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13 Under $20 Wines Perfect For Hostess Gifts

partysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:15:34 -0800

Do you have an iPhone? Then stop what you're doing right now and download the Nirvino (my preferred online drinking community) wine ratings guide. With over one million wines listed by name, price, grape varietal, flavor profile, region, and producer, the wine application is an amazing resource to always have at your fingertips.

Not only does it provide food pairing suggestions, but there's also lots of fun lists to browse. Food Network's Aida Mollenkamp shares her favorite wines to drink while cooking, Sommelier Mark Bright rounded up his top bottles from Whole Foods, and yours truly has even created a list!

I headed to Safeway to pick out the best wines - all of which are under $20 - for hostess gifts. I've tasted and enjoyed these wines and would bring them to a party. Be it a birthday bash at Hog Island oyster farm, an intimate Thanksgiving dinner, or an upcoming holiday soirée, there's a bottle for every occasion. To check out my list, keep reading.

YumSugar Gift Guide: The Party Girl

partysugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:16:29 -0800

Take note friends and family: These gifts are perfect for the ultimate party girl. I'm talking about the gal who hardly sleeps, is constantly in the process of planning a fabulous soirée, and considers party-hopping her favorite sport.

This gold crocodile wine caddy lets her transport bubbly in style. A pretty cocktail shaker and embellished martini glasses are ideal for mixing drinks at home. For a special splurge, give her a bottle of Cabo Wabo Uno tequila.

Check out the entire selection of party girl gifts below and head to HolidaySugar for more inspiring gift ideas.

Do You Bring Food to a Dinner Party?

YumSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:57:31 -0800

I recently read a story about how you shouldn't bring food if the hostess says not to, and was wondering how you felt about it. When you go to a dinner party, do you bring food even if the hostess says to just bring your appetite?

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YumSugar Gift Guide: The Haute Hostess

partysugar — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:03:19 -0800

I like to consider myself a hostess with the mostess. Entertaining is what I do; it's what I live for. So naturally, putting together a gift guide for the ultimate hostess was incredibly easy. I simply looked for fabulous gifts I would love to receive!

Give the party queens and kings in your life a gift that they can show off while entertaining.

A pretty pot holder, sleek cocktail shaker, or stylish tray are all wonderful options. Or give them a great conversation starter like these introductory cocktail napkins. They break the ice and totally eliminate small talk. For more ideas, scroll below!

Hello Cocktail Napkins ($3.50)	Anthropologie.com Snowflake Pot Holder ($12.00)
Two-Piece Chip and Dip ($32.95)	Wine Club - NapaStyle ($90 per 6-Bottle Shipment every 1, 2, or 3 months)
Coakley Cay Pattern Pink Serving Tray ($100.00)	Cocktail Shaker at Barneys New York ($120.00)

When You Go to a Party, Do You Bring the Host/Hostess a Gift?

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:57:19 -0800

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Edible Shot Glasses: Love It or Hate It

partysugar — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 01:28:33 -0800

I'm really intrigued by these edible shot glasses. They come in two fun kinds: candy cane and mint chocolate. After you shoot the liquor of your choice, you can munch on the shot glass itself! They also add a kick of flavor to anything you put in them. I think they'll make a fabulous hostess gift and am super curious to try them out. What do you think?

Yummy Link: Gifts For Thanksgiving

partysugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:36:33 -0800

When attending Thanksgiving at a friend's house, don't forget to bring a fabulous hostess gift. If you're at a loss for ideas and want to think beyond the typical bottle of wine, check out these wonderful hostess gifts. - Hostess With the Mostess

Giving The Gift Of Wine Glamorously

partysugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:27:57 -0700

When I'm invited to a dinner, party, or bbq and don't have the time to put together a special gift for the hostess, I'll stop by my local wine shop and pick up a bottle for her to enjoy at a later date. I include a nice appreciative note and package the bottle to look pretty. Tying a bow with a satin ribbon makes it look festive, but if you don't have a huge collection of ribbon like I do, think about buying a set of these wine bottle gift bags.

Printed with made up wine notes like, an explosion of blackberries and cranberry zing, these are cheeky and fun. The brown bag material gives them a sense of eco-awareness while the silver lettering makes them celebratory.

Although I don't advocate re-gifting, these bags can be recycled and reused for other wine gifts. Get them while they are hot, a set of 6 is only $12.00, and I don't know about you, but I'm ordering two.

Source: Hostess Blog

Host/Hostess Gifts: What To Bring To A Dinner Party

partysugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 06:01:38 -0700

So you've been invited to a dinner party and the inevitable question looms: Gift for the host, yes or no? You may be thinking, it's only a dinner party, so why should I bother to bring something for the hostess? Well, simply put, you should because it's common courtesy! If a friend or relative has taken the time to invite you into their dining room for a homemade meal, you must return their efforts and express your thanks. For an informal dinner party, an extravagant gift is not necessary, don't spend more than $20. An interesting bottle of wine, a fragrant jarred candle, or a fun salt and pepper serving plate are exceptional gifts that will delight and please any hostess. For close friends, splurge on an animal print serving tray. Baked goods, like a coffee cake that the hostess can enjoy the morning after the dinner, or a small bag of crisp and delicious cookies show your host that you appreciate the invitation to dine. Lastly, my all time favorite gift is a large, beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers from a friend's garden. Likewise if you have ripe fruit trees or an abundance of fresh mint, give the home grown produce to your hostess. Do you have any great host/hostess gift ideas? Share them with us in the comments!

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Hostess Etiquette: Offer Your Edible Gifts

partysugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:01:16 -0800

Recently geeksugar told me a story I found rather traumatizing. Apparently a friend of hers had taken the day off of work early to make a labor intensive dessert - cream puffs - to bring to a party she was attending that night. The party was a potluck in which everyone was asked to bring a dish. Unfortunately someone else brought ice cream and her dessert was shown up. The host failed to offer the cream puffs as an alternative to the ice cream and the poor girl who made them never even got to taste one! Her attempts to motivate the host into serving them went unnoticed and being a respectful guest, she wouldn't even think of asking for the cream puffs at the end of the night. We can all learn an important lesson from this example of a bad host. If guests bring a homemade dish into your house that they have made specifically for the occasion (not just for you) be sure to thank your guest by serving it to your crowd. Another moral of the story is to assign each guest a category when planning a potluck to avoid multiple dessert dishes. Lastly, when showing up at an event armed with fresh goods from your kitchen be sure to let the host/hostess know if they are for the party or for him/her to enjoy at his or her own convenience.