| When is it appropriate to give a wine and cheese | | | | signature cheese or cheesemakers. Put together a |
| basket as a gift? There's no real etiquette to it. Any | | | | wine and cheese gift basket from your home state, |
| time you want to give a gift, a wine and cheese | | | | and give them to international clients or clients from |
| basket is appropriate. They're easy to buy, they go | | | | another state. It shows that you're proud of where |
| with any occasion, and even the most persnickety | | | | you're from, and that you have more than (pick one: |
| person will appreciate getting a nice basket of | | | | corn/tumbleweeds/earthquakes/smog) there. Don't |
| something yummy. | | | | make the classic mistake of buying a wine and |
| You can find a wine and cheese basket for the wine | | | | cheese basket from your client's home state. They |
| connoisseur or for the wine newbie. If you know | | | | can already get those products there, and the |
| your recipient loves wine, pick something a little fancy | | | | product may have a reputation as being. . . well, not |
| and out of the ordinary; if they're not well-versed in | | | | very good. You may end up doing more harm than |
| wine, then something nice but a little more common | | | | good by giving them a wine and cheese basket with |
| is appropriate. The same is true for cheese. There | | | | not-so-good wine in it. |
| are some outstanding cheeses available for the | | | | There's also more to a wine and cheese basket than |
| cheese enthusiast, and some for people who think | | | | just wine and cheese. Most baskets usually contain a |
| anything other than cheddar is "fancy." | | | | bottle of wine and some different cheeses. But the |
| But there are a few times when a wine and cheese | | | | nicer ones also include crackers, chocolates, sausage, |
| basket will really hit the mark. | | | | and other little delectables. Some even include a |
| * Corporate gifts - Since a wine and cheese basket is | | | | cutting board and cheese knife. Pick a nice basket of |
| seen as a high-end gift item, as compared to, say, a | | | | stuff you think your friends or clients will enjoy, and |
| box of golf balls or a t-shirt that says "my boss is | | | | go to town. |
| going to buy your company for $500 million, and all | | | | Your typical wine and cheese basket comes with |
| you get is this lousy t-shirt," pick out a few wines | | | | only a single bottle and a couple types of cheese, but |
| and complimentary cheeses ("hey, nice office. I like | | | | you can find fancier, more ornate baskets |
| what you've done with the place. Have you lost | | | | Rather than picking a mish-mash of stuff, try to |
| weight?") and ship them off to your favorite C-level | | | | create a theme for your wine and cheese gift |
| executive. | | | | basket, whether it's your own state's goodies, or if |
| * Housewarming gift - Home buying is such a | | | | you're going for a country theme, like French, Italian, |
| momentous occasion in a person's life, especially a | | | | Spanish. Australia and Chile also have some nice wines |
| first-time home buyer's, that you want to help them | | | | and cheeses, so don't be afraid to think out of the |
| celebrate the occasion. There are a whole lot of | | | | box, uh, basket on this one and do a little culinary |
| firsts in the new house: first dinner, first spill, first | | | | exploring with your wine and cheese basket. |
| repair. With a nice wine and cheese basket, you can | | | | While it is possible to run to your local wine shop and |
| help your new home owners celebrate with their | | | | mega-cheese outlet, sometimes it's just easier to |
| "first wine in our new home." | | | | visit one of the wine and cheese basket companies |
| * Ambassador/goodwill gifts - Okay, not everyone is | | | | and pick one of their selections. They'll take care of |
| going to be the ambassador to a new country, and | | | | everything for you, including assembling and shipping. |
| that's not what we're saying. Many states have their | | | | No mess, no fuss, no worries. |
| own winery, and some even have their own | | | | |