This Holiday Season, Get From Givers

Holiday entertaining is in full swing and party-goersbenefit The Naperville Area Humane Society. Their
have a festive opportunity to reconnect with familyholiday hostess gift suggestions with suggested retail
and friends. As giving a bottle of wine is a popularprices include:o Gloria Ferrer California Brut Sparkler
hostess gift, this is a timely subject. Taking it a step(90 pts. Wine Spectator) $16o Graham's Six Grapes
further, it is appropriate to recommend wines from(Ruby) Port Wine $19o Jackson-Triggs Canadian Ice
merchants who have a giving nature and activelyWine (89 pts. Wine Spectator) $20
support not-for-profit organizations in our community.Costco donates product to not-for-profits to help
Wines as hostess giftswith fundraisers and feeding people in need. Some of
Wine continues to grow in popularity in this countrythe organizations that support include the United
and is now produced in all 50 states, giving thisWay, NCO, the Children's Miracle Network and
beverage universal appeal. Wine can be one of theLoaves & Fishes. Their holiday hostess gift
simple pleasures in life that you share with family andsuggestions with suggested retail prices include:o Dr.
friends. Its popularity makes it an ideal hostess giftLoosen Beerenauslese (BA) Riesling Gift Box $16o
and it can be an expression of your friendship. HereWarres 10 year Tawny Port (90 pts. Wine
are several tips for selecting wine as a hostess gift:oSpectator) $20o Kirkland Signature Brut (French)
Bring a wine that complements the menu.o If a wineChampagne (90 pts. Wine Spectator) $22
lover is hosting, bring their favorite varietal.o If theTrader Joe's donates food to not-for-profit
host is a new acquaintance, bring a bottle you enjoyorganizations including Loaves & Fishes, DuPage
and use this as an ice breaker.o Champagne/sparklersPADS and the Power Connection in Bolingbrook. Their
are always festive.o Canadian ice wines are trendyrecommendations with suggested retail prices are:o
and attractively packaged.Martellozo Prosecco Italian Sparkler $7o Trader Joe's
Wine merchantsReserve California Cabernet Sauvignon $10
When we opened up My Chef Catering in NapervilleWhole Foods donates food to not-for-profits including
21 years ago, we knew we were joining aNaperville CARES, District 203 and Loaves &
progressive, vibrant community. While ourFishes. As an example, to help promote the sale of
assumptions were accurate, we also learned thatLoaves & Fishes' new community cookbook
Naperville and the surrounding communities have thetitled "Culinary Comforts," Whole Foods recently
most incredible spirit of volunteerism of any place wedonated food to four area restaurant chefs who
have ever lived (we know this view is shared byprepared their recipes featured in the cookbook. The
many people).restaurants then sampled their dishes at the Whole
We have also found that the business communityFoods store in Naperville. Holiday hostess gift
recognizes its responsibility to give back to thesuggestions with suggested retail prices include:o
community. While this is a vast topic with countlessPresto Prosecco Italian Sparkler $11o Glunz's
acts of humanitarianism, I will focus on several (wine)Vin-Glogg (Scandinavian mulled spice wine - serve
merchants who actively give back to localwarm) $12
not-for-profit organizations. Here are some examplesSo if you're looking for wine as a hostess gift this
of companies with a mission to make a difference:holiday season, give one of these wines a try and at
Binny's conducts wine tastings and designates tastingthe same time, support a merchant that supports our
fees as a fundraiser for not-for-profits. In earlycommunity. It's a win-win to give back to those that
December, they hold their annual Champagne Gala togive. Happy holidays everyone!
benefit Little Friends. They also hold tastings to