What do you put in a wine gift basket? Start with one bottle, then add two or three things that suit it and a handwritten card. A red wants aged cheese, nuts and dark chocolate. A crisp white wants olives, salted almonds and herb crackers. A sparkling wine wants salty, crisp bites and dried fruit. Pack the bottle upright and snug. Would you rather skip the assembly? A boxed bottle arrives ready to give. ONEHOPE Wine ships wine and gift boxes, not food baskets, so the basket itself is yours to build.
What goes in a wine gift basket?
Keep it small. Each item should suit the wine or help someone enjoy it.
- One bottle. Choose it first; everything else follows its style.
- Two or three things to eat. Foods that match the wine and keep at room temperature.
- One useful extra. A corkscrew or a stopper.
- A card. Say why you chose the wine and what to open it with.
Not sure what they drink? Start with our guide to choosing a wine gift when you don't know their taste, then build the basket around that bottle.
What should you add for each kind of wine?
Rich wines suit rich, aged foods. Crisp, bubbly wines suit salt.
| Bottle style | What to add | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Red blend | Aged Gouda, dark chocolate of about 60 to 70% cacao, roasted almonds | Ripe dark fruit stands up to bittersweet chocolate; nutty, caramel notes in aged Gouda suit a smooth red |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Aged cheddar, walnuts, dried cherries | Fat and protein in aged cheese soften the tannin |
| Crisp white, such as Sauvignon Blanc | Olives in a sealed jar, salted almonds, herb crackers | Citrus and lively acidity balance salt and brine |
| Chardonnay | Gruyère or Comté, toasted hazelnuts, dried apricots | A creamy, rounded white meets nutty, buttery cheese |
| Sparkling Brut | A hard, salty aged cheese, salted crackers or potato chips, dried mango | Bubbles and acidity cut salt and fat; dried fruit adds a sweet contrast to a dry wine |
| Sparkling rosé | Dried cranberries, salted pistachios, a firm sheep's milk cheese | Red-fruit notes echo the berries; bubbles reset the palate after salt |
| Sweet dessert wine | Very dark chocolate, dried figs, toasted walnuts | Sweetness rounds the bitterness of dark cocoa |
Two of our bottles show how this works. The 2022 Vintner Red Blend brings cherry, raspberry, cocoa powder and vanilla, so dark chocolate is a natural partner. The Gold Shimmer Sparkling Brut is crisp, with green apple, pear and a tropical finish.
Keep milk chocolate away from a dry sparkling wine; it makes the wine taste sour. See our wine and chocolate pairing guide and our dessert wine guide.
Which foods travel well, and what should you leave out?
A basket can wait a day before anyone opens it. Pack only what keeps at room temperature.
Travels well:
- Hard, aged cheeses, such as aged cheddar, aged Gouda or Gruyère, wrapped in wax or parchment
- Crackers and breadsticks in their sealed packs
- Roasted nuts and dried fruit
- Dark chocolate, in cool weather
- Fig jam, honey or olives in sealed jars, each wrapped on its own
Leave out:
- Soft and fresh cheeses, such as brie or fresh goat cheese
- Anything that needs a refrigerator
- Fresh fruit that bruises in transit
Our wine and cheese pairing guide matches cheese to wine in detail. For a basket, stay with its firm, aged cheeses.
What non-food extras belong with the bottle?
- A corkscrew. A waiter's corkscrew takes little space.
- A bottle stopper. For a glass now and the rest tomorrow.
- A card. Write why you chose the wine, which food to open it with and how cold to serve it.
For the serving line on the card, see our wine serving temperature guide.
How do you pack a wine gift basket so the bottle travels safely?
- Choose a sturdy base. A basket or crate with a flat bottom and firm sides.
- Stand the bottle upright. Set it at the back or in the center.
- Wedge it in. A folded kitchen towel or tissue around the base stops it from moving.
- Load heavy items low. Jars and cheese go at the bottom; crackers and chocolate go on top.
- Fill the gaps. Paper shred or crumpled tissue keeps everything in place.
- Close it up. Tie cellophane or fabric over the top and tuck the card in front.
Carry it upright and keep it away from heat. To dress the bottle itself, our wine bottle gift wrapping ideas show four towel wraps.
When is a ready gift box simpler?
When the recipient lives far away, or time is short, a boxed bottle does the presenting for you. Each holds one bottle.
- The Classic Vintner Wine Gift sets one Vintner wine in a magnetic gift box with gold foil ONEHOPE branding. Choose Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Blend, Sparkling Brut or Sauvignon Blanc. The Cabernet Sauvignon brings dark berries, toffee and vanilla.
- The Classic Reserve Wine Gift uses the same box for a Reserve wine or our Field to Table Red Blend. The Arroyo Seco Chardonnay offers lemon, pineapple, sweet cream and vanilla. The Field to Table Red Blend brings dark cherry and spice.
- The Classic Shimmer Wine Gift holds Gold or Silver Shimmer Sparkling Brut, both dry. Or choose Pink Shimmer Sparkling Rosé, with pomegranate and pink lady apple.
- The Classic Etched Shimmer Wine Gift is a boxed Gold Shimmer bottle etched with a message, such as Cheers to You.
- The Congratulations Etched Wood Gift Box is a keepsake wooden box etched with "Congratulations!" You choose the wine inside. The Vintner Sparkling Brut brings pineapple, citrus and green apple. Each box holds one bottle, so for several gifts, place a separate order for each.
The two ideas also work together: build your basket around a boxed bottle and hand it over. Would they rather choose for themselves? The ONEHOPE Digital Gift Card carries a gift note and goes toward any wine or gift box online. It is not valid at the winery.
Browse every boxed option in all wine gifts, or see our gifts for wine lovers, sorted by what they pour. ONEHOPE wine gives back. For a new home, see our housewarming wine gifts.
How do you send a wine gift to someone far away?
A home-made basket is best delivered by hand. For someone far away, send a boxed bottle instead.
We ship wine to 47 states and Washington, DC. We cannot ship wine to Delaware, Rhode Island or Utah. Recipients must be 21 or over, and an adult signature is required at delivery. Our guide to sending wine as a gift covers the details.
Frequently asked questions
What goes in a wine and cheese gift basket?
One bottle, one or two firm, aged cheeses, crackers and fig jam or dried fruit. Try aged cheddar with Cabernet Sauvignon, or Gruyère with Chardonnay. Leave out soft cheeses, which need a refrigerator.
What can I put with a bottle of wine as a gift?
One or two foods that suit the wine and keep at room temperature, such as nuts and dark chocolate with a red. Add a corkscrew and a handwritten card.
How do you wrap a wine gift basket?
Stand the bottle upright, wedge it with a folded towel and fill the gaps with paper shred. Gather cellophane or fabric over the top and tie it with ribbon.
Can you ship a wine gift basket?
ONEHOPE ships wine and gift boxes, not food. We ship wine to 47 states and Washington, DC. We cannot ship wine to Delaware, Rhode Island or Utah. Recipients must be 21 or over, and an adult signature is required at delivery. A home-made basket is best delivered by hand. See our guide to sending wine as a gift.
What goes with a bottle of sparkling wine in a gift basket?
Salty, crisp bites and dried fruit: salted crackers, salted nuts, dried mango and a hard, aged cheese. Bubbles and acidity cut through salt and fat. Skip milk chocolate, which makes a dry sparkling wine taste sour.
