Still looking for that perfect gift? There is a special UB hamper this season with their wide range of wines from India and all over the world. You can also create your own hamper, choosing from the array of fine wines: Be it the Bouvet Ladubay sparkling wines from the Loire Valley, or the world-renowned Bouchard Aine & Fils wines from Burgundy.
You can even add a special touch to your hamper with wines from the prized vineyards of New Zealand (Astrolabe, Hunters and Sacred Hill) or the sunny continent of Australia (Gossips).
Try out the fresh and funky new Pink Elephant from Portugal which will enhance all the spicy delicacies we all just can’t resist, and last but not the least, the home-grown ZINZI from UB’s new winery at Baramati. Price: On request; to order: wines@ubmail.com.
Tea chocolates
Choko la, the New Delhi-based choco boutique, has introduced two new varieties of chocolates especially for Diwali. Hand-painted cocoa pods in dark, milk and white chocolate in three different flavours —lemon, mocha and plain.
There is also a new line of unique, tea-infused chocolates which will be presented in a beautiful handcrafted wooden box with four pull-out drawers / sections; each section to carry a different variety of chocolate coordinated with organic Darjeeling tea from Avongrove.
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The wooden boxes will be personalised and carry an engraved plaque with the name of the person receiving or giving the gift. Price: Hand-painted pods can be bought per piece, Rs 50 onwards.
...by another name
In France and throughout the world, the House of Ott is known as a producer of premium rose, white and red wines. The purity and authenticity of its wines makes it the recognised leader in the production of regional Provencal wines.
The rose, in particular, is special and you may like to try it out this festive season. By the way, if you are impressed by the bottles, remember that these were designed way back in the 1930s and are synonymous with the house now. Price: Variable across different states.
Zero-sugar truffles
The Chocolate Box at MBD Radisson hotel in Noida has a variety of zero-sugar range, truffles and designer chocolates in beautifully created hampers. The hampers are created in keepsake boxes and bags.
The aim is to create a special package that lives on with the spirit of Diwali, much after the festival is over. There is a three-tier wooden box, for instance, with a complete range of cookies and chocolates.
You can sample sinfully delicious almond and chocolate fudge cookies; while the chocolate box has one layer of liqueur chocolates with rum, tequila, blackberry, cointreau and champagne, the second layer has truffles and pralines in caramel and Alamosa flavour. Price: Rs 3,000.