Wine & Cheese Gifts Baskets: Fun Easy Gifts!

A wine gift basket is a great idea for a holiday gift for just about anyone on your holiday gift lists.  While no one we know would complain about a gift basket of just wine, adding a selection of gourmet cheeses and crackers to the wine is a great way of making your gift basket personable and family friendly!

Customizable, yet Simple Wine & Cheese Gift Baskets

The first thing to determine is who shall be receiving this most excellent gift! A Wine & Cheese gift basket is so popular that you might want to think about making one for more than one loved one on your gift list. They are good for friends, neighbors, co-workers and make great corporate gifts too. So before you buy the supplies, plan it through.

More than a Gift Basket

While the term Gift Basket implies a real basket, do not feel limited to that! A sturdy wooden box, or collectable antique crate will also do well.  You can get a nice new willow or twig basket in a craft  or hobby story  like Michael’s Crafts or pick up one from an import store like Pier One. On a budget? Try a handsome holiday decorative gift bag for just a few dollars. Bottom line, the basket is not the gift, only the receptacle to hold it all in place.

Choose the Wine for the Gift

This part is so easy! Because every wine sold at Wine on the Way is rated 90 points and above, you are guaranteed that the recipient of the gift will fully enjoy what every you select. Here’s the place, however, where you might want to think of a theme.  You can go classic with a Cabernet and Chardonnay or maybe stick with a region for your selection?  Think of French wines with French cheeses and a crusty banquette or Italian wines themed with the makings of lasagna with fine parmesan and fresh buffalo Mozzarella.  No one said that wine and cheese has to be chedder and crackers!

Maybe your gift is going to a very knowledgeable wine lover? Then try a tasting basket with three or more bottles of the same varietals. Add a gift from our wine lovers gift list and bask in the thank yous you shall receive!

Focus on Romance by adding chocolates, a pair of wine glasses, a bottle of fine champagne like the Roederer and this wine gift basket is not just holiday themed, but can be used for a wedding, anniversary or Valentine’s Day gift!

Putting your Wine & Cheese Gift Basket Together

So your wine selections for Wine on the Way have been delivered, you have gather up all the other accessories and food items and now it’s time to make it look special.  A quick trip to a basic store like target will give you great choices in tissue paper or packaging to put on the bottom of your container/basket. Not only will your gifts remain safe from harm, but the packaging materials give you a nice area to lay out all the components.  We like to use recycled paper confetti almost like how Easter grass is used in egg baskets!

You’ll want to arrange the bigger items, like the wine bottles, first, making sure that the label is showing and the bottles secure. Use a bit of clear backing tape if needed to keep everything snug. Then, from larger to smaller, add the other items that will be included in your gift basket.  The box of gourmet crackers, the wheel of cheese with a new cheese slicer on top can fist on one side while the pair of wine glasses and cork screw is on the other Don’t forget to pass along the tasting notes that came with your Wine on the Way delivery, so that people know how great the wine is and can see the ratings that you chose!

When you have everything looking attractive and not in danger of falling out, wrap it all up! While traditional paper might work and look festive, decorated cellophane works better and lets one peek inside to see the treats! You will also have less danger or the wrapping ripping. Add a big festive bow with colorful streamers and just sign the gift tag!

Party in a Basket! Wine and Cheese Gifts

So you made a great basket..in fact, it’s so nice you want to keep it for yourself? That’s OK. You can always order some more great wines from us, even after the holidays are over. Or, try our super sneaky advice.. bring a wine and cheese gift basket as a hostess gift to party; they usually get opened and shared right away.. so you can partake in the festivus with the rest of us!

Spanish Cava Sparkling Wine For Less Than $20 – 91 Point Rating

I attended a house warming the other night and, of course, the evening started off with a round of bubbles. There were some nice champagnes and a couple of roses. I have to admit, I am partial to roses! Since the first several bottles were real champagne (i.e., from France) I made the assumption that the roses were as well.

The best sparkling wine since 1887

The two roses were excellent, although one stood out as the best sparkling wine. When it was revealed that it was a Spanish Cava, I was really surprised. It was a Llopart Rose Brut Reserva. The bottle said the cava had been there since 1887 and the wine had spent three years sur lie.

Inside, I was struck by the color – a very clear, sparkling medium pink wine. 

The nose on this cava was very pleasant with some lovely strawberries, perhaps some cherries. The wine had plenty of small bubbles, but the style was a creamier, elegant style than what I was expecting. The finish on this balanced wine was very nice.

An Unexpected Price For A Spanish Cava Sparkling Wine

I have pretty much identified Spanish Cava’s with lower priced bubbles appropriate for Mimosas. This wine had more class than the rougher, less expensive bubbles from Spain. It got me thinking about price and value. 

What would I pay for this sparkling wine in a retail shop? I thought the wine was worth mid-$20s, perhaps even $30. Later, the next day, I learned that the wine sells for under $20. It is a super deal at that price and worth every penny.

A Sparkling Wine So Good It Was Gone

This wine pairs well with food, by the way. We were having a tapas dinner, but unfortunately, by the time we came to eat, it was gone. Folks were surprised by the quality of this wine. It also dispelled a couple of myths about Spanish sparkling wines. 

The Llopart Rose Brut Reserva Cava sparkling wine was one tasty bottle of bubbles and WineOnTheWay.com has it for just $18.00.

Hello and welcome to the wine blog for wineontheway.com. We will bring you interesting reviews on highly rated wines on our website. In addition, if any of us have a great meal someplace, travel somewhere, or encounter anything interesting and exciting that pertains to wine, we will write about it here. This is an exciting new component to our website and we hope you will enjoy it. Feel free to add comments and personal recommendations!

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