Choosing the right basket.

When choosing your empty basket, try to see if you have a basket that is lying around at your house. As long as it is still in perfectly good condition, it is acceptable to re-use it. It can also be a basket than you have previously received as a gift or any other container that you feel will be appropriate.

Be creative

Do not be scared to let your imagination run wild. Try using themed -based containers or experiment with different colors. An idea would be to use a red basket if the gift is intended for a special someone or Valentine's Day. You can include more than one bottle of wine or exotic fruits like mangoes for a more tropical theme. Try to include food than area bit unusual to give your basket extra character and really make an impression. You can always also find baskets a craft shops and are usually inexpensive.

Choosing the wine

If you visit your local liquor store, chances are that there is an area where discounted bottles of wine are kept for reasons like close outs or maybe that they were not strong sellers. This section is the perfect place to find the discounted wine needed for your discount wine gift basket. The prices are often marked down by 25% to 50% off the original price.

If you are not going to give the gift in the very near future, it pays to visit your local liquor store before and try to find out off the store manager as to when the store moves its current stock to the discounted section. If you are preparing a gift for Christmas or nay gift giving season, try to get in early in order to get the best deal possible. Getting in early will also mean that you will have a wider choice for your gift baskets.

The right food for the occasion

When you are deciding on what type of food to add to the discount wine gift basket, try to stay focus on the theme that you are trying to achieve. If you have been invited to dinner with Italian on the menu, try to include packets of dry pasta, cans of crushed red tomatoes, a jar of sun-dried tomatoes, anchovies, olives or even herbs like basil or oregano and of course a nice bottle of red. Including items that project a theme will not only make your life easy but will definitely get your message across.

A bottle of red wine and some dark chocolates can make a healthy but non expensive wine gift basket and add to that a nice box of crackers and some other delicious spreads and cheeses and you have yourself a simple discount wine gift basket.

For a full gourmet basket, you could include both a bottle of red and white wines or even a bottle of rose wine. Thrown in some pretzels, various mixed nuts, dried fruit, wholemeal crackers or biscotti for added character with some nice cheese spreads and there you have it. Your gourmet discount wine gift basket is ready.

Utensils

To finish your wine gift basket, just include some utensils like a knife, a few plates, a tray, some wine glasses and don't forget the corkscrew.