Van's Gifts Celebrates California’s Renowned Wineries With Our “Wine Country Collection”

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 – LONG BEACH

Imagine the spirit of the Wine Country being brought to your door.  At Van’s Gifts’, we’ve created Wine Gift Baskets that embody and showcase the very essence of California's Wine Country and the distinctive vineyards within the region.  From the crisp, light-bodied whites to the robust, juicy reds, our exquisitely balanced baskets bring the elegance and excitement of California’s world-renowned wineries.  These include Napa’s Clos Du Val and Grgich Hills Estates as well as Sonoma County’s Kendall Jackson and Chateau St. Jean.

Rightly called the king of red grapes, Clos Du Val’s 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon creates a powerful, full-bodied wine, packed with tastes of ripe cherries and cranberries.  This robust Cabernet displays aromas of black currant, coffee bean and spice, pairing perfectly with the gift basket’s Godiva crème brulee chocolate medallions, Dolcetto cappuccino-filled pastries and Guylian chocolate seashells—an unparalleled level of indulgence.

Across the valley, nestled in the northern tip of Napa Valley, comes the classic 2006 Grgich Hills Zinfandel of the family-owned Grgich Hills Estates.  Made with certified organic and biodynamic grapes, the wine’s refreshing scents of strawberries and raspberries come through hints of all-spice and black pepper. This, of course, complements the Italian herb cheese and Vineyard peppery biscotti, included in the gift basket, and is perfect for any practiced wine connoisseur.

The award-winning Kendall Jackson Chardonnay Vintner's Reserve 2006 combines crisp orange marmalade and hints of lemon oil with mango and tropical fruits from Monterey. The zesty wine won the Double Gold in the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, along with a slew of other medals.  Paired accordingly, it brings out the flavor of the gift basket’s Kasilof smoked salmon filet and all-natural crackers.

Finally, in our “Just Add Music” Gift Basket, we’ve included the rich 2005 Merlot of Chateau St. Jean, a must-see winery in the Sonoma Valley.  With small amounts of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, the aromas of sweet black cherry, plum and toasted almonds can be found in this lush Merlot. These appealing fruits mingle with notes of dark chocolate and clove, completing the gift basket that was an instant hit last season.

With California alone being the world’s fourth largest wine producer, Van’s Gifts’ hand-selected wines feature the top grapes from geographically diverse climates and soils in the region. With tastes that burst off each glass and incredible pairings, Van’s Gifts bundles superb quality in a wonderfully ornate package.

About Van’s Gifts:

Van’s Gifts was founded in 1984 by Reva Colover, who grew the company from a small brick-and-mortar to a leader in the corporate gift-basket industry.  Shipping to most states and tailoring its designs to create gift baskets of every variety, Van’s Gifts specializes in sophisticated packages for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and other occasions.  It carries luxury brands such as Godiva, Dom Perignon, Caymus, and Veuve Cliquot, as well as other fine champagnes, wines and branded products recognized worldwide. For more information visit: www.vansgifts.com.