10 Wine Gifts To Give This Holiday

This one is for all of you with wine lovers in your life, and let’s be honest; Life is only worth living with friends who love wine as much as you. Don’t give just any gift this holiday! These wine related gifts are bodacious, unique, and useful. So finish off your gift-giving this year with a vintage bottle and one of these gems that are sure to please the ones you love.

1. Wine Bottle Gift Tag: 

Grape One’s first question, ‘How do you cut the circles out?’ Apparently stamp paper cutters are a thing, especially in the scrap-booking world. Pick one up at any craft store, download the tag templates, and presto! you are the top creative gift giver at every party!

2. Wine-opoly:

Love wine? Like board games? Try this wine-themed take on a classic. Buy wines, learn useless trivia, get your drank on with your favorite group and have a blast!

3. Corkcicle:

For those kinky bitches on your list, a Cockcicle is the perfect gift. It takes a certain kind of someone to dig the sexy feel of an ice-cold dildo, and with a 90 minute freeze time the Cockcicle can be ready to give the big O in no time flat!

What?

Oh. Corkcicle.

Keeps your wine cold or some shit. Nice. 

4. Silicone Wine Glasses:

 For the budget-savvy (and klutzy) on your list: Silicone wine glasses that are virtually indestructible. Go ahead, throw them in the sink, on the ground, at your spouse’s head – as long as they’re empty there’s no clean up!

5. Houndstooth Wine Purse:

A bit more posh than your usual brown paper sack, this tote makes a fantastic bag to gift a bottle of wine and can be reused again and again. There’s even an insulated version to help keep wine chilled on the go.

6. Bottle Bouquet Wine Rack:

What girl doesn’t love a bouquet? Please the wine lover in your life with this snazzy rack that presents bottles in a unique way. PS – fill with wine for maximum gift-giving brownie points.

7. Cherry Pie Moonshine:  

Split this moonshine recipe into mismatched mason jars with pretty ribbons to make a gift unique to each recipient. Note – this ‘moonshine’ is used as a base for other drinks and is VERY strong. The recipe calls for Everclear, a 190 proof grain alcohol not available in many states. Grain alcohol in the highest proof legal in your state can be substituted.

8. Mulled Wine Kit:

Giftees love handmade presents, and Gifters love a gift that is easy to throw together but looks like it took a thousand hours to make. This mulled wine kit fits both bills with gauze-wrapped spices and a handwritten instruction label. Lots of class with little effort!

9: Italian Wine Basket:

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food.” Well, George Bernard Shaw, food and wine, perhaps. This thorough basket combines the best of both worlds for the food/wine lover on your list. Order this basket from Wine.com or create your own!

10. Cork Wine Bottle Holder:

 No reason to choose form over function with this crafty little wine holder that not only dresses up the table but keeps the run-off of condensation from spoiling the decor. Use over again for any season or occasion. The particular holder in the pic is unavailable, but here’s a DIY video. (Note: Grape One suggests you take a bit more time than the video poster, but it’s a good start.)

We really dig the Bottle Bouquet Wine Rack but that Corkcicle could come in handy…

Which one will you be gifting this Christmas? Let us know in the comments!

Drank Recipes: Dranksgiving Edition

Put on your yoga pants. Forget about that waistline you were working on – that’s out the window. It’s Thanksgiving Dinner Time. The Grapes have your back for all your potent potable needs this holiday!  Here are a few drink recipes to get your family drunk on before, during and after Thanksgiving dinner, plus a few non-alcoholic ones for the kiddos. But first some tips to get your gut ready to gobble.

TIP #1:  Eat small for breakfast (but do eat) so you have room to stuff your face.
TIP #2:  Table seating is key. When advancing toward the dinner table make sure you choose a spot where you have pivot room. Just in case you need to jump up for seconds.
TIP #3:  You eye that turkey and it looks dry? Make sure you add gravy for a slicker entry!
TIP #4:  Feeling too full? Go back for seconds! The act of standing up will help stretch that tummy out for round 2.
TIP #5:  Let’s not fall into a turkey coma. Watch the game and get your body moving by cheering on your team of choice. As long as said team is whoever is playing the Lions.

Onward with the Dranksgiving show. Here we go!

Aperitifs:

White Cranberry Mimosa

Mix equal parts Prosecco and white cranberry juice in each glass. You can also add a splash of sparkling Elderflower soda if desired. Garnish with frozen cranberries, et voilà! A perfectly light and crisp drink to get the partay started.

Apple Cider Mimosa

These are all about presentation, but a tiny bit of effort goes a long way. Dip each rim in water, then in gold sprinkles (think cookies, not kindergarten!) Fill 1/2 to 3/4 full with apple cider (G2 advises 1/2), then top with champagne. Cut a notch in an apple slice to garnish. Very easy and VERY cute!

Mocktail: Pink ‘Not Champagne’

For each glass mix 1/2 cup sparkling apple cider, 1/2 cup seltzer water mixed with grenadine, and 1/3 cup cranberry juice. If making in a pitcher, use the ratio 1:1:2/3 respectively.

Dinner Time:

For Turkey, Sauvignon Blanc

Food and wine pairing is often a matter of personal taste. However you’re not going to go wrong with a fragrant glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Best sipped from a tall, slim glass with a tapered top, this wine will be sure to please.

For Ham, Riesling

Fruity Riesling is the best recommended wine to complement ham or lamb, for those who prefer to forgo the staid choice of turkey. Similar to the Sauvignon Blanc glass, the taller, tapered bowl directs the fragrance to the top. Happy eating!

Mocktail: Juice Box/Pouch

Seriously. There’s gullets to stuff, ain’t nobody got time to mix up dranks for kids.

Digestifs:

Cranberry-Orange Sparkler

After a heavy meal who wouldn’t like a refreshing pick-me-up? Enter the Sparkler with a crisp taste to wake up that palate! Combine one cup cranberry juice cocktail with 1/3 cup orange-flavored liqueur and divide into eight glasses. Top with equal parts champagne or sparkling white wine and ginger ale. Magnifique!

Caramel Apple Martini

Martini? Sure. Caramel apple, you say? Hells yeah! Shake, shake, shake your way to happiness with 2-3 shots caramel vodka, 12oz apple juice, two tablespoons sugar (or three packets Sweet’N Low), two teaspoons cinnamon, and ice. Even James Bond would appreciate this gem!

Mocktail: Shirley Temple

Equal parts 7UP and ginger ale, a splash of grenadine, and a cherry on top is the perfect recipe for the old-fashioned kids’ drink Shirley Temple. Reportedly created to hush the complaints of the whining child star, it’s been a favorite mocktail ever since the 1930’s.

Game Time:

Sparkling Pumpkin Cider Beertail

Place a cinnamon stick in glass, then fill 3/4 full with pumpkin ale. Pour sparkling cider on top, keeping the foam (it’s important). Garnish glass with a lemon wedge, squeezing a bit of the juice on top. Sprinkle ground cinnamon onto the foam, and you’re ready to sip away!

Harry Potter Butterbeer

If anyone knows anything about beer you MUST have foam. This Harry Potter inspired recipe has a two part preparation for maximum tasty gulping. Part 1: The Butterbeer. Set out 6 16-ounce glasses. Place 1/2 teaspoon of imitation butter (or 1 teaspoon clarified butter) in each glass. Pour 12 ounces of cream soda into each glass, over the butter. Lightly stir, if necessary. Part 2: The Foam. In a large bowl, or the bowl of a standing mixer, whip the heavy cream on medium high speed for 3-4 minutes until it starts to thicken. Add the sugar and continue whipping until very soft peaks begin to form, another 3-4 minutes (if you need to whip more or less, then be sure to do so, the times can vary quite a bit based on environment). Stir in the vanilla and imitation butter (or clarified butter), then whip for another 30 seconds or so, until soft peaks form. 

Dessert:

The Frozen Turkey

What better way to end a meal than to have a bit of liquid dessert. Make the caramel sauce by mixing 1 cup dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup cream, 4 tbsp unsalted butter, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Heat to simmer. Cook for 5 minutes then pour into a jar to cool. If sauce thickens too much just microwave it for a few seconds. For the cocktail, blend 1 pint Häagan-Das butter pecan ice cream, 1 oz Wild Turkey 101, and 1 oz Amaretto. A delicious drank that’s really a dessert in itself. Though don’t forget the pumpkin pie! 

 Authentic Irish Coffee

What makes this Irish coffee recipe so ‘authentic?’ It’s all in the floating cream, the sign of true coffee + whiskey love. Your guests will also love the extra touch of a glass mug, giving this the feel of a real pub beverage.

Start by pouring hot water in the mug to warm it for two to three minutes. Dump the water and add about six ounces of coffee and around two teaspoons of sugar (or whatever your taste may be). Stir in two tablespoons of whiskey.* Beat or whisk two tablespoons heavy cream in a bowl until frothy yet pourable. The trick here is to hold a spoon over the coffee and pour the cream over the spoon so that the cream will float on top. 

*Real Irish Whiskey is usually distilled three times, unlike American or Scotch Whiskies that are distilled twice. This results in a smoother flavor, and is recommended here.

Mocktail: Pumpkin Float

Good old pumpkin is at the heart of this next recipe for two. Let’s start with making the pumpkin ice cream.  Grab the vanilla ice cream and measure about 3 cups worth. To that you will add 1 cup + 3 tbsp pumpkin puree and 1 tbsp whole milk. Blend all three ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour mixture into a container with a lid. Freeze for a few hours or even overnight.  When ready, put 2-3 scoops of the pumpkin ice cream in a glass. Add cream soda until glass is full. Simply top it off with whipped cream and drizzled caramel. Your belly (and children) will thank you for this simple twist on the traditional ice cream float.

Which drink recipes will be on your Dranksgiving menu? Let us know in the comments below!

9 Things to Avoid Throwing Up After a Night of Drinking

The Official 2TG Guide of foods to avoid vomiting up when alcohol is involved in your evening.

9. Orange Juice – Simply for the terrifying fact that it tastes the same coming up as it does going down.

8. Spaghetti – Chances are you’ll be yanking the noodles out your nose while the rest regurgitates.

7. Salad – Good practice for when sticker/throat peeling becomes an Olympic event.

6. Popcorn – Kernels hurt when they get blasted out your sinuses. Trust me, says Grape 1.

5. Partially chewed Taco Bell – Good luck getting half a soft taco unlodged from your esophagus at 2
in the morning.

4. Beef & Broccoli from the cheap ass place around the corner from the bar – Just don’t eat it in the first place.

3. Peanut Butter – Ever seen a picture of lava slowly oozing from a crevasse? Need we say more?

2. Milk – think ricotta cheese. Yeah, it’s THAT bad. The one time it happened to Grape 1, she thought it was going to clog everything up and she would suffocate. 

1. Wine – What a motherfucking waste!