nothing more pleasurable and luxurious for a book lover than a summer afternoon at the lake or a winter evening around the fire with a good book and a food and wine gift basket. Begin by choosing an author or authors. It is often easier to match the book rather than wine to the recipient. An English food and wine gift basket is an excellent and eclectic choice for fans of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Charlotte Bronte and the like.

English Wines

Fine English wine, is there such a thing? There is indeed. Wine has a deep history in Britain; some scholars believe that wine was brought in by the Romans at the time of Julius Cesar. What is known for sure, is that the English vineyards and wines, were well established by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The most exquisite of the English wines are: Huxelrebe, Madeleine Angevine 7672, Muller-Thurgau (Rivaner), Reichensteiner, Schonburger, and Seyval Blanc. One or two bottles of any of these fine wines makes an excellent start for an English themed food and wine gift basket.

The Cheese