Snacks, Champagne and More Last-Minute (and Local!) Gifts!

Snacks, Champagne and More Last-Minute (and Local!) Gifts!

Bottaio Wine Shop at Coppa Osteria (photo by Rebecca Wright Photography)

KNOW THE WAY to a foodie’s heart? Consumables. The clock is ticking to wrap up gifting, and these yummy food and wine ideas might save the day!


Madame Zero Champagne

Madame Zero

Houstonian Matthew Massey’s Champagne Madame Zéro, known for its low sugar content, crafts rosé Champagne, blanc de blancs, and 2013 Grand Vintage “Millie,” as well as gift sets. The single gift set comes embossed in a black lacquered gift box holding extra aged premier cru blanc de blancs or rosé encased in velvet. Check out all the other Champagne options and consider yourself prepared for New Year’s Eve!

Montrose Cheese & Wine

Montrose Cheese & Wine

Peruse the food and wine gifts online, or stop by the adorable shop to place a custom order, a cheese and charcuterie box, or the Champagne and Caviar set. Or snag a monthly wine club subscription with two options: its “Scooby Snack” ($75 monthly) includes three selected bottles and a half-pound of seasonal cheese. The “Advanced Course” ($175 monthly) includes six bottles and 2.5 pounds of artisan cheese. Membership perks include five percent off all dine-in.

Aperture Wine Membership

Aperture Winery

Aperture Cellars is a newish winery and tasting room in charming Healdsburg, Calif., from notable winemaker Jesse Katz and investor Jim Crane, a local Houston icon. Katz is the son of famous photographer Andy Katz, and Crane, as most know, is a businessman who owns Potente Restaurant and the Houston Astros. Gift a Wine Collective membership for boutique wines delivered to your doorstep — think luxurious chenin blanc, Bordeaux red blend, and several cabernets — plus perks like member pricing, complimentary estate tastings, and more. Getting away to the must-see winery is always a treat!

Repour Wine Stopper

Repour wine stopper

What looks like a bottle stopper is the only wine preservation product on the market using oxygen absorption to eliminate the oxygen in an opened bottle of wine. The packet inside the bottle stopper holds a proprietary iron-based blend. A reaction occurs between the iron and the oxygen inside the bottle to continuously remove the oxygen from the bottle and the wine. Not only is it easy and useful, but it’s also a steal at $2.50 per stopper!

Schott Zwiesel Wine Glasses

Schott Zwiesel Wine Glasses

For an all-purpose wine glass that looks modern but is dishwasher safe, here’s an excellent choice for a red and white wine glass. Always exquisite are the delicate wine glasses from the 300-year-old family run company Riedel. The latest includes the Winewings collection with a flat bottom design and glass waves crafted for different varietals made to enhance aromas and wine flavors.

Brennan's Pralines

Brennan's pralines gift box

That wonderful praline that you receive gratis after your meal at Brennan’s of Houston can be ordered online and shipped nationwide. These world class pralines come in a decorative box that will be great for any gift. Gift boxes are carefully packed with 12 handmade pralines ($24.99 plus shipping).

Yeti Wine Chiller

White and red wine drinkers need this nifty bottle cooler that keeps wine at the right temp, only losing a few degrees per hour. A no brainer!

Hope Farms and Recipe for Success

Culinary Adventure

Recipe for Success Foundation is offering natural bath products and food-inspired gifts for everyone on your list. Whether it be fresh vegetables and herbs to cook with, or beautiful flowers, you can gift mindful and local. Let’s Cook! includes Hope Farms signature chambray blue apron and Cook the Harvest gift certificate for one cooking class. Hope Farms Culinary Adventure features a Taste of Hope Farms produce presentation, a gift certificate for Cook the Harvest Class, and signature apron. Check out options and purchase here.

Bottaio Wine Shop at Coppa Osteria

Bottaio at Coppa Osteria

How perfect: a petite wine shop inside an Italian joint. This newcomer tucked away in Coppa Osteria in Rice Village, stocks wines from small boutique vineyards – mostly biodynamic, natural, or organic. Wines are priced below the restaurant wine list, and you can peruse the selections online and call ahead for pick-up.

Milk Mustache

We couldn’t leave without something sweet. This cute shop from Mom-turned-baker-entrepreneur Tracy Jones touts giant, soft, gooey goodness right in time for the indulgent season. You can’t miss with dreamy flavors like Campfire Bliss with melted marshmallow center, Nutella Dream, and red velvet filled with cream cheese. Pick up a box or ship nationwide.

Leadership in Action: Clothiers Murry and Karen Penner Celebrate Family Business’ 50-Year Anny

Murry & Karen Penner, Owners, M PENNER

How did you get where you are today? We’ve stayed true to the vision of the store’s founder, Morris Penner, who relentlessly sought out unique product, with exceptional quality being a key element. Morris always used to say, “The fastest way to lose a customer is to bore him” and we agree. A percentage of every season’s budget is allocated to something new and unique. While product is key, it’s not enough. Having an excellent staff and discipline in business practices is also critical.

Keep Reading Show less

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less

Bianca Bucaram, founder of The Bucaram PR Group and BXM Music

Get to Know Bianca:

Bianca Bucaram, founder of The Bucaram PR Group and BXM Music, is a dynamic force in the public relations industry. She is known for her tenacity, empathy, and bilingual communication skills. As a local publicist with national reach, she blends local insights with broader impact, telling compelling stories that foster business growth and create opportunities.

Keep Reading Show less