Wine gift baskets are perfect for giving year-round, especially on Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, for anniversaries and during the winter holiday season. Other occasions where wine baskets make welcome, unique gifts include college graduations, birthdays and retirement celebrations.

While you can certainly buy a nice wine gift basket from most liquor stores and gourmet food shops, it is less expensive to make your own. All you need to do is choose a wine your gift recipient will enjoy, some useful accessories and tasty nibbles.

When packaging your wine gift, don't restrict yourself to wicker and picnic baskets. Use any attractive container, such as a neoprene wine tote, decorative plastic or heavy cardboard container, wire basket or colorful gift box. As long as your gift basket container is sturdy enough to hold the wine, accessories and food, it will work just fine.