wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Chardonnay along with Chardonnay Cheese, Chocolate Mocha Truffles, Biscotti Assortment, Kalamata Olives, Cheese Straws, Mixed Nuts, wine information guide and even a bottle opener. Imagine the gifts all sitting under your slim Xmas tree.
You don’t have to just select the standard 750ml bottles either. Remember that wine bottles come in deferent sizes from the mini ones you get in hotels in aeroplanes to the huge magnum of champagnes you see racing drivers plash all over each other. You could fill your wine gift basket with an assortment of small bottles to give the recipient the opportunity to taste wines which they may never have tried before. If you really want to create a gasp of delight, you could arange the mini bottles around one very large bottle from Italy or France.
For someone who really loves the finer things in life, a bottle of Brut champagne surrounded by quality cheeses and fine Belgium chocolates will go down a treat. You might even want to include truffles or caviar for that extra special touch.
When we think of gift baskets people tend to think of the traditional wicker type. However if you are buying for someone who is more stylish and contemporary, there are a huge variety of basket alternatives to try out. There are ones made from metal, leather and even some modern plastics. There are so many opportunities to create something spectacular.
Although you can easily buy wine gift baskets in various combinations, sizes and prices from the internet or a local delicatessen, you should also remember that wine gift baskets can also be assembled by yourself for a more personal touch. This way you can add in particular wines and nibbles that you know the recipient would love.
All you have to do is ask around if anyone knows what wines and other treats they like or you could always try and remember what you have seen them eat and drink in the past. You then combine all these items in a basket which you and buy from a craft store, wrap it in cellophane and then tie a ribbon around it. You can also throw in personal items such as photos to really show you care.
If you want to buy a wine gift basket already prepared by a professional you should expect to pay at least $50 and you could easily pay several times more than that depending on the quality of the wine and other treats that are included. Although you may save some money making your own you could be surprised that there isn’t much of a difference at all.
So if you have been really stuck for a gift idea and have turned to the internet for inspiration, you can’t really go wring with a wine gift basket. Just make sure the person you are buying for can drink alcohol as some people don’t drink for health or religious reasons. It would be very embarrassing to buy a wine gift basket for a recovering alcoholic.
Posted by April / Food and Drink
- Ideas and Tips for a Wine Tasting Party - When you think of wine tasting, images of long drives in the country on a beautiful day surrounded by hills filled with grape vines come to mind- Smelling all the sweet scents in the air as you approach an old rustic barn. Inside the barn you find several oak wine barrels filled with wine that
- Wine Cellars - Wine is the only perishable drink that actually gets better with age. However, getting it to its peak age can be tricky if you don’t have the right storage area for it. There are three main things that all wine needs to insure its life. The correct temperature, humidity and amount of light to
- Essential Guide to Understanding Wine Etiquette - When drinking wine whether it be with friends at home, in a tasting room at a vineyard, or in a restaurant, there are certain things that should and should not be done. This will really help you, and those you are with, have an enjoyable experience. Wine Tasting Wine tasting can be done at a vineyard
- What You Need to Know About Carbs in Wine - There are many people who have been watching their carbohydrate intake as part of a healthy lifestyle. By limiting the amount of carbs one consumes during the day, they may be able to lose weight, fend off diabetes, and have more stamina. Low carbohydrate diets are designed to reduce the amount of simple sugars that
- Wine and Chocolate Pairing - Wine, fruit, meat and cheese have long been combined so why on Earth are people now combining wine with chocolate? Some people are horrified at the thought whilst others view it as an opportunity to experiment and excite the taste buds. On the whole, chocolates are sweet so there’s the risk that your wine can