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