There is 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

Grand English cheeses are no surprise. Britons have long been known for their excellent cheeses. With so many sumptuous varieties it will be hard to limit them. Here are a few that no English food and wine gift basket should be without: Dorset Blue Vinney cheese, Cheshire cheese, Dunlop cheese from Scotland. Huntsman cheese (an absolutely divine blend of Stilton and Double Gloucester), Sage Derby cheese,and Kidderton Ash

The Bread

Wine, cheese, and bread are often thought of as the holy trinity of food and wine gift baskets. Add some light rye and sturdy crackers and your basket will have all the essentials of an epicurean delight. Surely any guests that you have will be equally delighted with this basket.

Finishing Touches

Now is the time to add the finishing touches to make the experience bubble through an afternoon or evening. Be sure to include a novel or two, Jane Austen's Persuasion, Charles Dicken's Great Expectations or Thomas Hardy's Silas Marner. Add some Walkers shortbreads Earl Grey tea, and a small British Union Jack flag and you are good to go.

For a lighter by similarly decadent basket for your ardent short story reader you can quickly put together an English wine and chocolate gift basket and a collection of Charles Dickens' short stories and essays. You simply can't go wrong.