Red Wine Gift Baskets

A red wine basket is rarely about the wine alone. It is about what sits beside the bottle: cheese, chocolate, something from the bakery, or a game to play once it is open. This page sorts the options by what comes with the wine, so you can match the basket to the person receiving it.

Cheese, crackers and savoury boards

This is the classic pairing, and the easiest to get right. Red wine with cheese and crackers suits hosts, colleagues and anyone whose taste you are unsure of. The plainest versions keep to those three things. Others add truffles, nuts or fresh fruit for a fuller spread.

If the moment is a hard one, a friend going through a rough patch, the "Hang In There" version of the cheese and crackers box carries a message along with the food. For a wine lover, The Critic Cab and cheese box pairs a named Napa Cabernet with cheese.

Chocolate and Napa Cabernet

Here the wine is the main event. These baskets pair a well-known Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon with gourmet chocolate. They suit milestone thank-yous, client gifts and people who already know their Napa from their Alexander Valley. The two Silver Oak options differ by region, so check which one you are sending.

Bakery and comfort baskets

Bakery treats make a softer, homelier gift. These are good for birthdays, get-well wishes or a general "thinking of you". The wine is there, but the sweet baked goods set the mood. They are also among the more modest options on this page.

Italian and gourmet feasts

Some baskets are closer to a meal than a snack. The Festa Italiana basket has Chianti, Italian cheese, salami, olives, bell peppers and fresh fruit. The pizza kit comes with a bottle of Italian Chianti and lets the recipient make their own slices. For a mixed hamper, The Critic Napa Cabernet arrives with a Chardonnay and artisanal foods in a wooden hamper, which helps if the household drinks both red and white.

Games, spa and other extras

A few baskets swap food for an activity. A poker set or a velvet lined backgammon set turns the wine into an evening in. The spa basket, with its vanilla scent, suits someone who needs to unwind. The hedgehog set is meant for new parents: baby items alongside a bottle of California Cabernet for Mom and Dad.

How to choose

• Start with the person. Foodies like cheese or a full gourmet box. Wine lovers will care about the named bottle. Homebodies may prefer bakery or a spa set.
• Look at the bottle count. Duos and trios, such as the California Cabernet duo or the California red trio, suit people who like to compare or share.
• Match the occasion. Birthday and comfort baskets are labelled as such. The others are more general.
• Check for a non-drinker. If part of the group avoids alcohol, there is a non-alcoholic red wine, cheese and crackers box.

Questions people ask

Which basket is safest if I do not know their taste?

Red wine with cheese and crackers is the most familiar combination. Add fruit or truffles if you want it to feel more generous.

Can I send two different reds in one gift?

Yes. Several listings are duos or trios, including Stag's Leap with Jordan, and the Shiloh pair.

Is there an option for people who do not drink?

The non-alcoholic red wine box above is one. Check the listing for what is inside before you order.

Do these all come with food?

No. Some pair the bottle with a game, a spa set or baby items instead. The product name usually tells you which.