Gourmet Gift Baskets and Christmas sweet treats

Nobody can deny that Christmas has become an commercialized holiday worldwide. Despite the crisis, for example, in the mecca of consumerism, USA, in their famous "Black Friday" (the official In addition to the amounts sprayed for New Year's meal, a huge part of the annual budget goes toward the gifts we buy for the closest. Traders stimulate the consumerism, "tickling" our ideas about luxury and social prestige - the best, most expensive, the novelty or fashion. In the range from alcohol and by-products through toys, and all the way to technology. Everyone races to offer 'dream Christmas gift'

And while the windows and glossy catalogs and advertisements whisper to us of each step: "Buy, buy, buy ...", we will offer some ideas for different Christmas presents. They will not leave a terrible hole in the budget, and will have more permanent presence in our lives and the luxury paper after being thrown away, and the euphoria leave behind only a feeling of emptiness.

• For the whole family – Gourmet Gift Baskets
• For your sister, friend, mom – Christmas sweet treats
  
  
  
  
  
• For him - Tickets for a concert or game
• For the children - a deposit account in a bank or Christmas sweets

But do not forget, the most valuable thing we can give one another is the time spent together.

Gift ideas for the upcoming holidays

If you have wait the last moment to buy gifts for the upcoming holidays you may have fallen into distress. At that time there are many promotions and new products come out, so you can take advantage of them.

But finding the best offers can be tricky. We will try to help you by giving you some ideas for gifts and related products that are worth buying.

• Webcams - Christmas is a time when family gathers together. Unfortunately this is not always possible and then are coming to assist the technologies. Ideal gift in this case, for your family will be a webcam. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Hampers for men – The beautiful and delicious hampers can be ideal gift for everyone. To them you can add appropriate wine/champagne glasses and Christmas card with best wishes. This is ideal gift for any occasion. 
   
• Digital Photo Frames - This is also a good option for a gift. Photo frame with mirror surface, supports numerous formats, has integrated speakers and more extras. Great choice!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Gourmet gift hampers – Ideal gift for your parents, relatives or friends or, another idea for your close ones can be the sophisticated Champagne gifts.
  
  

These beautiful gourmet gifts can be found at the online store gourmandise.com.au.

Gourmet hampers and Savoury treats perfect for Christmas

Christmas is coming, and with it comes the Christmas rush. Everyone is passionate by the thought of 'the perfect' gift. Everyone wants the most beautiful and special gift for the loved ones. But where to find that special gift? Nowadays it is more difficult to filter the precious moments and shared moments with a loved one. It depends on us if we allow ourselves to be influenced by commercialism that bay us. Here are some gift ideas that will help you:

• Gourmet hampers - these beautiful hampers can make your day. You can arranged it by yourself or you can buy it from the online store from Gourmandise. They can be filled with everything like: cheese, wine, chocolates, champagne, body products, jam etc.
  
  
• Jewels - Jewels will always be appreciated and quality gift. It is important to choose with taste and when your partner see it, to be very pleased and to be satisfied with your choice. Perhaps there is no right or wrong when you give jewelry as a present, but let's say that there is no need to be expensive - the important thing is when you buy the present to like it, i.e must be from the heart, not an obligation. However, remember before buying you must comply with the taste of your partner.
   
• Savoury treats - will melt the heart of every true lover of delicious food products. They give pleasure in incredibly refined and tasteful way.
  
  

Christmas Chocolates and Wine Gift Hampers

"Silent night, holy night" with intoxicating fragrance of wine, cinnamon and dried fruits, peal and a star in the sky announcing the birth of the Savior ... Atmosphere close to the tale in which intertwine also the greybeard, several deer, wharves, home comfort, warmth and a lot of snow. Countless children's eyes stared at the endless expanse of sky, waiting for light vestige and the magic ting of the Christmas sled ... A true holiday of light - a magic called Christmas! Christmas Day is one of the largest annual holidays. If you still have not bought gifts for Christmas, we will offer you a few ideas:

• Christmas chocolates and other goodies

  Here's what we offer you. If you do not know how to cook, just bet on the ready cookies, available in every major store. But! You should know that there is no other more sweet gesture from homemade cookies, that are decorated with such desire and patience.
  

  

  
  Besides the cookies you can give away something of the traditional meals included in the Christmas meal. 
  

  
   

• Red and white wines for the true connoisseurs - Wine Gift Hampers

  Of course, red wine is more appropriate for the season, but still consistent with the person who will consume it.
  

  

  
  To complete the basket, place several aromatic cheeses, chocolates, jam, champagne etc., and decorate with Christmas items like ribbons, toys, socks and more.
  To this you can add corkscrews, or a whole set of accessories for wine and cheese. 
   
• And all the other ideas that you have
  
  

  

For your loved ones, we are sure that you have selected your special gift, but not too late to add a little Christmas flavor to some of our suggestions above.

Remember - every gift can be special. Just help him to become one with some inspiration!

What kind of wine to choose for the Christmas dinner

In this word - Christmas everyone discovers something for himself. For some this is one of the holiest days - The Birth of Christ for others - the biggest gift in the year for the third - just plenty meal with a lot of good food and red wine.

 

We will not change your views and understandings, our sole goal is to help you to spend this holiday possible ideal, by selecting for the most loved ones, a great menu with delicious and melt in your mouth meals and of course the appropriate Wine gift hampers!

No matter whether we stop at the traditional meals, the wine for this bright holiday is with red color!
Red wine carries with it celebration of of the Holy Christian holiday, and is a great companion of the Christmas meals that you prepared. And if you decide to welcome the holiday in the mountains and come back from a snow walk, the wine will warm up with his revitalized forces.

So ladies, if on your Christmas table will be culinary delights of pork, we suggest you to combine them with red wine. Select older vintages, but not much, if you want the wine to be more elegant and vintage 2010, if you want a young and fresh wine. 

For the traditional Christmas turkey, we suggest you wines with a finer structure, less tannic, that are appropriate to the fine turkey meat. Remember ladies, wine should always be in harmony with the meal with which you will eat it.

And remember, dear ladies - no matter what wine you choose, serve it in pretty glasses with lots of love and and happiness. Because it's Christmas and on Christmas miracles happen! Cheers!

Bottle of wine - great gift for any occasion

To give wine is an idea that is never wrong. The choice depends on, to whom the gift is made and what occasion. Is it for a wedding, engagement, Christmas wine gifts etc. At first, you must determine what response should cause the gift.
Want to make happy people? Or to surprise and perhaps create a good impression? Whatever the case, the most important thing is to give away a good quality wine, not to get the opposite effect and instead of applause, cause offense. 

 

When we select wine for man, the choice is easy. Some think that men do not like sweet wine, but actually, most of the men (no matter they don't admit it) like such wines. If it is a close friend, surely you know what he likes. However, if the gift is for your boss, the job is much more complicated. The wine must be from a good harvest, but neither very expensive nor cheap. You need to find a happy medium. 

If you give away wine to a woman, the question is even easier. You can safely buy champagne or a lightly sparkling wine. Some women appreciate good wine, they love red and white wine.

For the beloved woman – here, the things come to slightly hypocrisy - it depends what effect you want to achieve, and if you hope the lady to drink of the wine that evening, you can prepare something that will act as an aphrodisiac, for example heavy red wine.
In any case, the wine is a great choice for a gift, which must be served with lots of love and smiles. 

 

Give Wine Gift Hampers As Healthy Present

In the modern lifestyle is very convenient and takes no time to spend some money in Big Mac, KFC and Subway, who would want to eat spinach? As a result, our fatty diets led behind an epidemic of heart disease. Fortunately, scientists have worked hard and have found that certain foods are especially beneficial for the good work of the heart. Here the list of foods to include regularly in your diet:

Oatmeal

Oats belonging to the group - whole grains. Whole grains include whole grains as opposed to refined foods that have been processed to remove the bran and germ. In addition, this process helps for the most duration of the products on the shelves, it also contains very beneficial substances such as vitamins C and E, fiber and antioxidants. Oatmeal, especially those in your morning oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood. It is important to reduce the risk of heart attacks. Some studies in which people are taking daily oatmeal showed lower cholesterol by 18%.
Moreover, whole grains have a low glycemic index, which is a measure of how much a particular food raises blood sugar. Foods with a low glycemic index have a clear health benefits, especially in the prevention of diabetes. Next time you're wondering what to eat for breakfast, do not hesitate and choose oatmeal.

Red wine

Consumed in moderate amounts (100ml - 200ml), Red wine protects the heart. This effect is the presence of antioxidants in red wine, especially resveratrol. Resveratrol can be found in the grape extract, it has several beneficial effects on the heart, including reduction of both bad and total cholesterol in the body. Moreover, resvetatrola and other polyphenols found in red wine has been shown to reduce blood clots by blocking certain components in the blood that causes them. Similar to the effects of aspirin, which is one of the main ways to prevent heart attacks, red wine is also an excellent way to protect your heart.

Recent scientific studies have shown that red wine has the ability to relax arteries, thus reducing blood pressure, of course it comes to no more than one glass of wine. So by making a gift to someone, give a nice wine gift hampers.


Spinach

Spinach and other leafy vegetables contain folic acid, also known as vitamin B9. Although folic acid is mostly known for the fact that when lacking causes damage to the unborn child, new research has found that folic acid can help prevent heart disease by lowering levels of homocysteine ​​in the blood circulating. High levels of homocysteine ​​increase the risk of heart attacks, because of the increase in the daily amount of foods containing folic acid can reduce the chance of cardiovascular diseases.
In general, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can significantly affect the reduction in high blood pressure, which is a major risk for heart problems.

Almonds

Almonds and other nuts are a rich source of mono-and monounsaturated fats, which not only can reduce total cholesterol, but also increase the amount of good HDL cholesterol. Almonds also contain phytosterols, which are naturally occurring steroid found in plants. Phytosterols block the absorption of all types of fat in the intestine. It was found that foods containing at least 0.4 g phytosterols per meal twice daily reduced fat and cholesterol, which in turn became decreased risk of heart disease. Another study showed that a diet rich in nuts risk of chronic heart disease was reduced by 35%.
One of the disadvantages of almonds is their high content of calories, so it is better to limit yourself to a handful of days.

Salmon

Scientific is shown that salmon and other fish are especially beneficial for the heart. The active substance in salmon omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of chronic heart disease in several ways, including lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of clot formation and prevent accumulation of plaque on the walls of blood vessels. Study in the Netherlands, which lasted more than 20 years showed a clear relationship between fish consumption and reduced cases of chronic heart disease. Only one or two servings of fish per week and the risk of heart disease would fall by 30 percent.

Show Attention With Wine gifts

If you're wondering what to give to your close friend, relative, colleague etc, no matter what the occasion is, wine is the perfect gift for everyone. 

Wine gifts are a classic and an elegant and beautiful way to show attention to someone.

Moderate consumption of red wine is a true elixir of youth and beauty.
It contains some ingredients that are very beneficial for the body. Prevents cardiovascular disease, cancer and others.

The people who regularly consume red wine in moderate amounts (a cup or two a day) the risk of heart disease and early death is smaller.

 

The wine reduces the risk of heart attack by 40 percent and the risk of cerebral thrombosis by 25%. The specialists suggest that the consumption of wine has a beneficial effects due to restorative, combined powerful antioxidant that reduces by 40% the risk of cardiovascular disease.
 

According to a study by Dutch researchers, the wine significantly increases life expectancy. People who drink a glass of wine a day will live 3.8 years longer than those who do not consume.

 

The wine reduces memory problems and even prevent Alzheimer's disease in the ratio 80%. This is because it prevents inflammation of blood vessels. Moderate consumption of red wine reduces by 60% the risk of lung cancer in men, according to a report published by the American Association for Cancer Research.
The wine has a protective effect for women, which is against ovarian cancer.

 

Right Champagne or Champagne Gift

Today we will talk about the good champagne and we'll give you some suggestions and tips about how to choose the right champagne or champagne gift. First, one clarification - the popular name "champagne" for sparkling wines, in some places (countries) is wrong. First - champagne are called only wines from the Champagne region in France.
Second - the so-called champagne is made in a complex and time-consuming classical technology, which after some maturing of the wine is added sugar and it ferments for a second time in the bottle, it is naturally aerated, multiple procedures are performed, rotation of the bottles from different angles, cooling to clear etc. The complex operations make the best wines of champagne as "Dom Perignon."

Short dictionary of the inscriptions on the label:

• Dry - (English)

• Semi dry - (English)
• Sec - (French)
• Trocken - (German)
• Dolce - (Italian)
• Prosecco – (Italian)

Brut - dry (the term for "dry" is used specifically for sparkling wines). As dry wines are defined, low sugar content (up to 5 g per liter). The more sugar content (grape or additionally inserted) in a wine, it is called semi-dry, semi-sweet, sweet.

Top 5 world champagnes:

• Louis Roederer's Cristal Champagne - One of the best sparkling wines with resistant golden color with shimmering green light flashes and incredibly enjoyable active bubbles. Very beautiful, delicate nose, starting with dominant aromas of fresh almonds and sweet smell of flowers, revealing the beautiful shade of juicy peaches, white chocolate, caramel and toasted hazelnuts lightly dusted. The taste is full and sensual, caressing the lips.
  
  
  
   
• Dom Perignon - Nose: One of the best sparkling wines with resistant golden color. This wine is full of life, with a fresh nose that dances through a spiral of aromas, blending hints of angelica, dried flowers, pineapple, coconut, cinnamon, cocoa and tobacco . Palate: With fullness in the mouth, it is earthy, smoky, the pearl complexity rises to the surface, highlighted by the spirited warmth of peppery spice. The sensation of intensity develops and melts into a deep, bright heart, fruity, exotic maturity and a slight touch of anise.
• Krug - One of the exceptionally greatest drinks. Perhaps the biggest name in Champagne, which produces big, rich wines can live for many years in the bottle. The composition of this legendary cuvee is stunning - a mosaic of flavors, a blend of three grape varieties picked from set 20 to 25 years old Cru vineyards that form complex cuvée from 6 to 10 different crops - Grand Cuvee.
  Henri Krug: "Krug Grand Cuvee is as a symphony, a composition where all the instruments play together, accompanied each other in total harmony"
• Pommery - Color: Gold with shades of green almond
  Nose: Games and delicate aromas of acacia and lime
  Taste: Soft Fruit, with long flavors tsvezhi
  Very delicate and fresh champagne, suitable for summer aperitif to Gryuyer, Comte Guzher accompanied with carrot sticks and radish, ham or seafood.
• Veuve Clicquot - Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label - With vivid and provocative style, Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label filled with thrill vibrant life full of elegance, presumption and passion. Yellow Label looks beautiful: golden-yellow, with a foaming necklace of tiny bubbles. With so pleasant aroma: initially reminiscent of white fruits and raisins, then vanilla, and finally - a toasted muffin. Note the good balance between the fruity aromas coming from the grape varieties and the warm aroma produced by aging in bottle. The first sip supplies all the freshness and forcefulness so typical of Yellow Label with a symphony of fruit flavors. This constant power to delight makes it ideal as an aperitif, and perfect champagne with which to enjoy seafood or fish. 
  
  
  - Veuve Clicquot – La Grande Dame - La Grande Dame is the ultimate expression of the search for perfection by Madame Clicquot . It is made only in exceptional years. Grapes of eight of the top-ranking Grands Crus. Matures in the wine cellar over six years. Incarnation of the style of Veuve Clicquot, rich, golden and shining color, accentuated by a fine effervescence. Sweet and precious scents. Rich, fruity taste. Infinitely deep and silky texture. Clean and endless finish.

 

 Choose the right Wine Gifts | Dom Perignon - facts and myths

How started the history with the champagne?

At the beginning winemakers were surprised by the unexpected and unpredictable carbonation of their wines after bottling, and in many cases endured total loss due to the bursting of the bottles. Studying and controlling this process took many years. We now know, that this was so because of the cold climate of the region and the early advanced winters. Because of the low temperature fermentation process stopped, the wine was bottled and left to mature. And because of render fermentation, wine bottles still had sugar and wine yeast. With the arrival of spring and warmer temperatures, the yeast comes back to life and began to eat sugars (ie begins secondary fermentation). We know that carbon dioxide in the process of fermentation is released. Because of the fact that the process runs in the bottle, that's why carbon dioxide is collected there. The bottles were from normal glass and were not designed to endure the high pressure, so they exploded, and often were injured and even killed people.

 

But let us return to Dom Perignon. It was found that he was responsible for wine production in Hartville's Abbey near Epernay at the end of the 17th century. Undoubtedly had an exceptional talent and has systematized and refined the making of the familiar red wine. Careful harvesting, quickly pressing the grapes, as well as the mixing of wines from different vineyards - this was a precedent for its time and practice for Dom Perignon. He managed to get white wine suitable for aging with very good quality. Unfortunately for him and his assistants the bubbles in wine were a sign of poor quality.

The champagne, to become synonym of sparkling, took another two centuries. In the early 19th century, the British managed to produce extremely strong bottle that can withstand high pressure and at about that time arrived the first cork from Spain. Because the bubbles in champagne, the alcohol in it connected faster with blood and creates a festive and euphoric feeling, that quickly made fashionable drink among the English and the French aristocracy.
Techniques for the making of champagne were perfected, but not without the financial support of the big retailers at this time. The process became more predictable, and the losses from the exploded bottlels, smaller.

Types of champagne:

• Blanc de noris - wine (translated as white from red) made only from red grapes - Pinot Noir and Pinot Munich
• Brut - dry wine with a sugar content of less than 15 g / l
• Extra Brut - sugar content from 0 to 6 g / l
• Sec - sugar content of 17 to 35 g / l, which means semidry
• Demi sec - sugar content of 33 to 50 g / l
• Doux - sweet

Benefits of champagne

Consumption of champagne can give you pleasure and make you feel pretty good. This in itself is no small benefit, but champagne wines are hiding many more advantages. Research specialists proved that champagne helps the heart, reducing the risk of disease like Alzheimer's disease. Exquisite drinks, lowers cholesterol and protects from stroke, improves heart activity and circulation. It is believed that most antioxidants are found in the pink champagne.

It has been proven that daily consumption of champagne, has no harm, 1-2 times daily. In general, alcoholic drinks are high-calorie, but one cup of the beverage contains only 91 calories. The diet should be balanced and healthy mix of different food groups. It is advisable for women not to consume more than 2 small glasses a day.

That's why we suggest you to try some very nice and good quality champagne, with which you can also make an amazing Christmas champagne gift

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Christmas wine gifts

The wine is sufficiently neutral, but at the same time an original gift that can be given to almost anyone. At the same time, with careful selection, this gift can express your personal attitude and respect for the individual. Knowing the tastes and preferences of the recipient, you can choose a drink that would pleasure, but this is the message of each gift. What kind of rules should be guided to make the right wine gift? The first step in the right direction, is to define the amount you are willing to spend on a bottle. This step determines much of your next action. And it is not completely true that the higher price will necessarily guarantee successful choice.

The individual approach, opens quite wide budgetary frameworks. Once you have handled with the financial limits, consider what wine would be most interesting to give away - white or red, dessert or completely dry. Right here, is the time to remember everything about the tastes, preferences, even dreams of the people, for whom you choose the bottle. Try not to make uninspiring choice, subordinated to most popular and advertised label. Your friend will thank you kindly, but it is better to choose for example a wine from country, whose culture he is fascinated, or in the last vacation has visited and has consistently sighed for the romantic experience there. 

For special occasions such as Christmas wine gifts, engagement, wedding or birthday of a young lady, the most suitable is champagne. For business gifts are preferred dry fine wines. And last personal touch of this universal gift you can give using original packaging, accompanied by a beautiful accessory such as Wine glasses.

Choose the right Wine Gifts | Dom Perignon - facts and myths

Champagne is the true epitome of luxury and good taste victory ... Its name comes from the Champagne region (about 1 hour from Paris), the only place where the climate and terroir allows the production of this brilliant and iconic French wine.

Facts and myths
 

Dom Perignon Champagne is familiar to any fan of sparkling wines. With the mere mention of his name, is already doing a given moment or occasion, especially solemn and special.

Dom Perignon is the most prestigious brand of Moet & Chandon. It is named after the famous monk, born around 1640 in a small town east of the Champagne region. Secular name was Pierre Perignon. At the age of 19, he enrolled in the Benedictine Order at the Abbey of St. Van at Verdun. Dom Perignon was remarkable grower and winemaker. When he was only 28 years old, he was elected as a master winemaker of the Abbey. It is believed that Dom Perignon was the first one, who has successfully preserved the local sparkling wine in glass bottles and sealed them with Spanish cork plugs. 
 

It is a phrase attributed to him, "Come quickly! Trying stars! ", spoken at the moment when he attempted the first grand champagne. The contribution of the monk from the monastery" HotViler ", consists in the invention of the procedure for the production of champagne: the careful checking of aging bottles to remove the sludge, the addition of tirage liquor for secondary fermentation and the use of corks to seal the bottles. All this, together with the provision of healthier bottles to resist the additional pressure, has allowed the commercial product from Champagne to start its development back in 1700.

In 1794 (nearly 80 years after the death of Dom Perignon), Moet & Chandon buys the monastery "Hotviler" and in the beginning of XX century takes the name of the monk about his new luxury and prestige champagne. Champagne Dom Perignon is produced in two varieties - Brutus and Brutus rose - in two packs - 750 ml and 1.5 liter. They choose only the best vintages that stand significantly above the average quality and enjoy really on great demand. For example, vintage 1990 is recognized and honored as one exceptional champagne. For theVintage 1996, sommeliers explained: "It was a very" confused "year - unstable summer with insufficient moisture which would be able to compensate for the lack of rain early in the season. Thanks to, the periods of very hot weather in August (grape harvest was between September 16 and October 1) this vintage can boast with a very good maturity and unique balance between concentration and acidity.

Stand out and its exclusive characteristics - "pale yellow color with golden glow, scent of white peaches, sugared lemons vanilla, candy and white pepper. The taste of this vintage, which compete with the concentration and the balance is magnificent the structure - very good, concentrated, although initially reserved. Vintage 1996 leaves a feeling of lasting enjoyment and magnificence. "Partially supported by the glamor of Hollywood stars as their favorite drink, champagne 'Dom Perignon' has built its reputation as the most famous and favorite champagne in the world. His presence 8 specialized stores and excellent restaurants has long been an established indicator for style and quality. The name of this champagne has become synonymous with high class and status.  

Wine Gifts "Dom Perignon" are the way that only the best would exclaimed in the spirit of the monk from "Hotviler" "Try the stars!" ...

Why to choose Wine as a gift

Bottle of Wine - Perfect gift for the upcoming holidays

Wine can be completely impersonal and trivial gift, can be elegant and cleverly distanced gesture, can be playfully humorous or filled with tenderness and intimate expectation gift. Many people believe that properly packaged bottle can always do the job when you need something to give. Each gift is a form of communication and precisely wine is among the most expressive examples.

The wine is unique gift. Gift that you can do to your loved one, an old friend, colleague, partner. Gift that is suitable for every occasion and for everyone. If you give wine as a gift, it is important to choose good, quality wine, whether it is white, red or rosé.

A beautiful wine gift hamper and other different kinds of sweet or salty things in it, will be perfect gift that will delight anyone.

Is there anything more pleasant than when you get home after a long and tiring day to enjoy the evening and rest by the fire with a loved person beside you and a glass of red wine in hand ... A glass of good red wine as Mountadam The Red 2006 can do an excellent job.

If you want white wine and love, or you want to give someone here is Cape Mentelle Chardonnay 2008. The wine has a very gentle and nice smell, and the taste is exceptionally nice and delicious.

If you decide for more gentle variant here is the rosé wine. Chandon Pinot Noir Rosé 2010 is light and unpretentious of taste, but that does not valid for the pink champagne!

The last thing to say is, enjoy the good wine and you will not regret it.
Cheers!!!
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