Yes, I will confess that I wait until the last minute to do Christmas shopping. The problem is compounded by my wife’s birthday, which comes just five days before Santa Claus. That means additional gifts and, of course, they must be packaged separately and in non-Christmasy wrapping paper.
My problem is, I don’t get in the holiday shopping spirit until the big day gets close. Kudos and applause for those who complete their Christmas shopping in October, but I will never be part of that posse.
Thankfully there are still some thoughtful gifts – and by that I mean wine – that you can purchase at the last minute. Case in point is the beautiful gift that arrived the other day from L’Ecole No. 41 winery in Walla Walla, Washington. The Wine & Chocolate Lovers Collection includes two bottles of superb Washington wine: the 2018 Estate Syrah and the 2020 Old Vines Chenin Blanc.
In addition to the two beautiful bottles, the gift set includes artisan chocolates from Petit Noirs. There are two packages of chocolates, one for red wine and one for white. Selections include cool candies such as Tart Cherry Star Anise and Coconut Coriander.
There is also a branded L’Ecole corkscrew to make it a truly DIY gift. It is attractively packaged for easy wrapping – or just stick a bow on it.
Before we get too carried away, a quick note. The wine and chocolate gift sets, priced at $115, have sold out. But hold on! L’Ecole has a great assortment that ranges in price from $79 to $385. The cutoff for shipping is December 20 (and that is for 2nd-day air outside the Northwest). One intriguing gift set is the Walla Walla Rise, Shine, & Wine collection. It costs $129 and includes a bottle of the 2018 Estate Merlot, the 2020 Luminesce (white blend), a corkscrew, 12oz of Walla Walla Roastery "Old School" Whole Bean Coffee, and a Washington State wine country insulated tumbler.
C’mon Santa, time to finish off that shopping!
Full disclosure: This awesome gift set was received as a marketing sample.
