Holiday Giving

There is just over a week left before Christmas and we bet that there are still a few people on your shopping list that you have yet to buy a gift for. Throughout the year, we’ve collected a list of our favorite food and wine products and we’re sharing the best with you to help give your gift-giving a much needed jumpstart. From decadent chocolates to local artisan honey, these gifts are sure to please everyone on your list.

Woodhouse Chocolates

The Anderson Family makes some of the best handmade chocolates you can find. Located in a small shop in downtown St. Helena, Woodhouse uses nothing but the highest quality ingredients and creates unique flavor combinations that melt in your mouth. Pick up a mix of chocolates in their festive red holiday box at their St. Helena store or order online at www.woodhousechocolates.com. Looking for a great stocking stuffer - we highly recommend the caramels dipped in milk or dark chocolate and topped with a sprinkling of Fleur de Sel.

Katz and Company Honey

It’s no secret that Katz and Company products are a favorite of ours and their California honeys are no exception. They make five varieties – Raspberry Flower, Citrus Blossom, Black Button Sage, Wild Blackberry and Wildflower. Each has a distinct and intoxicating flavor. You can find them in local specialty grocery stores like Dean & Deluca, Whole Foods Market, Sunshine Foods, Fourth Street Pasta Shop (in Berkeley) and many more locations throughout the Bay Area. You can also buy them online at www.katzandco.com.

Bread and Budder Buckets

We recently discovered these brightly wrapped buckets that are perfect for chilling a bottle of wine. In an old warehouse in Georgia, these galvanized steel buckets are transformed into artful pieces using fabrics and even vintage textiles. You can find them at the Sonoma Home store in downtown Sonoma or online at www.breadandbudder.com.

Napa Soap Company

We know it’s not food or wine, but Napa Soap Company makes some soaps that are so yummy, you almost want to eat them. With names like Soapignon Blanc and Tea-no Grigio, you can’t resist picking up a few bars. Napa Soap Company also makes lotions, dish soap, and great smelling household cleaners. And the chef in your life will be thrilled to get a bar of their Serious Chef’s Soap made with deodorizing properties like fresh coffee and peppermint essential oil to remove those tough kitchen odors. You can visit their store (and watch them make their soaps) located at 651 Main Street in St. Helena or order online at www.napasoapcompany.com.

Artisanal Cocktails

Scott Beattie moved to Healdsburg in 2005 to develop the bar program for the highly acclaimed Cyrus Restaurant. While tending the bar at Cyrus, Scott learned to combine fresh ingredients from the local farmer’s market to make unique seasonal cocktails. Scott recently released Artisanal Cocktails: Drinks Inspired by the Seasons From the Bar at Cyrus. The book follows the four seasons and provides tips and recipes for 50 different seasonal cocktails. Purchase online at Amazon.com or at www.scottbeattiecocktails.com.

Written by Linzi