Supplies for Wine & Cheese Gift Baskets

Choose the proper supplies for making wine and cheese baskets for clients
By Andrea Townsley No matter what industry you're in, you can use wine and cheese gifts to impress your clients. By sending a prospective client a nice wine and cheese basket, you just might seal the deal. If you send current clients or recent clients one of these gifts, you'll show them that you care and you'll make a lasting impression.

Buying a premade wine and cheese basket can be quite pricey, though, and making them yourself can cut down on the cost a bit. Also, different clients like different things, and by creating baskets on your own, you can customize the contents and tailor each basket to each client. There are several supplies for wine & cheese gift baskets to consider before you get started:

1. Choose a wine that is sure to impress the client in question. The wine is typically the center of attention in wine and cheese baskets, so choose wisely.

2. Pick out cheese to complement the wine. Wine and cheese gift baskets can include multiple types of cheese so your client has a variety to select from.

3. Add some other things to the basket to impress your clients even more. In many cases, gourmet gift baskets include other items, both food and nonfood.

Choose the centerpiece for your wine and cheese gift basket

The most important part of the gift basket is the wine itself. This is what will impress your clients the most, so choosing a good wine is imperative. Obviously, your budget will come into play here, but good wines don't have to break the bank. For smaller baskets, you can select just one bottle while bigger gifts can include two or three bottles.
Try:  Learn how to choose a good wine at ewineplanet.com. Browse through wine critic Robert Parker's "100 Point Wines" at Wine-Searcher.

Pick some cheeses for your wine and cheese gift baskets

Cheese is obviously the other main feature of the basket. It needs to complement the wine and appeal to the individual client. If you're unsure of what your client prefers, pick a couple cheeses to include in the basket. It's wise to include both soft and hard cheeses to make sure your bases are covered.
Try:  Artisanal Premium Cheese can help you choose a cheese based on the wine you've picked out. WineFetch also has a comprehensive guide to cheese and wine pairings to assist you in your decision.

Buy some other items for the cheese and wine basket you're making

In many cases, gift baskets do not just consist of wine and cheese. If you'd like to add something else to the mix, your options are virtually endless. You can include a special cheese knife or slicer, a corkscrew, crackers, coffee, candy or even nuts in the basket. It's best to choose something that complements the wine and cheese while keeping the recipient's taste in mind.
Try:  Get some ideas from GourmetGiftBaskets.com and Mrs. Beasley's to help you decide on what to include in the basket you're making.

• The "basket" part of the package does not have to be an actual basket. It can be a large aluminum tin, an attractive box or even something unique you find at home or at a yard sale. Use your imagination to make the cheese and wine gift baskets even more special.