December 8, 2022 - Extra Helpings

Choose the best wines to bring to a party

Easy, Affordable Gifts

Strategy: Get great value by purchasing a pack of six bottles of wine and dividing it up as thank-you gifts for coworkers, friends, or handyman who fixed that leaky pipe.
Reds: Look for red wines that can pair well with food or be consumed on their own. Something light like a Pinot Noir will please everyone on your list.
White: Chardonnay is the perfect rich white wine for the Holiday season.

Special Gifts

Strategy: Make the recipient feel special the moment the bottle is unwrapped. Give memorable bottles that will surprise and delight the recipient.
Reds: Consider gifting an older bottle. A bottle that has been aged over 7 years will have a mellow complexity that makes it a special gift.
Whites: Consider a lesser-known varietal like Chenin Blanc or Vermentino. Of course, you can never go wrong with a beautiful bottle of sparkling wine.

Office Holiday Party

Strategy: Keep the focus on chatting, reconnecting, and reminiscing with co-workers. Choose fruity, spicy wines that stand up to hearty winter fare.
Reds: Bone-warming, palate-coating reds like Malbec or Syrah.
Whites: Versatile, crowd-pleasing wines like Sauvignon Blanc.

Family Holiday Dinner

Strategy: Take the lead and pick out a few bottles to minimize group decision making. Try choosing a few special wines you wouldn’t uncork on an ordinary weeknight.
Reds: Please every palate by selecting two red wines. Go for a fruity and concentrated red that complements rich holiday foods, such as a Rioja, along with a lighter blended bottle. Consider serving a dessert wine like Port to end dinner on a high note.
White: Choose a crowd pleasing white, like Chardonnay or Viognier, that has the heft to stand up to everything on the table.

Gathering Among Friends

Strategy: Make it all about the party, not the wine. Choose a bottle that everyone will love, but not so good that it’s the subject of discussion.
Reds: Try a wine that everyone is likely to be familiar with, like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. These approachable wines make cheerful party pours.
White: Get two: a sparkling wine, and a quaffable white from Spain, such as a fruity Albariño.

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The holidays are about two things: celebrating the people you love, and eating. Our holiday gift guide helps you combine two. Our team of test kitchen chefs picked out the best kitchen gifts for people who love to cook, whether they’ve mastered risotto or are just trying out grilled cheese.

Kitchen Gift Ideas

Microplane

I’ve gifted this to my mom and my partner, and they’ve both told me how it has revolutionized their cooking. You can use it to zest citrus, make garlic paste, and create fluffy clouds of cheese—it’s a small grater with lots of possibilities. — Annabel Epstein

Citrus squeeze

Being quarantined has led to a lot of at-home cocktail making sessions, which have been made significantly more enjoyable (and efficient) thanks to my citrus squeeze. From margaritas and palomas to sidecars and sours, making a big batch of drinks in a short amount of time has never been easier. This is the perfect gift for people who love cocktails. I also use it all the time for curd. — Lauren Katz

11-inch Nonstick Fry Pan by Scan Pan

nonstick frying pan gift for people who love to cook

This is one of the best nonstick pans I’ve ever used. It can brown anything, and food won’t stick. It’s also a wonderful size; it’s big enough to cook a lot, but not so large that it feels unwieldy. This is one of the best gifts for people who like to cook, or for someone who is just getting started in the kitchen. — Lisa Appleton

Prep Bowls

These bowls are my go-to kitchen gift idea. I truly believe that a set of great prep bowls will set any home cook up for success in the kitchen. They’re perfect for organizing your mise en place, and they can also double as storage containers for leftovers in the fridge. — Kristen Merris-Huffman

Olive Wood Wooden Spoon

gift for people who love to cook olive wood spoon

A good wooden spoon is one of the most underrated and versatile tools in the kitchen. It won’t damage or scrape your pans, and it’s perfect for sauteing and stirring. Durable and attractive, a sturdy wooden spoon is an essential part of the home cook’s kitchen. —John Adler

Slotted Spatula

Also known as a fish spatula, this tool can do so much more than its name suggests. I love it for flipping pancakes, pressing down latkes, or gently scraping under the crispy cheese that starts to puddle around a grilled cheese sandwich. It’s such a precise tool that allows you to get really close to your food. This is a great gift for a cook who already owns most of the basics. — Claire King

Baking Dish Set

This set has the only two sizes of baking dish you’ll ever need. The small one is perfect for a few chicken breasts while the larger is great for a lasagna. The white ceramic is super durable and transfers heat well, while also being simple and stylish. — Diane Casner

Find these gifts and more on the Blue Apron Market.

Daily Archives: December 8, 2022

The Best Wines to bring to a Holiday Party