The Wine Bottle

What is wine?

For millennia, wine has been made from only two incredients. They are grape juice and yeast. Any fruit juice can be used, as a matter of fact, but grape juice is the most popular.

Historically wine was the drink of choice because of the sometimes poor quality of the drinking water in so many regions. Today, of course, we tend to open a bottle of fine wine at times of celebration or offer it as a welcome gift as part of a wine giftbasket.

How is wine made?

Yeast is the magical ingredient that turns grape juice into wine. Interestingly enough, there is actually wild yeast spores in the air and all that is really needed to make wine is an open container of grape juice and time. The result however, would probably not be the most palatable of beverages.

Yeast is a living organism. In wine making, the yeast feeds off the sugars. That process is called fermentation. The action of fermentation converts the sugars in the juice into alcohol with a biproduct of carbon dioxide. In contemporary times, special types of yeast have been cultured solely for their use in wine making. The particular strain of the yeast, along with other factors, determines the flavor of the wine.

Once all of the fermentable sugars have been consumed, the yeast will fall to the bottom of the container. The wine is removed from the container, leaving the yeast, and is trasferred to another container to mature while waiting to be bottled.

You probably know that there are green grapes and black grapes and different grapes are used to make different wines. The color of the wine, however, does not directly reflect the color of the grape. In fact, grape juice is largely clear no matter the color of the original grape. The color of wine is determined by whether (and for how long) the skin is allowed to remain in the juice during the fermentation process.

What gives each wine its taste?

Many factors contribute to the eventual flavor of any wine. They include the strain of yeast, the type of grape, the soil conditions, the weather during the growing season, the technique and temperature during fermentation and even the nature of the oak barrels in which the wine matures.

Never fear, with all of these factors considered even the most avid wine drinker would ever be able to experience all of the different varieties of wine on the market today. Let the treasure hunting begin!

What is tannin?

Tannin is a substance in wine that causes a firm, mouth-drying feeling in your mouth. It is extracted from the skins, seeds and stems of the grapes so red wines will contain more tannin than whites. White wines will get a degree of tannin when oak barrels are used for fermentation or aging. Eat just the skins of grapes or drink strongly brewed, unsweetened tea for a good idea of what tannin feels like in your mouth.

Clearly, this has been a quick overview of wine, but hopefully it has filled some of the voids in your understanding of this historic drink.

Do you have a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion approaching that requires the giving of a gift? Then consider a wine gift basket. They are always well-received gifts for wine enthusiasts and often include extra wine-related items. They may also include such delights as fruit, nuts, candy, cheeses and wine accessories like bottle openers and corkscrews, drip stoppers and foil cutters or whatever else you think the recipient may enjoy. You can purchase them already put together or you can make your own for a very special gift-giving touch. All you need to understand is the type of wine the recipient enjoys, or you can create a special surprise basket.

Buying Prepared Baskets

If you’d rather buy a wine gift basket pre-packaged, stop into your local liquor store to see if they have a selection available. At holiday times especially, good liquor outlets will often well gift baskets. You should have a range of wines from which to choose and then you can add extra products.

Shop Online For Wine Gift Baskets

The internet is the first place to search for customizable gift baskets. Start by ordering one or more bottles of wine, then begin adding gourmet products from the wide range available. Products that you could include would be caviar and smoked salmon, cheese or other savory crackers, artisan cheeses, cheese knives, nuts, exclusive mustards or honeys … there’s no limit to what you can add to them.

The online retailer will then arrange delivery the basket directly to the gift recipient. This is an easy option if you are choosing a corporate gift or to thank a staff member.

Create Your Own Gift Baskets

Creating your own wine gift basket gives allows you to add that additional personal touch. Start by buying a pretty basket. A simple and inexpensive basket will do the job because you can decorate it with fabric or colored tissue paper. Buy your wine of choice or choose champagne for a special celebration, add some extra items depending on the preferences of the gift recipient. For example, you don’t need to limit your basket to wine and wine-themed gifts. You could include handicrafts for someone interested in arts and crafts, or a book about wine for a wine lover who is also interested in the history or the making of wine. Select some additional gourmet delights to accompany the wine, pack it all into the well-decorated basket and wrap the entire package in clear cellophane.

Personally deliver the gift basket to the recipient if you can so you can see the joy when they receive it. If you’re very lucky they might even share the bottle of wine with you.

For those who don’t drink wine you can still assemble some stunning gift baskets. You could try a coffee-themed gift basket for a coffee lover that could include coffee mugs, freshly roasted coffee beans from different coffee-growing regions of the world, gourmet cookies, toffees and nuts. A tea drinker would appreciate a selection of teas from different regions, a teapot and strainer and a fine china teacup. A tea or coffee gift basket could be packed into a nicely decorated tray instead a basket. And again, you can wrap the whole package in clear cellophane and add a bow.

Ideas for gourmet gift baskets are only limited by your imagination.

Wine gift baskets are more than just wine; they also contain a fine combination of accompanying foods with the wine. They make wonderful gifts for just about anyone. So, if you’re trying to pick a way to present a nice Port or Bordeaux, consider using a wine gift basket.

Wine baskets are undoubtedly one of the best options as a gift if you don’t know what to get someone. It will leave the recipient overjoyed and be remembered as a great gift, even after the wine, cookies, nuts and fruits have been enjoyed.

Amongst all the other treats you get in a wine gift basket, wouldn’t it be great to find your favorite Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc nestled in there too? You can enjoy a glass or two while you munch on some nuts or indulge in a chocolate while you sip on that Cabernet you have been eager to taste for months.

You’ll find that wine gift baskets come with a variety of different bottle sizes. Some come with large bottles of champagne, while others may come in mini samples. You could consider a basket that is full of several small samples of different wines or you may want to consider several bottles of a favorite wine for someone you love. Even a giant wine bottle may be just what you want to give someone, and it will make a great centerpiece as well in the basket.

But the wine itself is only the beginning. A wine gift basket is filled with traditional and creative items. Delicious gourmet crackers sit beside irresistible truffles. Chocolates go well with a fine Sangria. Dried apricots and other fruits are the perfect companion to a stellar Chardonnay.

If you know someone who is a fan of Brut Champagne, then you may want to consider adding it to a basket. Adding a few gourmet cheeses to the basket will no doubt complete the basket for a wonderful gift that will be a big hit.

The basket itself can be part of a great wine basket gift as well. You can choose from a variety of baskets. Some come in contemporary metals, and others may even come in dark wickers. There are many designs that you can choose from, and you’ll be sure to find the basket that is the perfect fit.

No matter what the occasion may be, a wine gift basket is a great gift. Anniversaries are wonderful times to give these gifts. The couples will be able to celebrate with a wonderful glass of wine and some tasty treats. Even giving your boss a basket at work to celebrate that new promotion is a great idea as well.

Whether for a personal celebration or a corporate event, when it comes to gift basket ideas, a wine gift basket is the finest possible choice. Appreciated by everyone, they’ll be treasured for years.