If you’re already at your wits’ end thinking about the holiday season and how that means that you’ll have to spend hours agonizing over what to buy for each and every person on your ever-growing list, look no further. Wine and cheese gifts can be given to everyone, except the lactose-intolerant for sure, and they’re super easy to put together.

In addition, this is a newer take on the old sausage and cheese baskets that used to be given during the holiday season. The new version features cheeses, and perhaps grapes, along with a bottle of wine that is specifically chosen to complement the cheeses in the basket. The wine and cheese gift is one that you can put together on your own in no time, or for a higher price, you can buy them all put together, ready to be given.

A Few Pointers

Although there are endless options when it comes to choosing a few cheeses to put into a wine and cheese gift, it’s best to choose cheeses that are fairly neutral. You don’t want to choose the sharpest of the sharp bleu cheeses available. Bleu cheese is a good choice, but try to go for a milder one such as Bleu d’Auvergne instead of a harsh Danish blue; the chances of the cheese being appreciated by the recipient rise as the novelty level of the cheese falls. Of course, if you’re putting together a wine and cheese gift for a close friend and you know that the person really enjoys Morbier, go for it. However, the average American is not going to find this cheese a gift, more like a curse on all living things in the refrigerator!

Also, try to choose two cheeses that are from similar taste families. For example, selecting a wine to go into your wine and cheese gift is very difficult if you’ve chosen a mild mozzarella and the overbearing Morbier. There just are many wines that truly complement both cheeses. Try to choose two young cheeses or two old cheeses. If choosing a cheese with spices in it, try to choose another cheese that complements the previous spice well. It’s also a good idea to try to imagine the wine that you will pair with the cheese when giving it as a gift of wine and cheese. If you can’t imagine a good wine that would go with it, you might want to rethink your cheese selections.