The Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association

Keeping up with the trends of the twenty-first century can be extremely difficult when it comes to giving gifts. However, the Heart Healthy gift basket is a great way to show your friends and family that staying fit and eating healthy is a great trend to start getting into. It also shows those who are the recipients of this gift that you care about them and their health.

This basket could be a great get well gift for someone who may have just had a heart attack and need to adjust to a new diet. Also, maybe someone who needs some motivation for their dieting could get this for their birthday. It is a great gift for younger generations to teach them that healthy foods can be delicious and they don’t just need to indulge in fast foods And it can definitley be presented as one of your inexpensive & unique fathers day gifts to your dad.

This food gift basket features many delicious and nutritious food choices. It contains some planter’s Heart Healthy Mixed Nuts, two V-8 Splash fruit drinks, and two Healthy Choice Granola Snack Bars, which can be taken on a run or jog through the park as a snack. Also, the basket houses Low Fat everything. Low fat pretzels, soy garlic and herb crackers, vegetable spread/dip, and herb vegetable crackers are given for those snack cravings. This basket also comes with some delicious grained mustard that can also be put on the crackers or made to put on a sandwich. The Heart Healthy gift basket comes in a gorgeous wicker stained basket that can also be used as a picnic basket and taken for a beautiful day out with loved ones.

Gifts are one of the man’s oldest ways of expressing the bonding with each other. They come in handy and stay forever in memories. We have created a million occasions to give gifts to our near and dear ones; Father’s day, Mother’s Day, Daughter’s Day, Valentines Day, New Years’ Day and the list goes on. More often than not, we are stuck with the traditional gifts like cards, teddy bears, candles and show pieces. Why not try something different this season?

This might not actually be a new, but a renewed option of giving your loved ones a food or wine gift basket, on the next occasion. A food gift basket can comprise of anything ranging from chocolates and cookies to rare French cheese or beef stick summer sausages, depending upon what the person receiving the gift might like. On the other hands, for your close friends and colleagues, you can buy an exotic wine gift basket, with the wines of their choice and your touch.

Some people might have issues about giving a gift that lasts, which neither of the above gifts would, but they are forgetting one thing, more than the gift it is the feeling behind the gift that matters. Further, if your friends are done with your previous gifts, you have more options to explore and find them a new gift for the next occasion without even having to remember what you gave them last or their wondering what to do with double gifts.

Picking one wine from a large selection of wines at your dinner table or in a restaurant can be quite an ordeal. Even the most experienced wine connoisseur will express at times that it was a hard decision. Whether a decision made is based upon a slight difference in quality or not, choose well.

Choosing the wine that might accent the meal the best, you know that your choice is one made related to the meal. With certain meals and in certain circumstances, wines will be chosen because of the traditional nature of what is being presented or what even they are intended to compliment. Wine gift baskets given with a variety of wine to give variety and choice and also other types of wine gifting. For instance, also giving proper food items to accent the wine, complimenting it and make the wine drinking experience more palatable and enjoyable.

Elegance and perfect classy accents are what you’ll find in many wines. A red wine might go with the relaxed atmosphere that comes with spending an evening looking at the stars. A sharp and fruity white wine might be best for an upbeat party atmosphere. When spending time at a wedding, which wine would you pick to drink? What you would want to receive as a gift or what you have been presented with in any occasion is personal desire. Great wine choices and additional appeals will be perfect and make the grade for any great gift occasion.

If you are looking for a wonderful and impressive gift look no farther than the Banfi Col di Sasso Toscana Gift Basket. This gift basket offers a true taste of Italian wine and cuisine. It would make a nice thank you gift for your business associates, colleagues, or anyone who has done something nice for you lately! This would also make a nice bon voyage gift for friends, family, or anyone you know who may be planning a trip to Italy anytime soon. Or, better yet, treat yourself with this basket! It’s more affordable than an Italian vacation!

Lovely wines, crackers, cheeses, and sweets that compliment each other, all done up together in a basket.  What could be better than that? This is one of the nicest wine gift baskets out there. Everyone who receives this will be wowed by the selection of goodies and the quality of the wines and cheeses. And if that wasn’t enough, it is also beautifully packaged in an elegant and attractive basket that can be used long after the goodies and wine are gone. An excellent deal!

This gift basket is just made for your best friend who also has great love for Italian snacks and food. Great friends who have a very special place in your heart and in your life need to be admired by you and by giving this great gift you can just show to them how special they are and how you need them at every step of life.

Celebrate your friendship with this tasty Tuscany gift having the great Italian flavors in it. The crispy, crunchy Focaccia bread, Grissini-Style breadsticks along with the spicy Italian dip are just a great way to celebrate your friendship. The bottle of balsamic vinegar just adds to the Italian flavor. Good friends bring joy in your life and they share all your sad says with you and now you can share your joy of this friendship with the chocolate amaretti bar. The artichoke parmesan cheese straws and fancy cut pasta in the gift basket are also great to taste.

Make your friendship really special with this special gift to your friend and by bringing the Tuscany flavor to him. It is your friend who is always very thoughtful about you and to show your thoughtfulness, care and love to your friend, this is just the perfect gift. Show to your friend that he is the person on whom you always count on by giving this wonderful gift to him.

Finding the perfect gift for your girlfriend’s birthday can be a challenge. There are so many choices, and sometimes it can be difficult to figure out exactly what she wants. Are you feeling a bit frustrated because you do not want to give her a typical, unimaginative gift like perfume or jewelry?

Are you looking for something that is a bit more personalized? Do you long to score big points with a gift that will light a fire between you and keep the flames fanned long past her actual birth date? If so, you could opt for one of many fruit baskets filled with things that will surprise and delight her for many days to come.

Gift baskets make a perfect birthday gift for many reasons. First of all, they require a bit of effort to put together, but if are willing to invest your time, she will be satisfied knowing you got a gift designed – and packaged – just for her. Secondly, gifts of this sort can be tailored to any personality. You can pick and choose the exact things she likes, and she ends up with a one-of-a-kind gift. Finally, you can put together a package that shows your love for her just by the attention you paid to the gift. There is nothing more romantic than that!

Of course, gift baskets come in all shapes and sizes. Regardless of your budget, you should be able to compile a basket full of things that are both memorable and unique. So whether you are looking for a quiet night in front of the fire or a multi-course dinner in the kitchen, get ready to celebrate her birthday with romance and fun.

One of the best aspects of this type of birthday gifts is your ability to develop a theme and then package the contents of the basket based on that theme. For example, if your girlfriend really likes the women of Hollywood, you could get her a glamour basket, complete with an entertainment magazine subscription certificate, some popcorn, and several romantic movies. Then, dim the lights, spoon on the couch, and enjoy a nice, quiet evening filled with Stars!

Another good option for a basket is one filled with gourmet food. With this theme, you could pick a foreign cuisine, and delight her taste buds with spices from around the world. If you throw in a bottle of carefully-selected wine, and perhaps a decadent desert, you have the perfect spread for a candle-lit dinner for two. You could even choose chocolate covered strawberries!

You may also find that a basket filled with scented lotions, massage oils, and candles, like the Zen Garden Bath Ensemble Gift Basket,  is the key to a romantic evening for you both. Some women might even say that a night of pampering performed by their significant other is one of the best birthday gifts of all.

In short, stuffing a basket full of goodies picked just by you and especially for her can be an entertaining undertaking. If you are worried that you might not be able to pick enough items to fill it up, you need not worry. Most gift stores and specialty retailers already pair similar items together, and if you need assistance, many of these outlets offer staff members who will be more than happy to help. You will be able to find a gift basket at any chain or discount craft store. Isn’t it wonderful that a gift that will mean so much can be so easy?

Looking for an awesome business gift.  A pen and case set is the perfect gift.  It is great for signing documents. It is a gift that will last and keep on giving, as it is used over and over. The carry case makes it very convenient for travel. If it is colored in rosewood, it is sophisticated and elegant. A personalized plate can be engraved with a name and date or whatever you like best to give it that personal touch that says you thought of them. This gift proves you really did buy it just for them.

This pen set is also a good gift for a graduation present. A pen set will be use full as they go off to collage from high school or out into the real world of business. Everyone uses pens and this set makes a special gift. Everyone likes to know they have been thought of and this gift will remind them someone cared each time they use it.

When you are going to attend a party or visit your friends and family, gifting with sweets would be a perfect idea. On seeing the Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Washington Apples Gift box you would not find anything else as impressive as it is. The delicious and unique gift box is very appetizing as well as nutritional. It is very attractively packed and tempting to eat. On seeing this lovely gift box no one could wait and resist from devouring the delicious contents.

These cheap dipped apples are a perfect gift for any occasion and perfect for any buffet. There are choices of 5 different sizes according to your preferences. Each box is very attractively packed containing three different flavors which are milk chocolate, white chocolate and dark chocolate. Each Apple is dipped in these fine chocolate flavours that make it delicious and mouth watering.  The perfect combination of Washington apples swirled with Belgium chocolate is irresistible and would be devoured with a lot of appreciation. The receiver of the gift would always remember you for the special gift and the taste would always linger in their tongue.

What better gift could you give to your special someone on Easter than an Easter Basket?  Here is your chance to give them a Divine Easter Sweets basket. You will find that this basket will be the perfect gift to give to your special someone on Easter morning.

If you buy one of these Easter baskets, you will find that they come with plenty of sweets.  Some of the candy that comes in this basket is, a gourmet solid milk chocolate bunny, de Geneve vanilla peanut butter bunny confections, Lindt mint chocolate truffles, and Mrs. Fields dark chocolate peppermint sticks.  There is still plenty of other candies included in this Easter basket, but you can discover them on your own.

The Divine Easter Sweets gift basket is the perfect gift to give at Easter time.  You can give it to your special someone, a friend or family member, or a child.  Everyone will love to receive all of this great candy.  The gift box is available for the price of $49.97.    You should really consider purchasing this gift because who ever receives it will love it!

The harvest is a time of bounty and growth. When the long days of work have ended, we come home to fresh fruits, new vegetables and oven-baked breads. You can relive that time or give it to someone you love with the Harvest Memories Basket. This is a gift that will stay in their minds long after they’d enjoyed the bounty you provided.

This gift is packaged with two great wines, “harvested” from Northern California. This region is famous for lush, distinctive wines that bring a glorious rustic flavor. Pair them with our selection of gourmet pears and delectable cheeses. Included are six imperial cornice pears, three red bartletts and three beurre bose pears. This mix ensures you taste the finest in seasonal fruits at the height of their flavor. You’ll also enjoy Monterrey Jack cheese, our creamy Rouge et Noir Brie and the subtle camembert cheese. This is a gift that won’t soon be forgotten. With the Harvest Memories Basket, you know you’ve given some of the finest wines, the most luscious fruits and the most decadent cheeses available.

A memorable way to spend quality time with someone special in your life is being able to spend some quiet time sitting near a fireplace or even at the seaside at night with some wine and cheese as a gift. This will be a perfect gift for a one night romance. In fact they are an ideal gift for other occasions such as anniversaries as well as weddings.

One may be able to find a beautifully wrapped gift of wine and cheese on the internet. You can have them wrap it in a variety of ways to add a personalized touch of your own when you are buying them. The wine and cheese is actually a timeless combination of the two for almost anyone who loves wine.

The reason why these two combination is a favorite among wine lovers is because the varieties of cheese is able to enhance the flavor ofthe wine you choose to drink and vice-versa. However, it is important to for you to choose the right type of cheese that will certainly go well with the wine that you choose to be able to enjoy and savor the taste completely. Usually, acidic wines goes very well with acidic cheese. So, choose wisely to enjoy that special night.

There are numerous occasions when we resort to gifting. Gifts are sent during happy times to celebrate the event and convey your best wishes, as well as sad times, when a person is unwell or sick, or when someone has lost a near and dear one. If you are looking for a gift to send to your sick friend who is hospitalized, you need to ensure that your gift is suitable for that person.

You must be cautious when selecting a gift, if you are going for an edible gift. There are various types of improve your health baskets available both online and in stores, but if your friend has been diagnosed with diabetes recently, then most of the edible gifts will not be suitable for him. You can try the sugar free get well wishes gift basket which is packed with an assortment of sugar free treats like cookies, candy, pretzel rods, biscuits, chips, popcorn and even a get well ceramic mug. Your friend or relative whoever gets this gift will truly appreciate it and this yummy gift basket will surely make his day.

Are you sweet on someone this Valentine’s Day?  Are you looking for just the right original gift?  If you are, then here’s a gift that will warm their heart and make their taste buds sing!  The “Valentine’s Day Berries” gift box will put you at the top of their adoration list.  This gift doesn’t just say sweetheart, it says my beautiful sweetheart!

It’s a gorgeous gift box filled with large, voluptuous strawberries, covered in Belgium chocolate!  These luxurious treats will be delivered fresh to their door and are sure to get a smile. There is nothing ordinary about this box of sweets!  After she shares them with her friends, you are sure to be the topic of conversation!

She’ll be thinking of you as she savors the chocolate and these premium strawberries. This tasty gift will let your sweetheart know just how special she is to you.  It will let her know how much you care and that she is deserving of something really special this Valentine’s Day.  Make this Valentine’s Day one she won’t forget too soon! You can also add a wine gift basket to top the night off.

History was made on November 4, 2008 when Illinois Senator, Barack Obama, an African American was elected President of the United States.  The American people came out in full force and let their voices be heard loud and clear.  Breaking the voting record previously held by President George W. Bush in the 2004 election, Barack Obama received more votes than any other candidate in history.

Many issues that are highly personal and extremely sensitive were hot topics for candidates and voters alike. Gay marriage and civil unions were a debated and had people on both sides of the fence highly emotional, but again, the voters stepped up and voted to ban the legalization of homosexual marriage.

A woman’s choice to receive an abortion and whether citizens should have the right to own and carry a firearm were also important issues during this election.

Regardless of which candidate the American public elected or what they think about the election, the bigger issue is that the American people voted in record numbers that broke racial barriers and brought change. 

In Barack Obama’s acceptance speech, he summed up the 2008 election eloquently with this statement:  “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer…”

It occurred to me the other day as I was quietly enjoying my back yard, listening to the excitable Blue Jays causing a commotion in my birch trees, that real, true friends are hard to come by. I set out the wine baskets on the patio table waiting for a dear friend to visit. It had been years since I had seen this woman, whom I have known since sixth grade. We survived the angst of those difficult teenage years together, and later when we had children, we anxiously compared notes as to how best to raise them, hoping they would all grow up to be happy adults.

Here she was, looking no worse for wear in the five years since I have seen her kind and open face. We dug into the wine baskets and each had a glass of shimmery Pinot Noir, happily catching up on time lost. After the sharing of family photos and reminiscing about our youth, it was time for her to leave.

Both of us promised to stay in touch, knowing it would probably be another five years until we saw each other again, but true friends last forever.

I am recently exploring the idea of inviting people to come through my vineyard where I grow approximately ten acres.  Currently, I have confined visits to my property to just tastings of my wine for guests and I was thinking of offering a more all-encompassing experience for the guests. 

People taking the time to come out to my estate deserve a little more than a quick tasting with a few appetizers.

The worry I have with this addition of a tour around the vineyard is whether the land can take the constant traveling over the area.  I do not want anyone touching anything in fear of disturbing the process and I will have to cut my normal groups I invite up in half in order to keep the rules enforced. 

However, I feel this is necessary because I feel that smaller and more intimate groups may experience the vineyard a lot better.  Have any of you all tried this?  Has it yielded any negative side effects for any reason?

Wine tours are organized by wine makers and it is fun to take a trip through the vineyards. Taking a trip with your partner or with a group of friends will make your day lively and fun. There are trips organized by tour operators and if you are in a group it would be better to go by a bus. You can convert your trip into a picnic and get the bonus of tasting different types of wine. Wine tours are even offered by helicopter companies. If you opt for a custom tour, you get to choose the place to stop, the duration of your stop etc.

You get to gain loads of information on wine tours. When you take a wine tour you are provided with detailed information about different types of wine, and also how wine should be served. You can gather information about different types of wine bottles, wine cork, and also how a particular wine should be served to get the best of its flavor. So, go ahead and book a wine tour with your friends and relatives or with your partner.

Two years ago, almost to the day, we had the privilege of holding a benefit celebration for my one of the best wine tourist in the world, Charlie.  Charlie had been diagnosed with inoperable cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments to help reduce the tumor he had in his neck to an operable size.  This benefit was going to be free of charge for entry for the general public so some way was needed to raise money.  Now what could we come up with to raise some money?  We needed to draw people in and no longer rely upon single donations from people who could not afford it.  We opted for selling food , hold a silent auction and have a raffle table.  It took quite a while to find businesses willing to donate items or people who could give any item of worth for this charitable cause.

One of the other wine tourist, who lives quite a distance away, could not make it to the benefit and yet wanted to give something for the raffle table.  By mail, she had sent two wine gift baskets  These unique wine gift baskets were set in the corner of the room we used to store the donated items and gift cards.

As this benefit gig approached closer and closer there were times we wanted so badly to open one of those bottles of wine and eat the delicious chocolate covered strawberries that were included with the wine because this was one of the hardest and frustrating things we had ever done.  We worried, we fretted , pictured all kinds of things going wrong instead of this project being a worthwhile task.

Finally there was no going back and the day of the gig was at hand.  We loaded the car early in the morning with all the food , donations for the silent auction, and raffle items, each  having a separate can properly marked.

There weren’t too many good raffle items and this concerned me.  A few of the tourist held vigils over the tickets for the raffle items and each chance we got we checked out to see how it was progressing.  Little by little tickets were dropped into the cans and by the time the raffle was to be drawn it was obvious which cans held the most tickets.  It was the cans that were beside the wine gift baskets.

In the middle of the show, to take a break and set up for the next band, we held the raffle.  One by one, the items were handed to the winners with looks of delight on their faces, but the brightest of faces seemed to be the ones who had won the golden state wine gift basket.  The only exception to this was probably us.  Surely we had the brightest smile.

At the end of the show, we was one exhausted tourist, yet well pleased with what had happened and were eternally grateful for the generosity of so many people who helped with this endeavor in any way they could, but especially to my friend for her donation of unique wine baskets.  They were the biggest seller of tickets.

Charlie has made it these last two years in spite of the cancer coming back and I will never forget this wonderful gig and generosity of people for aiding  the cause to help such wonderful people through such a difficult time.

Taking a tour of a winery can be a fun event whether you want a romantic date or a fun filled day with a group of friends. Wine tours can be taken in large or small groups. In a large group you just sit back, on a bus, and relax while tasting some delicious wine here and there. A small group tour lets you decide the pace you would like to tour the winery.

No matter what size group you tour the winery with, you will leave with a wonderful wine basket. Baskets of wine are given out to everyone that takes a tour of the winery each day. This offers a great way for you to sample some wines before having to purchase them. It is also a good idea to write down the wines that you like.

That way when you are looking to purchase a wine you will know what type you like. Remember, wine baskets will be given out to every touring guest so set up your tour soon and experience the fun of touring a winery.

Received wisdom would have us believe that white wine is best served chilled while red wine should be served at room temperature.   Like most well known “facts” there is some basis to this thinking. Few can deny that a chilled white is more attractive to the palate than a lukewarm one.

But the wine drinker who sticks rigidly to these rules may well miss out on some treats. There are many factors to be taken into account; the wine itself obviously, but perhaps more importantly, the ambient temperature.

To wander round a German market town at Christmas time without sampling the hot Gluhwein (mulled warmed wine with spices), is to miss out on an essential part of the seasonal experience. I still savour the shock and delight of having local red wine served chilled overlooking the Adriatic on a blisteringly hot summer day. One of my particular favourites on a cold winter’s night is a hot toddy made simply from port and hot water. To mix a metaphor, it’s horses for courses or wines for all seasons.

Wine tasting parties are a wonderful way to gather a few close friends together, for a night of fine wines and delicious cheese. It is best to decide ahead of time what varieties of wines and cheese pairings will be best suited to your particular guests. Many wine guides can be found, that can assist you in choosing the appropriate cheese to compliment a particular wine. You should start with selecting a few good bottles of wine from your wine gift baskets. Make sure to keep the wine tasting experience interesting, by providing a mix of red and white wines.

Take care to set the table in wine inspired linens with an appropriately themed centerpiece, such as red and white grapes, arranged in wicker gift baskets. Don’t forget to offer an assortment of crackers as well, to compliment the cheese and cleanse the palette in between wine sampling. Some wine and cheese pairings to consider: Chardonnay and Parmigiano-Reggiano, Beaujolais and Muenster, Riesling and Monterey Jack.  There are many more combinations, depending on what wines you decide to offer.  Whatever you serve, the wine tasting party will sure to be a fun filled evening.

Wine tours are a fun, relaxing way to spend the day with a group of friends, or that certain someone. Wine tours come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from the “get on the big bus and go with us” tours to hiring a driver and seeing the trail at your own pace and even the let’s-draw-straws-and-the-looser-is-the-designated-driver tours. No matter which you choose, here are a few simple things you can do to make the day go smoothly.

The most important thing is to know who your driver is. Honestly folks, a little taste here and a little taste there really can add up. Have your designated driver lined up and supplied with non- alcoholic beverages. The second most important thing is to know where you are having lunch, or at least have an idea of where lunch is. You do not want to be doing a day long wine tour with no food. Many wineries today have very restaurants as well.

Last but not least, keep a note book, or have your designated driver keep notes for you so you can recall your favorite wines and be able to pick them up at your local supplier long after the tour is over. Do all of these things and you are going to have a wine tour experience to write home about!

Anyone have a corporate summer party this year? I used to love the company picnics. I got to meet the spouses and children that my co-workers always talked about and I could mingle with the bosses without the stress of the office. The only thing I didn’t like was trying to figure out what to take and in what container.

I usually ended up taking my famous cinnamon rolls. Not because they fair well in the summer heat, or
because I could transport them in a couple ziplock baggies and arrange them on a paper plate after arriving at the get together, but because people always requested them! My co-workers would see me arriving and literally come out to my vehicle so they could get a few before the rush.

The batch would usually be almost gone before I got from the parking lot to the field - Now that’s an entrance! Cinnamon rolls - the perfect corporate party dessert.

• Napa Valley is California’s number one tourist attraction.
• One average bottle of wine contains 0 .75 liters.
• It takes approximately 2 1/2 pounds of grapes, eight bunches, to make one bottle of wine.
• 2 1/2 lbs of grapes is about 800 grapes.
• This equals between three and five bottles of wine per grapevine, depending on the yield.
• 85% of the vine’s flowers will not set and become grapes.
• One acre will yield approximately two tons of grapes which will produce right around 4000 bottles.
• Each typical glass of wine is about 6.4 ounces.
• Each serving has between 130-150 calories depending on the type,whites having less that reds.
• Grape juice has about 130 calories.

Established in 1883, Wente vineyards in Livermore, California is the oldest family owned winery still in operation. It began as a modest winery of only 47 acres, but through the years has grown to include over 2,000 acres.

The vine cuttings came straight from France’s University of Montpellier viticulture nursery. These cuttings were then nursed to produce an exceptional chardonnay. Carl Wente, the founder of Wente wineries could give some creditr to his great success to Napa Valley’s Charles Krug, whom he used to work for and trained under.

There are wonderful wines here in America and some of the best come out of California. With a Tour of the Wine Country, you can sample just a few of many available.