Wine and cheese gift baskets make elegant holiday gifts, and you don't have to be a wine expert to give them. Use the tips I offer below to create perfect wine and cheese gift baskets for any occasion, made more personal by tailoring the type of wine to the individual or group receiving it. Whether giving wine and cheese gift baskets to clients, neighbors, or that special someone, they are personal and versatile gifts that can accommodate just about any budget.
The Basics of Wine and Cheese Gift Baskets - Step One: Style Alert
The first thing you want to do when putting together personalized
wine and cheese baskets is think about who you're giving to and choose wines that fit their style and are appropriate to the occasion. Then consider which cheese pairs best with your wine choice (don't panic - this is easier than it sounds!). The gold standard for pairing wine with cheese is simple: Serve red wine with hard cheese (such as an Aged Cheddar, Vintage Gouda, or Parmesan) and white wine with soft (think Brie, Muenster, or Goat Cheese). You can follow this guideline and never go wrong but for some stand-out combinations, consider these suggestions:
When invited by friends or family to a traditional holiday meal, I like to thank my hosts with wine and cheese baskets that compliment the classic turkey dinner. Two wines that never fail to please are Gewurztraminer and Bordeaux. These pair well with Havarti, which is a relatively mild cheese with broad appeal. Most people think of corporate gifts as stale and generic so, to create memorable wine and cheese baskets for clients, I like to go beyond the typical (without going too far out on a limb). Rather than the typical Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay with Cheddar, try regional combinations such as Spanish Tempranillo and Albarino with Manchego. For friends with a sweet tooth, send them wine and cheese gift baskets with a nice Muscato, which stands up beautifully to the salty flavor of Gorgonzola. There are also those occasions that call for all out decadence. Celebrate those moments with Champagne and something rich and creamy like Triple Creme Brie or Chevre.
Personalized Wine and Cheese Gift Baskets - Step Two: Location, Location, Location
Personalizing a wine and cheese gift basket by highlighting a location is another easy way to make your gift special. Evoke memories of a romantic get away by giving your significant other a bottle from the same region as a favorite vacation, or welcome newcomers to the neighborhood with wine and cheese baskets featuring local wares. Even if your area isn't known for wine, you may be surprised by what's available. In inhospitable climates, people have been making fruit wines for years. More recently, winemakers across the country have begun sourcing their grapes from better growing regions and producing amazing local products.
Creative Wine and Cheese Gift Baskets - Step Three: The Label Link
Perhaps the easiest way to take wine and cheese gift baskets out of the generic gift category is to look for a label that has meaning to you or the people on your list. Winemakers have gotten increasingly creative with their labels in recent years. Look for bottles with a splashy image or catchy name. For instance, my brother works for a company who's logo includes an image of a griffin. In the wine and cheese gift baskets he put together for his clients, he included a bottle of Grifone Sangiovese to reinforce that image. For the wine and cheese gift baskets I gave to my favorite group of girlfriends, I chose a sassy label picturing a 1950's era femme fatale and included an invitation to a much needed girls-night-out.
Take these ideas and run with them. No matter what the occasion,
wine and cheese gift baskets make fantastic gifts as long as you get a little creative and keep it personal.
