Holiday Host(ess) Gifts To Lift Their Spirits

Enough already with those tired, ho-hum bottles of wine. Barefoot Bubbles? That was so 2009. Yellowtail? Shame on you! The booze biz has come a long way in giving us plenty of options outside our go-to 750mLs, so you have no excuse not to be creative. Make your host gift stand out this season with gifts that really POP! Read on to find some inventive gift ideas geared toward your party-throwing friends.

1. Large Formats

One of my new favorite host/hostess gifts is large format bottles. On a late summer trip to wine country with the girls, I happened upon a magnum of Gloria Ferrer Sparkling Sonoma Brut for a bargain $38. With my industry discount, the bottle came down to $32, so naturally, I had to have it. I saved it for the perfect occasion--Thanksgiving--and we all got to partake in the festive centerpiece as our aperitif.

Big G just chillin'

Keep in mind, large formats do not have to break the bank, nor do they have to be hot off the bottom shelf. Large formats are most commonly found in magnums (1.5L or 2 regular-size, 750mL, bottles), and I suggest stopping there before you have the party crashing at the hosts' pad. Inquire about large formats at your local wine shop, as they might be hidden. If your state allows shipping, check out K&L Wine Merchant, one of the foremost online wine retailers. They have great steals like the 2007 Château de Montfaucon "Baron Louis" Côtes du Rhône for $30 or the Louis Roederer "Brut Premier" Champagne at $80. For more great, BIG wines under $100, check out this Wall Street Journal article by Lettie Teague.

2. Microbrews
Last Christmas The Editor and I were given two large 750mLs of Brooklyn Brewery beer from our dear friends and Brooklynites, Amanda and Anthony. Not only were the beers mighty delicious, from the aromatic Brooklyn Local 1 Unfiltered Golden Ale to the dark and malty Brooklyn Local 2, but their sharp packaging and champagne-style cork enclosures added a touch of class on our wine rack.

This Golden Ale

 belongs on the cheese table

Another idea is to pick up a sampler pack with some festive, seasonal brews like Pliny the Elder and a classic, Chimay Grand Réserve (blue label--and comes in magnum size!) sure to please, says The Editor. Be sure to include Chocolate Stout from Oregon brewer Rogue or British icon, Young's, who make a Double Chocolate Stout. If you're locally-minded, Anchor Steam and Sierra make a Christmas Ale and Celebration Ale, respectively. And let's not forget about Lambics. The fruity, Belgian ales are sure to please palates with intense fruit flavors and subtle malt and hop characters. My personal favorite, and one of the most popular, is Lindemans, which comes in an assortment of flavors like Framboise* (Raspberry), Pêche (Peach), Cassis (Blackcurrant) and Pomme (Apple).

*Chocolate Covered Raspberry
2 parts Chocolate Stout 
1 part Framboise Lambic (Cherry and Strawberry Lambic may be substituted.)

3. Dessert Wines
Mmm, dessert without all of the calories? Yes, please! Move over cookies and cakes, pies and tarts, it's time to make room on the dessert table for some ice wine and aged tawny. I've tried to deconstruct the category below to help you pick your sweet palate pleaser.

A bevy of Ports on display

• Ice Wine - Canada and upstate New York commonly produce these wines made from grapes that were frozen during harvest. You'll find flavors of caramel, toffee and apricot. Try: Inniskillin
• Tokaji - This sometimes pricey dessert wine is named after the region of Hungary where wines are produced. Characterized by a balance of citrus and honey and typically lower in alcohol than other dessert wines. Try: Royal Tokaji Red Label
• Sauternes - A French classic, made from Semillon grapes, Sauternes is deep golden in color with flavors of apricots, honey and peaches with a tinge of zesty acidity. Try: Carmes de Rieussec
• Muscat -Muscats are produced all over the world and are widely loved for their floral aromas and sweet citrus notes of tangerine and orange blossoms. Muscat derives its name from the Greek "musk", meaning perfume. Try: Quady
• Port - Probably the most well-known of the bunch, Ports are fortified wines produced primarily in Portugal. The two basic styles are Ruby (bottle-aged) and Tawny (barrel-aged). Ruby, better known today as "Vintage" port, is known for strong black-fruit flavors while tawny is softer with nutty notes. Try: Smith Woodhouse or Warre's Otima
• Late Harvest - Late Harvest wines range in grape variety from Viognier to Zinfandel. Grapes are picked late in the season, enough to dehydrate naturally on the vine, and then picked to produce wines with concentrated, preserved fruit flavors true to varietal (from dried apricots in Viognier to boysenberry and plum in Zinfandel). Try: JC Cellars or Dashe Cellars

Don't be let down when your glass is poured half empty. Why? Dessert wines are legally defined as fortified (sugar added) wine with an alcohol content of 15% or higher, so you really only need half of a typical wine glass pour.

4. Homemade Liqueurs and Garnishes

Some of these take a bit of advance prep-work, but you can cheat and buy the store-made version if you're in a pinch.
If your host/hostess or friend has a preferred cocktail, cook up the garnish, liqueur or syrup their drink calls for. For many of my guy friends, that drink is the Manhattan, a bourbon classic. This year I decided to get cookin' and get crafty by making my very own Brandied Cherries. Bay Area native, Miri Leigh, gave me the inspiration with this recipe. This year I'll be giving away a miniature bottle of bourbon with a jar of my homemade goods. Add a personal touch with handcrafted  labels and lids using recycled paper, ribbon and fabric from your local craft store.

Think seasonal. You can substitute frozen fruits for some recipes, but nothing beats the real thing. Right now, pomegranates and oranges are in full swing, so consider making a homemade syrup or Orangecello for citrus lovers. Next season I'll be making my first Limoncello batch with handpicked lemons from our backyard in Russian Hill.

Sonoma County's delicious artisan syrups

Syrups - Add a bit of zing to vodka, gin and whiskey drinks with easy-to-make simple syrups in exotic flavors like Pomegranate, Ginger and Cucumber. Purchase infused syrups and artisan bar mixers from one of my local favorites, Sonoma Syrup Co.

Most of the above can be purchased at your specialty liquor store, so don't feel the pressure to spend hours toiling over the stove with a pair of tongs. Jazz up your presentation with a sweet holiday gift bag.

5. Food & Wine Games
Board games are a great catalyst to break the ice or simply liven up the crowd. Most of these games are designed for as little as two players up to 6 or more (For extra mingling, play teams where people have to partner up with a stranger.). Play with a glass in your hand and one of these games are sure to be a hit. Hosts are sure to appreciate your thoughtfulness and creativity.

It's War! Wine Wars on display

Choose your token in Wine-opoly

Whether you're a newbie or, ahem, seasoned wine drinker, Wine Wars ($19.95) will challenge and entertain you as your knowledge is tested in topics such as winemaking, business, culture, geography and tasting. From the makers of Wine Wars also comes Foodie Fight, the game where players get the chance to boast their culinary prowess. And as Mario Batali once commented, the game where "The losers get to wash the dishes!" If Trivia is your game, try the Smarts series--a slew of Question and Answer games that test your wits about the topics of food, wine, beer and more. Wine Smarts, Beer Smarts, Cocktail Smarts, Gourmet Smarts and Food Smarts. Finally, Wine-opoly lets you buy, collect and trade wine, grapes and decanters using tokens like cheese, chalice, corks and carafes. Just beware of those import taxes ; )

Let's face it, hosts will love whatever you bring to help make the party more festive and keep guests merry. Stick to your budget, wrap it with a bow and arrive with a smile. Just don't be afraid to think outside the (gift) box.