5 Thoughtful Gift Ideas for the Holiday Season

Need a little help figuring out what to buy for your friends, family and favorite wine drinkers?  Stop by and check out the local art on the walls, wine related gifts, chocolates, cheeses, and the ultimate gift, a wonderful bottle or two or three of their favorite beverage, beautifully presented in our elegant gift boxes!

But we are not a grab and go store where hundreds of pre-shrink wrapped gift baskets are lined up filled with processed cheeses that don't need refrigeration and generic bottles of wine all dressed in pre-tied red and green bows.  At Swirl, we're about thoughtful gift giving, nice wine and local products that we ourselves like to eat and drink. So give us just a few minutes of your time, we will help you pick the perfect gift and wrap it in something unique; we're here to make you look good! Here are some thoughtful gift ideas to consider and feel free to call us up - we'll figure out what you need, wrap it up and have ready when you arrive!

Original Prints by Shaun Aleman

1. Artfully Local - Nothing captures the uniqueness of New Orleans like locally created and themed paintings, sculptures and works of art.  Mass produced items by an anonymous person or machine can't come close to the energy and creativity of an original piece.  Painted pieces by Shaun Aleman, paper mache sculptures by Brian Bush, glass tiles by Paulette Lizano, handmade leather masks by Julie Stefanski, and colorful "glam" okra art pieces by Jeanne Vidrine all line the walls of the store and start at just $12.

2. Gifts that Tell a Story - While we can make any bottle of wine look good in our black and gold carriers and boxes, we love putting together wines and items that have a theme and tell a story.  One of my favorites is the "Passionate Sicilian"  package that I created on Friday: highly acclaimed red & white wine from Tenuta Della Terre Nere plus a bottle of their delicious, small production extra virgin olive oil.  Or maybe my "Drink Local" pack with wines by our two favorite local producers, James Moises and Vending Machine wines paired with a New Orleans Drink Deck containing discounts at 50 of the city's best bars and hangouts.  My latest is the "Ratings Junkie" a 94 rated Washington State Red with a 95 rated Oregon Pinot, boxed and pretty for under $120... just tell us your budget and let us build you a beautiful gift!

4 pack of Truffles - Photo by imanolagirl

3. "You're So Fine" Chocolate and Wine - Our relationship with local chocolatier Cheryl Scripter of Bittersweet Confections has been a long and tasty one!  We were her very first retail account way back when and have been loyal devotees ever since, making a decision to not carry any other chocolates in the shop.  Let us pair up a bottle of Niner Cabernet, a ruby Port or maybe a Bugey Cerdon with a box of her handmade truffles. Or we can pack up nice gift with an assortment of her smaller items like chocolate dipped salted caramels, peppermint bark or coconut clusters with a wine pairing or two!

4. A Day in the Life of Faubourg St. John - Pick up gift certificates at our favorite neighborhood spots and combine them for a truly unique experience!  Start their day with tickets to an exhibit in the New Orleans Museum of Art or maybe a morning of kayaking on the bayou with Bayou Kayaks, then coffee and pastries at Pagoda Cafe or Fair Grinds.  Next hop over to Lux Salon for a spa day of massage, mani, pedi or even a new 'do!  Then to Swirl for a few glasses of wine and a cheese plate before dinner at one of our wonderful restaurants like 1000 Figs,  Cafe Degas, Santa Fe, Lola's, The Half Shell and more.  It's a great way to treat someone to all of the wonderful things our neighborhood has to offer!

5. It's the Little Things that Count - Sometimes you just need something special and small for a colleague or friend or maybe a little stocking stuffer for a family member.  Our beautiful wood corkscrews, flour sack bar towels, vacuum pumps, wood cheese boards, Drink Decks and specialty olive oils are the perfect answer for $20 and under gifts!

Local Gifts with Heart and Soul

This holiday season Swirl Wine Bar & Market has taken "shopping local" to new level. Bottles of wine made by passionate New Orleanians, accompanied by holiday ornaments handcrafted by local artists with contributions to area non-profits, these unique packages perfect for those looking to do something meaningful with their holiday gift giving.  

A Gift From the Heart

The 2008 Moises Vieux Carre Pinot Noir is made by local doc James Moises, with 2008 representing one of the finest vintages Oregon has ever seen.  As a tribute to his native New Orleans, James has named this combination of two of his favorite vineyards "Vieux Carre" and only produced 100 cases.  Add a handcrafted wood and glass ornament featuring our treasured fleur de lis from our friends David Porretto and Paulette Lizano plus a donation to Steve Gleason's Initiative Foundation that supports ALS research and give a gift from the heart.$65




A Gift with Soul

The 2009 Vending Machine Wines Double Shotgun is a tribute to the New Orleans architectural icon, the double shotgun house, made by local wine producers Monica Bourgeois and Neil Gernon, from some of the top vineyards in California.  With only 150 cases produced, this blend of Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot with its shotgun house label by artist Grant Schexnider is unique on its own, but when you combine it with a handcrafted wooden shotgun house ornament by Shaun Aleman and a contribution to the Preservation Resource Center, you have a truly special gift with New Orleans' soul. $60