Christmas Gifts for Foodies and Wine Lovers

I love how popular food has become. Of course, people always liked food, but I think in the last few years our collective knowledge of food and cooking has been taken to new heights, thanks largely to reality TV cooking competitions. These days there are more foodies than there are the ‘steak and three veg types’ and that is awesome. Wine is gradually getting there too, and there are a lot of people who want to learn more about it. So I thought I would help you out with Christmas shopping for all the foodies and wine lovers in your life.

Christmas Gifts for Foodies and Wine Lovers:

Sourdough Starter Kit

Just about everyone entertains the idea of making their own bread at some stage but very few of us actually get around to it, despite it being remarkably easy. Sourdough is the best kind of bread – chewy and tangy in all the right ways, and the world’s best accompaniment to poached eggs. It is also really healthy with a low GI, good bacteria for your tummy, and a more digestible form of gluten for those that are slightly sensitive. My buddy Clare from The Life of Clare, has just started selling her Sourdough starter Kits, complete with all the instructions needed. For just $27 your loved one can get started on their sourdough journey and the added bonus is that you might score some freshly baked bread too. She also does Kombucha kits if you want to get into some fermented tea.

The Key to Wine

Ever wondered how much difference the glass shape makes to the aroma and flavour of wine? I did my own little case study earlier this year and it seems that the shape of a wine glass does affect the flavour. Riedel’s The Key to Wine glass set ($99) will mean that your favourite wine geek will have the right shaped glass for any varietal.

Saturday Lollipop

If you think about food all day you might as well wear it too. Saturday Lollipop is one very talented stay-at-home-mum making the most gorgeous food-themed jewellery. She has plenty of Christmas themed gifts, or you can give your friends their favourite food in jewellery form. Her website has all her latest pretties which start at just $28.

Pretty Parcel

Ok, this might be a gift to self. The lady behind Pretty Parcel is the sister-in-law of Saturday Lollipop (how much talent can one family have!). Shannon designs and handmakes her range from her home in Victoria and loves a food-inspired print. I have a number of her dresses and keep adding to them because they are the most comfortable, beautiful quality clothes I have ever owned. Quite an addiction. The range is available on the Pretty Parcel online store and Shannon is delightful to deal with if you have any questions about sizing.

Hackit

One of the newest kitchen utensils to hit Australia, I wrote a review of Hennie, my Hackit, a few months ago. Since then it has become indispensable for breaking up mince when I am cooking and is also perfect for mashing banana for my weekly banana bread breakfast loaf. This is the go-to gift for the cook that has everything. At $19.95 it is very affordable and comes in a variety of colours.

Wine Tasting Party in a Box

For the friend or relly who loves to entertain and who loves wine (please tell me we all have someone like that in our lives), Pearl from Pretty Mayhem has put together the Wine Tasting Party in a Box with everything you need for a perfect night of wine and cheese. Pearl is an absolute party guru (do check out her gorgeous blog) and I am so excited about the new party packs she has created. 

Ice Cream Scoop

‘Random’ I hear you say. But a good quality ice cream scoop is a must-have in any foodie’s kitchen. There is nothing more Instagram-worthy than a well put-together cone, and a self-releasing scoop does wonders for producing mess-free evenly-sized cupcakes.

Superhero Apron Sets

Do I really need to elaborate? It’s not always so acceptable for adults to dress up in superhero costumes day-to-day but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to. However, it is perfectly acceptable to wear a Batman apron – every single day. You also have the option of Wonder Woman or Superman. Available from Typo 

Metrokane Aerator

Beautiful decanters are always appreciated by wine lovers and come in a range of styles and price tags but I’ve recently become a fan of the Metrokane Aerator ($79.95). Using a decanter involves pouring the whole bottle of wine very carefully into a decanter, and stopping before you reach the sediment (in an older or unfiltered bottle) – it involves a bit of skill and practice. Sometimes I can’t be bothered though, or sometimes I just want one glass. This handy little aerator contains a filter that traps the sediment so there is no risk of gritty wine and you can use it in a decanter or directly into your glass. A little bit more oxygen also helps you get the most out of any glass of wine.

Decanter Cleaning Beads

This is the perfect gift for your wine-loving uncle. There is nothing more annoying than a stained decanter and their shape usually means it can be quite hard to get a bottle brush to reach the inside surfaces. The Riedel decanter cleaning beads (19.95) do the scrubbing for you. Environmentally friendly too.

Food Throw Cushions

I bought my friend this cheese pillow for her birthday and ever since have been considering getting one for myself. I am quite the fan of quirky home decorating. But if the foodie in your life loves doughnuts or ice cream or burgers then Redbubble has the throw cushion for you. If you aren’t familiar with Redbubble, it is a wonderful online store where independent artists can submit their designs to be printed onto a huge range of clothing or homewares. The artist gets a percentage of every item sold and this allows their work to reach a vast audience.

Personalised Wine Pack

There is a touch of nepotism here, the lady behind these packs is a very dear friend of mine. If you live in Australia and want to buy a gift of wine for someone in your life, Village Vineyard (in Clifton Hill, Melbourne) does up these delightful gift packs. A six-pack starts as low as $90 (but becomes a bit more unique and exciting at $100+) plus postage, and each wine is accompanied by a tag with tasting notes and a food matching suggestion. The wine selection can be adapted to your giftee’s tastes and Village Vineyard focusses on stocking wines from smaller independent producers. This is perfect for someone who wants to learn a bit more about wine and try some new and interesting things but would be equally appreciated by a winegeek (just let me know if you want my postal address 😉 ).

Do you have any more suggestions? What have I missed?

Disclosure: This post is not sponsored in any way. I received a Metrokane aerator, a Hackit, The Riedel glasses, and the Batman apron set as part of previous collaborations and am including them here because I think they are fantastic. All mentions of products from people I know is simply because they are awesome