Wine gift baskets have become more popular in recent years. Wine itself is a classy gift. A wine basket can be an elegant way to express congratulations, gratitude, or just friendship. Both men and women appreciate the gift of wine, however, women usually appreciate the accessories included in the basket more than the actual wine itself. Wine baskets can be given for any occasion. However, the most popular occasions are birthdays, anniversaries and weddings.

The most important choice in a wine basket is the wine itself. Wine comes in two varieties - red and white. Red wine is made from red and black grapes while white wine is made from white grapes. Popular red wines are cabernet sauvignon, merlot and Grenache. Red wines are usually full flavored. The chocolaty flavor of merlots makes them a very popular choice among women. Grenaches contain a slight taste of raspberries.

White wines are produced using white grapes. White wines tend to be more on the dry side combined with a fruity taste and with a hint of vanilla. Chardonnays are the most sought after white wines.

Since choosing the correct wine can be some what difficult, therefore most wine retailers offer recommendations based upon the occasion or the person receiving the gift. For example, most women prefer a red wine; champagne is a popular gift for parties; and those who are more experienced wine enthusiasts will enjoy the more rare, but expensive wines.

After choosing the wine, the next step is to decide on the other items that you will include in the basket. Food is a common accessory. However, food choices should be made with the type of wine and the preferences of the receiver in mind. Some foods go better with one type of wine than others. Common food selections are sesame crackers, cheeses, chocolates, nuts, fruits and olives. Be sure to consult a wine and food pairing chart to ensure the correct food choice for the wine that has been chosen.

Besides food the most obvious accessory added to wine gift baskets are wine glasses. Wine connoisseurs are almost as picky about the glass in which their wine will be served as they are about the wine. Several different types of wine glasses exist. The choice of wine determines which type of glass will be used. Red wines get served in a glass with a large bowl, while white wines get served in small bowled glasses. Champagne glasses are fluted. The number of glasses included will be determined by the occasion for which the basket is given.

Other items can be used to fill out the basket. For example, a beginner may enjoy some literature on how to choose a wine or the history of a particular winery.

I am not a shopping enthusiast. Except around the Christmas and Channukah holidays, I hate the parking problems, I don’t enjoy browsing aisle after aisle looking for something that would be honestly appreciated by Grandma or Uncle Arthur. I certainly do not like waiting on line with inpatient people killing time for the lone employee to handle yet another exchange. During the holidays, I enjoy meandering through stores just people watching, without being weighted down with packages. The experience for whatever reason gets me into a holiday emotional state, but I do my actual shopping and buying almost entirely online. That’s a practice I developed in the very early years of the Web.

While online shopping keeps me from being pushed around in a busy department store or standing in line at a little boutique, it doesn’t keep me from the most dreaded part of any gift giving event; choosing the right gift for a birthday, a holiday, a sick friend or whomever. Then about five years ago, I discovered food.

Of course, I actually discovered food when I was still an infant, but it didn’t occur to me as a great gift until I had suffered through many rounds of birthdays, baby showers, and countless other events that seem to always pop up. I received a gift basket of little sausages, spreadable cheeses and plain crackers. It was terrible! At the same time, though, I thought what a great gift this could have been. All they had to change in the gift was the quality of the contents!

Since that moment of momentous insight on my part, I have been a dedicated sampler of a variety of food gifts that I buy for myself on the Internet. (It’s a tough job, but I am up to the challenge as long as I carefully pace myself!) I have found that the online gift food stores handle everything from shipping to the accompanying gift cards. Yes, I actually send myself a gift card to test the store’s dedication to detail. The Internet boutiques are now the sources for all of my gifts, except those gifts of my loved ones who happen to live very nearby.

The wide selection of quality gift foods available is truly remarkable. It ranges from live lobster dinners to a fresh fruit basket; from cookie bouquets to live lobsters; from wine gift baskets to imported caviar or fine Wisconsin cheeses.

I do keep gift foods around the house, beautifully or cleverly arranged, for my guests who come to my house or for those whom I visit in person during those gift giving times. The Internet provides assistance to me even in these cases, because it is packed full of great ideas for arranging and wrapping gift food.

So help me thank the Internet for allowing me to walk through an aisle of a store, empty handed, with a huge smile. I can do that, now, just to soak up the atmosphere of the season, whatever season it happens to be. I’m a tourist when I’m there instead of a frantic shopper.