Last updated on December 3rd, 2024
Are you looking for a unique idea for a wine connoisseur this holiday season? Maybe you are in charge of preparing an auction basket for an upcoming charity. Whatever the reason or occasion, this DIY Italian wine gift basket is suitable for any occasion and budget.
It’s easy (and fun!) to create your own DIY Italian wine gift basket from scratch. I’ve included my tips on how to arrange it, how to personalize it and which items you should include based on products that I love to share with my friends and family who love wine (or Italy!).
This guide will help you feel confident building your own DIY Italian wine gift basket for this holiday season, birthday or other celebration. Salute!
This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase from the links, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Please see our Disclaimer for more information.
Jump to Section
How To Create A DIY Italian Wine Gift Basket
Choose a selection of items from my suggested Italian wine items below. You want to choose an array of items that cover most categories:
- Glassware
- Italian Wines
- Wine Accessories
- Italian snacks to pair with wine
- Italian wine books
You don’t need to include every item on my list to create a great DIY Italian wine gift basket.
Tip: Be sure to think about your budget. DIY Italian wine gift baskets easily get expensive so be sure to keep this in mind when selecting items. If you are buying very nice wines, maybe skip the wine book or choose less expensive glassware.
Choose a basket size based on how many items you want to include. You want the basket to look full. When in doubt, choose a smaller basket or box that will be overflowing with items rather than a large basket with empty space.
Think about the person receiving this DIY Italian wine gift basket. Does he/she prefer white wine? Bubbles? Does the person already have a ton of wine glasses? If he/she travels often, opt for travel wine bags.
My Tips For Tailoring Your DIY Italian Wine Gift Basket
It’s true that you can just throw all of these items into a basket and make a pretty nice gift but to make it even more personal (or for wine newbies), consider creating a handwritten pairing list by doing a little research based off of what you know or using my quick guide here:
How To Create A Handwritten Pairing List
Buy a simple card or nice cardstock and include some of the following information which will help the person actually enjoy this DIY Italian gift basket as much as possible.
Wine Pairings for Your Basket
- Barolo – Pair with: Parmigiano Reggiano, salami, and truffle honey
- Pinot Grigio – Pair with: Pecorino Toscano, olives, and fig jam
- Prosecco – Pair with: Mixed charcuterie, grissini and crudité
How To Say Cheers In Italian
- Include or make a handwritten card with how to say “cheers” in Italian. Read all about this in How To Toast in Italian.
Glassware
Include just a sample of glassware. I prefer stemless because they fit better in a basket and are less likely to break (keep them in their box to prevent accidents).
Wine Glasses
A set of elegant wine glasses for enjoying the wine makes drinking fine wine even better. Just include two as a sampler.
Find them here -> wine glasses
Italian Wines
Choose two bottles of good Italian wine (red, white, prosecco, rose or a mix). Ordering online makes things easier but you can also go to any liquor store and ask for personal recommendations.
Red Wine
I think a bottle of Barolo or Brunello di Montalcino are the best. They do come with a price tag though. For a more affordable option, opt for a Chiani Classico.
Tuscan Wines: If you need help choosing a Tuscan wine, read Wines To Try In Tuscany.
Find it here -> red wine
White Wine:
A bottle of Pinot Grigio or Vermentino shouldn’t be too expensive. Don’t chill it before adding it to the gift basket. It will just sweat and get your other items damp.
Find it here -> white wine
Sparkling Wine
A bottle of Prosecco or Franciacorta is always nice but can be more expensive. It does open the possibilities to make classic Italian cocktails such as the Campari Spritz or Aperol Spritz.
Find it here -> sparkling wine
Wine Accessories
Wine Saver
A wine saver is an extremely useful tool for folks who drink wine on a regular basis. It allows you to open a bottle of wine and keep it fresh for days.
Find it here -> wine saver
Wine Aerator
A wine aerator enhances the flavor and aroma of the wine. It’s a total luxury item that wine lovers will greatly appreciate.
Find it here -> wine aerator
Wine Charms
Wine charms are either “love them” or “hate them” items. These ones are great because they can be used for stems and non stems.
Find them here -> wine charms
Travel Wine Bags
Reusable wine bags for travel have completely transformed my experience as a U.S. citizen living in Italy. These bags allow me to safely bring back my favorite wines and digestifs.
Find them here -> travel wine bags
Italian Snacks To Pair With Wine
It’s nice to include a couple of Italian snacks to serve with wine for your DIY Italian wine gift basket. Choose based on the size of the basket you have chosen and how much you have already spent on the previously suggested items.
Grissini or Taralli
Grissini or taralli are traditional Italian crackers that are great with wine as an aperitivo.
Find them here -> taralli crackers
Olives
Olives are a classic Italian aperitivo snack to serve alongside a glass of wine.
Find them here -> olives
Crostini Fixings
A small jar of pâté or spread is a versatile food item perfect for adding to your DIY Italian gift basket. It can be used on small rounds of toast to create crostini, a classic Italian food item served with wine. Choose from artichoke spread, pesto, canned truffle goods or Calabrian chili peppers.
Find them here -> crostini fixings
Cheese
Italian cheese, what could pair better with a good bottle of Italian wine? Keep it tightly wrapped and put it in the basket right before gifting (can be left out of the refrigerator for 24 hours if cool out).
Find it here -> Italian cheese
Wine Books
I am a book lover so I always suggest adding some kind of book to either keep track of your wines or to learn more about what you are drinking.
About Italian Wine
About Italian wine gives a ton of good, reliable information for folks who are new to wine.
Find it here -> About Italian Wine book
Wine Journal
Choose this journal to help keep track of what wines you have tried, like or don’t like. If the person you are gifting this DIY Italian wine gift basket already knows a lot about wine, this is a better choice.
Find it here -> wine journal
Italian Gift Basket Ideas:
How to Make an Italian Food Gift Basket
The Perfect Italian Pasta Gift Basket
Italian Gift Basket for a Verified Foodie
Italian Wine Gift Basket
If you want to learn about other Italian items I adore and recommend, check out my Italian Gift Guides and Souvenir Guides.
