Talking About Specialty FoodsTalking About Specialty Foods

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Talking About Specialty Foods

Hello, my name is Roger. Welcome to my website about specialty foods. When I was a young kid, I ate anything and everything without question. I loved all food and did not think that would ever change. Unfortunately, I started experiencing painful allergic reactions after eating certain ingredients. After going to the doctor, I learned I would need to be much more careful about the foods I eat each day. I started looking into specialty foods made without those offending ingredients and it instantly helped. I want to use this site to help other people find and enjoy specialty foods. Thanks.

Three Ways To Design A Better Wine-Themed Gift Basket

7 March 2016
 Categories: , Blog

A basket filled with wine makes a nice gift for most any occasion, from a college graduation to a bridal shower. To make sure your gift basket is as impressive as possible, you'll want to do a bit more than just shove a few random bottles of wine into a basket. Here are three ways to design a more creative, impressive wine gift basket.

Choose wines from a certain region.

Filling a basket with an array of wines from one specific region gives your recipient a chance to really get to know that region's wine. Make sure you choose several different varieties of wine for this basket. For instance, you could choose a Chardonnay, a Riesling, and a Sauvignon blanc from the Napa region, or a Merlot, a Cabernet, and a Shiraz from Peru.

In addition to the wines, look or a little booklet about the area you're buying from. If there is something else the region is known for, you can include that in the basket, too. For example, the Napa Valley is known for its art as well as its food. A book about art in the Napa Valley could help your recipient feel more connected to the region as they sip their wine.

Give several wine and food pairings.

Choose three or four wines, along with a food that goes along with each of those wines. If you're not an expert on wine and food pairings, a sommelier at a local wine store should be able to help you with this. A few good basic pairings to start with are:

  • Chardonnay and dried fruits, such as cherries, cranberries and raisins
  • Merlot and garlicky crackers
  • Sauvignon blanc and light citrus salad dressings
  • Cabernet and dark chocolate

Tie the each food to its intended pairing wine with some ribbon so that it is clear which wine pairs with which food.

Give several bottles of the same variety.

Do you know what kind of wine your recipient prefers? Maybe they like Chardonnays, Carbernets, or White Zinfandels. Choose several bottles from different vineyards and different regions. (Between three and six bottles is ideal, depending on your budget.) Your recipient will enjoy comparing the different, yet similar wines. For an extra special touch, you can also include a little booklet on that wine variety or some foods that are known to pair well with it.

Finish your basket with a cute label and some tissue paper, and you'll have a gift that's sure to impress.