California Wine Gifts

by Anne Marie Bailey

California wine is more popular than ever, making finding a gift for a wine lover easy and fun. Get creative. Put together something special. Or rely on the experts that have created ready-made gifts.
Wine Clubs

Give a membership to a wine of the month club. Enrollment can be done online or by contacting a specific winery directly. Choose how many months you would like to give, how many bottles are sent each month and what types of wines you would like to send. Some sites offer choices from well-known estate wines, while others focus on small boutique productions. Consider a particular wine you both enjoy or a vineyard you have visited together. Find out if the winery has a private club or mailing list. Often dealing directly with a winery will score you hard-to-find bottles and special releases. Ask if there are any additional benefits, such as including a newsletter or wine openers.

Gift Baskets

Giving a gift basket is like sending someone a ready-made picnic. Start with one to two bottles of wine, usually a white and a red. California wine country produces lots of goodies. Fill your basket with local cheeses, olive oils and sausages. Add crackers, jellies and chocolates. Be sure to include a wine opener. A cheese knife and board are handy additions as well. Premade baskets are available for purchase online in a variety of features and prices.
Wine Tours

Arrange a tour. If your friend is planning a trip to California wine country, let her enjoy a day on you. Contact her favorite winery and set up a private tasting. Often these include a tour of the wine-making facilities and the vineyards. Or arrange a limousine tour. Your friend will receive a door-to-door tour guide and driver who will stop at three to five wineries. Gift certificates are available.
Wine Books

Hit the bookstore. California has a long and rich wine-making history that has inspired several books. There are how-to books covering the ins and outs of California's wines, such as "California Wine for Dummies." Consider the person's favorite wines and check if that winery's history has been penned. For the chef, look for cookbooks featuring California wines. Pair the book with a bottle from the corresponding winery or recipe.

Wine Clubs