We have a guest blogger today. Home for winter break and fresh out of her digital media class is our daughter, Brynn. No stranger to the blogging world (she created her own website—wikiKITCHEN—for the above–mentioned class) or to holiday wish lists; she’s just the experienced elf–help we needed to finish off our Wine Lovers Gift Guide {2010}. With only four more shopping days left ’till Christmas, consider this list last–minute suggestions you can order and still receive in time for gift–giving (at a shipping premium, of course). Besides, this list’s theme was our favorite and we couldn’t fathom omitting it due to our usual seasonal time constraints. Thanks, Brynn! Next quarter’s tuition check is in the mail!

 
Category Four: Reclaimed {Recycled} Repurposed

Whether you’re looking for the perfect housewarming gift or a conversation piece that your guests will surely talk about, this Recycled Windshield White Wine Decanter is the ideal gift for wine lovers and party hosts alike. Not only is it perfect for entertaining, but its practical design chills wine using an open ice chamber without diluting it. Handmade in Columbia from recycled car windows and windshields, this decanter from uncommon goods is priced at $50. Unfortunately this gift is currently out of stock, so be sure to check back in 2–4 weeks for its return.

Why not complete your set with Recycled Windshield Wine Goblets ($35) or stemless Recycled Windshield Wine Glasses ($22) from uncommon goods? Made from the same car windows and windshields as the decanter, the cool, green hue of these goblets and glasses makes them all the more ideal for friends and relatives who are “going green.”

Did you know 200,000 hand–crafted oak wine barrels are thrown away by wineries each year in California alone? VivaTerra found a creative way to prolong the lives of 300–year–old oaks with its Wine Barrel Lazy Susan ($129). Perfect for sharing hour d’oeuvres with your guests, this spinning server is made from a fine–grained oak barrel and displays the original marking of the cooperage of origin. For an additional $20, you can customize your Lazy Susan with a stenciling of your gift recipient’s name!

Calling all wine and cheese lovers! Check out these classy Recycled Wine Bottle Platters from uncommon goods. Made from 100% recycled glass in India and Italy, these wine bottle–shaped platters are a stylish way to serve cheese and crackers or display candles at your holiday wine tasting party. Priced at $15 each, you can choose from Chardonnay or Bordeaux. For those of you looking for that something extra, you can combine it with a cheese spreader for an additional $3.

Looking for another creative way to present your food? Made from fine–grained white oak staves from recycled barrels, the
Barrel Stave Breadboard from
VivaTerra has a smooth, vintage oak finish that is excellent for serving hors d’oeuvres with a unique, eco–friendly design. Like the Wine Barrel Lazy Susan, VivaTerra’s breadboard displays a wood–burned stamp of the winery of origin. Alternatively, you can use the board as a large trivet with its raised and footed underside. Priced at $89, this gift can be used for any occasion and can be hung on the kitchen wall by its leather loop.

Another gift from uncommon goods, the Snow Ski Wine Rack, is a fun way to display your favorite wine while maintaining its integrity. Perfect for the wine and snow enthusiast, this gift is handmade by artisans in Massachusetts out of lightly weathered skis. Whether you are hosting a wine party at your winter cabin or enjoy having a year–round reminder of your passion for skiing, this recycled ski wine rack is yet another innovative and stylish gift. Priced at $56, this wine rack comes in gray or red.

Ever wonder what happens to discarded wine bottles? These glasses will have you wondering whether they first held Cabernet, Malbec or Barolo. The “punt” or “kick-up” (the cone–shaped dimple) at the base of these Recycled Wine Bottle Glasses from Signals might be a clue. Because these glasses are made from actual wine bottles of different colors, shapes and thicknesses, each wine glass is unique. Here’s a “green” bonus—the sale of these glasses supports environmental education. You can score a set of four for $21.99 (16 ounce) or $17.99 (12 ounce).
 

 
Check out Category One, Category Two and Category Three of our Wine Lovers Gift Guide {2010}.

 
Disclosure: We received samples of some products mentioned in our Gift Guide.

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