To make a wine gift basket extra special and to provide a personalized touch, one can opt for a custom wine gift basket. A custom wine gift basket allows the person who is gifting to choose the contents of the baskets keeping in mind the preferences of the person for whom the gift basket is intended. People can also gift wines with their own personalized wine label on the bottle to make it a memorable gift that will be treasured for a long time.
Custom wine gift baskets are the perfect gifts for wine lovers as they may also include wine glasses, decanters and mini wine cellars. These gift baskets are very popular gifts as they offer the presenter various options of wines, accessories and accompaniments which best suit their budget. Even though they are slightly more expensive than the packaged wine gift baskets, they are gifts that will surely be appreciated by the recipient.
One of the biggest advantages of having a custom wine gift basket is that one gets to choose individual bottles, boxed wine sets, or custom wine gift baskets from their favorite vineyards, and then add a special touch by adding their own little personalized gifts which maybe anything from chocolates to cheese.
Custom wine gift baskets with an assortment of the finest wines along with small knick-knacks are gifts that enliven any celebration. These gift baskets are the perfect gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and weddings. These baskets help in multiplying the festivities of the holiday season as well. They are equally delightful gifts for occasions such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or for that matter even Valentine's Day. Custom wine gift baskets bring a lot of happiness and joy to not just to the receiver of the gift but also the presenter.
Wine Gift Baskets provides detailed information on Wine Gift Baskets, Wine Country Gift Baskets, Wine and Cheese Gift Baskets, Custom Wine Gift Baskets and more. Wine Gift Baskets is affiliated with Wine Related Gifts [http://www.i-WineGifts.com].
When it comes to relaxation and romance, wine and picnics are a great combination. In fact, there are wine packages built just for just an occasion.
Vino and Picnics
There are many ways to enjoy a romantic dinner with your mate. Selecting a favorite restaurant, ordering your favorite luxurious entree and a perfect bottle of wine can be a great way to spend some time with the one you love. But, what if you'd rather have some space and not be out in public? An intimate night (or day) spent in the great outdoors (or even on your living room floor) can be just as perfect as a great meal at an expensive restaurant.
Wine picnic baskets are perfect for putting together that special meal. Not only are they great to give as a gift, and a good way to get your food and beverage from one place to another, you also get to keep the basket for later use! This sort of picnic basket can even come direct to your door fully stocked with a bottle or two of wine and an assortment of special foods - like cheeses and other wine accompaniments, so that all the guesswork is taken out of your picnic.
There are also different styles of wine picnic baskets to choose from. Some of these packs are more like backpacks, made of cloth and insulated so that you can stash your favorite food goodies along with a perfectly chilled bottle of white wine in an easy to carry bag. Include your favorite stemware (or use the provided stemware, many packs come with plastic or glassware). These backpack coolers are also available in sizes that are practical for larger groups, such as a family of four, for those times when you want the whole family to enjoy your picnic.
Of course, when you think of picnic basket, most people think of the woven wooden type. There are also many different styles of traditional wine picnic baskets available. These sets can even include dinnerware, such as plates and silverware, along with a place to put your chilled wine and foodstuffs. Some include wine implements, such as corkscrews, to make your job even easier.
You needn't go to a restaurant to have a perfect romantic date. Sometimes, just sitting on the floor with a blanket spread out and a picnic basket with wine and your favorite foods is all you need to make a special night for the both of you.
Xavier Moldini is with WineriesforYou.com - a directory of wineries.
"White wine with white meat" is still the mantra of the wine world but your personal preference should dictate. White wines, yellow, golden or straw-like in color, are derived from an assortment of grape varietals of green, gold or yellowish-colored grapes, or from just the juice (not the skin) of select red grapes. White wines tend to be more refreshing and lighter in character and taste than red wine vintages, making them ideal selections for spring and summer occasions. White wines are often preferred with lighter meals such as lunch, smaller lighter dinners, and appetizers, or as aperitifs, with optimum serving temperatures at 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit.
White wines are best served in narrower glasses that allow for better aroma concentration of more delicate varietals. A variety of taste descriptors apply to white wine, such as citrus, apple, pear, grapefruit, lemon, lime, pineapple, melon, butter, honey, flora, herb, earthy, along with light oak vanilla, sweet wood coconut, as well as heavier oak, smoke, toast.
Chardonnay is the most prominent of the white wine varietals, unmistakable in the mouth because of its excellent sugar/acid balance, its full body, and its easy smoothness. Chardonnay's intrinsic blank canvas quality allows its flavors to be dramatically affected by soil, climate, vineyard practices, and winemaking techniques that produce wide variances in the Chardonnay flavor profile. The Chardonnay aroma is distinct, yet delicate, often smells like apricots, apples, lemons, peaches, or tropical fruits such as pineapple, banana, mango, guava, kiwi. Chardonnay is the major varietal used in quality sparkling wines and French Champagne. Chardonnay is the only grape permitted in the Chablis region of France. Chablis is described as flinty, mineral or "steely", versus the Meursault appellation (one of the relatively few Burgundy villages that produces almost entirely white wine) where Chardonnay is described as having a lush, ripe, "fleshy", "buttery" quality. California Chardonnay is every bit as variable with exciting taste quality it develops there. Chardonnay has also been a successful grape in Australia, sometimes misnamed there "pinot chardonnay". Chardonnay is most commonly paired with roast chicken and other white meats such as turkey. Heavily oak influenced Chardonnays do not pair well with more delicate fish; they pair better with smoked fish, spicy Southeast Asian cuisine, garlic and guacamole. More mellow Chardonnays pair with earthy dishes like mushroom soup and aged cheese.
Sauvignon Blanc, one of the first fine wines to be bottled with a screwcap in commercial quantities, is usually consumed young, not particularly benefiting from aging. It's quite distinctive, often sharp, aggressive smell is described as grass, bell-pepper, grapefruit, lime, or melon in nature. Blending Sauvignon Blanc with Semillon is a common practice to add richness and an extra element of figs to the aroma, softening the Sauvignon Blanc's naturally high acidity character. Sauvignon Blanc is always crisp, tangy, tart, and zesty in character. This character pervades in even sweet and dessert versions, preventing them from being cloying and sticky-tasting. Sauvignon Blanc is thus able to accompany the greatest variety of foods. It pairs well with sushi, fish, and fresh goat cheese.
Riesling, cultivated since the 1400s or earlier, is usually included in the top three white wine varieties together with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Riesling is distinctively floral and exhibits apple, pear, peach, apricot-like aromas that frequently mix in mineral elements reflecting the individuality of its terroir (a group of vineyards or even vines from the same region). Riesling is often consumed when young. Riesling may have aromas of green or other apples, grapefruit, peach, honey, rose blossom or cut green grass. Riesling possesses a high natural level of tartaric acid enabling it to balance high levels of residual sugar. Riesling makes dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines which pair well with white fish or pork. It is one of the few wines with taste that can stand up to Thai and Chinese cuisine.
Gewürztraminer is more pungent and full-bodied than most any other white wine with a heady, aromatic scent of roses, passion fruit, floral notes and exotic lychee-nut flavor with at times a heavy, oily texture and a slight tendency to bitterness that can be overwhelming and tiring to some. Gewürztraminer grapes produce wines colored from light to dark golden yellow with a copper tone, depending on the fruit's ripeness. Gewürztraminer can be made into an excellent dessert wine. Gewürztraminer pairs well with Asian cuisine, and enjoys good company with Munster cheese, smoked salmon and fleshy, fatty (oily) wild game.
Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio can be clear in color to a light gold and can be dry or attain a high level of sweetness and even age well. It is a medium bodied wine with fresh aromas and flavors suggestive of melon and apples, refreshed by cleansing acidity. It is a wine that is usually delicately fragrant and mildly floral along with hints of almond and smoke. Pair with pasta, chicken and fish.
Semillon is the majority white variety in Bordeaux regions of Graves, Entre de Mers and Sauternes, and makes up the majority of the blend in the most expensive and famous dessert wines in the world. Semillon wine can be produced both as a dry and a sweet. It is full of crisp citrus flavors with a touch of fresh herbs. It is full flavored, rich, aromatic, soft, subtle, and a rich counter balance to the Sauvignon Blanc, which can be aromatically aggressive and acidic. Semillon works well when blended with Chardonnay, providing weight and richness.
Viognier is full-bodied like an oaky Chardonnay, with a much more distinctive fruit character. Viognier possesses a rich and complex floral aroma that often conjures up reflections of overripe apricots mixed with orange blossoms, along with a distinctive and sweet aroma-flavor profile as Gewürztraminer. Viognier is usually made in a dry style and seems to appeal more to the typical Chardonnay drinker since both share tropical fruit flavors and a creamy mouth feel. Aromatic and fruit forward by nature of the grape, Viognier pairs well with spicy foods such as Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, and with shellfish, such as Dungeness crab.
Chenin Blanc provides a fairly neutral palate for the expression of terroir, with typically a floral, honeyed character, along with zesty acidity, as sensory trademarks of well-made Chenin Blanc. Considered the most versatile of all wine grape varieties, fragrant and lightly sweet and crisp, it can be used to make everything -- light sparkling wines, dry table wines, nectar-like dessert wines (where the grapes can be left on the vines to develop noble rot, producing an intense, viscous dessert wine that will improve considerably with age), and even brandy are all produced in various areas of the wine world.
We created http://www.YourLoveofWine.com because we passionately want to share with those with an interest the art, science, and physical and psychological aspects of the wine tasting experience. An experience without pretension which both the novice and seasoned wine lover can enjoy and appreciate. Some of the most exquisite wine experiences are made by passionate vintners creating wines with more styles and tastes than ever could be imagined and http://www.YourLoveofWine.com can take you on a wondrous journey, tracking down some truly exciting wines to bring to your door when you need them. Our mission is to deliver a greater online wine buying value than you will find anywhere through the combination of our outstanding customer service, depth of product offerings, value pricing and commitment to online wine buyers' satisfaction. Including the best of the elite red and white wines, gift baskets, wine racks, glassware, wine openers and charms.
Everyone loves a picnic. Right? Well, sure, except for the ants! And the other problem is how do we carry our food and keep it safe? An insulated picnic basket is the answer. Available for couples, 2 friends, and family of 4. Take your picnic in a backpack and hike along the trail, through the woods to grandmother's house. Or use your roller picnic basket and stride up the mountains, open your insulated wine cooler, sit beside the babbling brook, and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Children always love to have a picnic. Under the "tent" in the living room or hiding in the woods in the back yard. Use a wicker basket to carry their PBJ sandwiches and apples. Dream under the stars as you share an hour of fun time with your kids.
Picnic Baskets make a great gift, although a different one, for a wedding present. A beautiful romantic basket for the newly married couple to take with them as they explore the beauties of starting their life together. Pack some strawberries and chocolate, some crackers and cheese and stroll hand in hand along Paris streets.
Remember, that even in an RV or camper, you might want to stop at the tourist area and eat your meal in the great outdoors. Keep your food safe with a built in cooler to keep food chilled.
Don't hesitate. Find that perfect picnic basket today. Made of wicker, aluminum framed, wood frames with service for 2, 4 or more. Plates, cups, cutlery, napkins and sometimes napkins are inside.
Enjoy a family picnic today or just a cozy 2-person time.
Dennis Quilliams
The Basket Mart
http://www.basketmart.com
email: basketmart@thebasketmart.com
Ahhhh.... Wine Food Pairing....my adventures continue through Austria!
A picture perfect autumn day, bright blue sky with the sun shining and the snow topped Schneeberg mountain in the background. My husband and I decide to hop on our bicycles and travel the local bike path to see where it takes us. Our Maltese, Houdini, will of course be riding with me in my front basket! We picked up the trail in Breitenau, a little village south of Vienna and wind our way along the Schwarza River through the tiny towns of Loipersbach and Natschbach. Wonderful little villages with loads of European charm!
The Austrians take their bike paths quite seriously....there are several rest areas along the way with benches, drinking fountains and trash barrels. Most of the locals are very friendly and offer a cheery Guten Morgan (good morning) as we pass by.
We pedal about 18 kilometers and enter the slightly larger city of Neunkirchen where we come across an open cafe greeting us with their chalkboard specials. Sturm, the special Austrian "juice" is available now. Sturm is the early wine that is just at its "beginning" fermenting stage......fizzy, whitish and deceptively high in alcohol content, it is a terrific "thirst" quencher! Of course, we had to go in! I may be bicycling on a beautiful fall day, but I do take my wine food pairing quite seriously.... work, work, work!
My husband secures the bikes and we enter the garden area of the gasthaus (cafe). The tables are placed throughout a lovely patio area that is filled with flowers and trees.....every table has potted ivy, checked tablecloth and a candle on it....SUPER! The Europeans always welcome both human and canine diners to their establishments and Houdini was quickly served a fresh bowl of water! Hey, what about us, we were the ones doing all the pedaling! Our waitress takes our order for Sturm, gives us menus and comments on what a good boy Houdini is to sit on a chair at the table minding his manners.
Fall is the season for wild mushrooms in Austria, in fact, many of the Gasthaus have them as special items on the menu....we decide to go with the Mushroom Special, a Szegediner goulasch and a pumpkin soup.....YIKES....I think are eyes are bigger than our stomaches!
The creamy pumpkin soup arrives first....garnished with chopped fresh chives, toasted pumpkin seeds and a drizzle of pumpkin seed oil, it is simply delish! Our first mug of sturm seems to have disappeared and we order another round....Houdini is still happy with his bowl of water! Several patrons stop by our table to chat and pet Houdini...he is quite the show stopper....my husband is Austrian, so of course he speaks German, but my german is poor at best and while he converses easily, I try to explain that Houdini and I only "sprechen English"!
Our main meal arrives and my mushrooms (Steinpilze) are piping hot......they have been dredged with bread crumbs and fried to a crisp golden brown.....inside the mushrooms are meaty and moist....this is served with a tangy sour cream chive dipping sauce.......YUM! I also have a traditional Austrian potato salad that is mouth watering. My husband's goulasch is a tender beef concoction with saurkraut, potatoes and paprika....kind of Austrian does Hungarian goulasch! Houdini and my husband both think it is wonderful! Of course we need another Sturm to wash all this down! Now this is Wine Food Pairing at its absolute BEST! The sparkling Sturm pairs wonderfully with these tradtional Austrian dishes.
It is time to leave, we are offered a schnapps "digestive aid", but decline as we must ride our bicycles all the way back home! It has been a great afternoon and another wonderful adventure in Wine Food Pairing! CHEERS!
Denise Clarke has been passionate about wine food pairing for many years... follow her blog at: http://www.winefoodpairing.blogspot.com Be sure to visit Denise Clarke for more fun stuff!
Every one of us, wants to give a unique or even the best gift to those we love and care about. But, sometimes it is hard to find a gift to give. If you know the person loves wine then you should consider looking into wine gift basket delivery.
The best wine is one of the best gifts you can give to a businessman or wine lover. Giving a gift is not only for occasions but you can also give gifts to express gratitude as encouragement or to congratulate someone. The gift should be the best quality as it reflects the status of the businessman, or person whom you give the gift.
You can also send wine gift baskets to someone you love or is close to you. If that someone lives in another country, you can have it delivered and add some amount for delivery charge wherever they send the gift. When sending wine baskets within the country, some stores will not charge for delivery. Some stores will charge for delivery in a certain limit on how far the place.
A wine basket can be a little bit expensive since delivery charges is included to those who lives far to deliver. But for sure it will come on time whatever day you want that the person to receive the gift you send. Wine stores deliver the wine to certain countries like for example in the Philippines, Canada, and to other countries you want them to deliver the gift.
If you are tired to go around shopping for wine gift basket in the market, you can shop online through the internet. You own the time, it is easy to do and you can explore the different websites where wine gift basket is offer or available. It is open 24/7 and no break time. Shopping through the internet is the easy, it is hassle free, no traffic and you can save time and energy.
On the internet, you can compare the price so easily and you can find or choose whatever wine you want to send to your friend, someone you love, businessman, wine lover, father, relatives, etc. Usually shopping on the net is cheaper rather than shopping around.
Just be sure you know what kind of wine gift you want to send and always give the right name and address of the person you want to send the wine gift basket.
For more on wine gift basket delivery including how to send a wine gift basket have a look at Ian Wright's website.
Christmas is always the most special time of year when we all focus on the best attributes of humanity. Giving gifts, expressing our gratitude and exchanging our best wishes while celebrating with family, friends, colleagues and clients always brings a special cheer to the season.
For a special Christmas gift, it's hard to go past the Christmas Hamper or Christmas Gift Basket. Christmas Hampers are extremely flexible in style, budget and content - making them a very suitable gift for anyone. For example, hampers containing wine and champagne are the most popular hampers at Christmas time, but if you know the recipient does not drink wine, the basket can easily be customised with suitable substitute products.
The easiest way to order Christmas Hampers these days is online. A quick Google search will reveal many online gift shops which will supply Christmas Hampers and Baskets. Look for a business that has been established for a while, perhaps even with a good list of well respected customers. The professionalism of their website can also reflect the business you are ordering from. One indicator is the quality of the images.
Also look for a supplier in your city or your area. While gifts can be sent long distances, you'll definitely save freight charges if you choose a local supplier. It's also a good idea to call a prospective hamper supplier and see how they handle a few queries and ask about how the hamper will be packaged for delivery.
Here are some Christmas Hamper ideas you can search for:
Happy shopping and Merry Christmas!
Darren Johnson is the co-owner of Little Pixie Gifts, an online gift service specialising in high quality baby gifts and Christmas Hampers, delivered Australia wide.
Wine gift baskets are a classic and elegant gift idea for the holidays, for business, or pleasure. Impress your clients and friends with these luxurious gift baskets this Christmas -- they're easy to send, and make festive, beautiful gifts.
The holiday season is the perfect time to show your appreciation to the important people in your life. A gorgeously presented basket with gourmet wines and goodies is an excellent choice for a holiday gift. It's sure to please the man or woman who has everything.
Wine baskets are the perfect way to celebrate any occasion, or no occasion at all, with one-of-a-kind, gourmet gift baskets featuring award-winning brand names that everybody is sure to recognize. The best online companies offer the most exclusive gift baskets, which feature wines that are very difficult to acquire and are perfectly matched with other wines of similar quality that are easily recognized by discriminating wine drinkers.
A great advantage for you is that you can get a lot of your holiday shopping done painlessly in one shot -- especially if your business clients and friends appreciate and enjoy wine. You can avoid the crowded malls and get your shopping done at your convenience. When you buy a gift basket online, you just need a shipping address and a credit card. You could actually get most or all of your shopping done on your lunch break without ever leaving your office.
Impress your clients and friends -- you can send stylish keepsake wine gift baskets that are filled with famous wines. When you want to send personal or corporate gifts, wine and champagne baskets are elegant presents that deliver style and sophistication.
With all the holiday dinners and parties coming up, your present will be especially practical for your recipient. A wine gift basket is also a thoughtful gesture if you're attending a holiday party. The host and guests will surely appreciate your delectable treats.
Do you have a wine connoisseur on your shopping list? If you really want to give an impressive gift they will continue to thank you for in the months to come, then consider sending him or her a subscription to a Wine of the Month club. That gift will surely delight the wine lover, who can look forward to a new, handpicked, premium wine every month (and thank you every time).
Please visit our website for holiday specials on wine gift baskets and other Christmas gift baskets.
For more wine gift baskets and other gourmet food gift baskets, please visit our website at http://www.HolidayCorporateGiftBaskets.com. Give the elegant gift of a gourmet gift basket this holiday season. Don't delay -- order now while these baskets are in stock, and take advantage of shipping specials for Christmas.
Wine gift baskets are welcomed in almost every home and a combination basket can thrill that much more. Mix and match them--offer a treat of red and white wines, chardonnay, Bordeaux, cabernet, port, merlot, zinfandel or that special champagne.
Cashing in on the trends, many retailers, wineries and auction houses are offering discount wine baskets that will let you select a cross-section of wines at astonishingly competitive prices. They make treasured gifts of the latest and the most popular wines for the season. A 2004 variety or a 2001 vintage can be bought at a discount direct from the vineyard, and arouse much excitement and curiosity amongst your friends without burning your pockets!
Special blend wines, undiscovered Napa Valley finds or even the finest vintages can be snatched up through discount offers. Whether you wish to order a magnum, halves or a case of 12 bottles, discount wines can be tailor-made to suit your needs and budget. If you want to surprise someone with wines from Finland, Mauritius, Spain or Trinidad and Tobago, opt for discount offers to surprise and delight.
Brokers, retailers, and wholesale dealers of wine all offer discount wines at regular intervals. The trick is to read wine publications or be part of a wine enthusiast club so you know the latest on wines. Most members of wine clubs have instant access to discounts ranging from 8% to 20%, especially at new launches, wine-tasting galas or seasonal events.
Auction houses or suppliers source their wines from private individuals and global professional contacts. Many world-class wines can be picked up through these offers, so you don't have to travel around the world to expand your oenophilic taste buds! Coordinate with friends or neighbors so that you can jointly pick up a large discount case and then share the spoils.
Internet auctions also offer rare, unusual wines that have a marked reserve price against which the bidding starts. While there are no minimum orders that limit your purchase of discount wines, there are extra delivery charges as well as the local taxes. Be aware of summer heat or winter cold fallout on your wine, too, before ordering your shipment.
Wines that may never have been reviewed or rated can also be experienced through discount offers. Share the joys of your complex wine adventures through discount wine gift baskets. You will definitely enjoy a long, full finish!
Wine Baskets provides detailed information about wine baskets, wine gift baskets, wine picnic baskets, wine and cheese baskets and more. Wine Baskets is the sister site of Bakery Management [http://www.z-Bakery.com].
