Every year, just days before Christmas, we face the same question: what to give to someone who already has everything, or who is difficult to surprise? Our preferred answer is a gift that can be eaten, drunk, and shared, and that tells the story of a place. An oil, a bottle, or a jar of honey from Lake Garda are not just any products: they have an origin, a producer, and a distinct flavor.
FeelGarda was founded by two friends in love with this territory, and every product you find on the website comes from small producers we know and select one by one. In this guide, we will help you choose based on the recipient: what they love to eat, what they enjoy drinking, and what they prepare in the kitchen. For each idea, you will find the product, the reason we recommend it, and the price, so you can decide without browsing through a hundred pages.
For wine lovers: three bottles, three characters
If you don't know the recipient's tastes, Lugana is the safest choice. It is a white wine made on the southern shores of the lake from Turbiana grapes, fresh but with a structure that makes it elegant, and it pairs easily with fish, vegetables, fresh cheeses, and aperitifs. It costs 14.50 euros, a reasonable price for a gift that makes a good impression. If you want to stick to even lower prices, Custoza (11.10 euros) and Soave (10.80 euros) are two fragrant and easy-to-enjoy Veronese white wines.
For those who love full-bodied reds, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOCG is the special occasion gift: a wine made from grapes left to wither, intense and enveloping, to be opened slowly at the end of a meal or with a meat dish. The current price is 49.99 euros. For a lighter idea, the Garda rosé is perfect for those who don't want a wine that is too demanding. You can find other labels among the red wines and white wines.
For those who love to cook: the oil that makes the difference
For those who spend their time at the stove, the gift that is truly useful is a good oil. The Brescian Garda DOP extra virgin olive oil is made from Casaliva, Frantoio, and Leccino cultivar olives and has a delicate character: light fruitiness, herbal notes, and an almond aftertaste. It is an oil to be used raw, on lake fish, carpaccio, vegetables, and bruschetta, where it knows how to accompany without overpowering. The 750 ml bottle costs 34.90 euros. If you want to understand how to recognize a quality oil before choosing, read our guide on how to choose an extra virgin olive oil.
To complete the gift, you can add something that enriches the table: the Lugana giardiniera (13.99 euros), the red wine caramelized onions to accompany cheeses and meats, or the Piccadilly tomatoes. These are products that are not found on a supermarket shelf and that cooks appreciate immediately.
For those who love aperitifs and hosting friends
A well-made aperitif does not require much: a bottle you are happy to open and two or three things to put on the cutting board. A Metodo Classico extra brut is the right base for a toast, and next to it work well the olive pâté, which costs only 6.50 euros and can be spread on crostini and toasted bread, and the Lugana giardiniera. For those who love to experiment, a Groppello vermouth is a less obvious gift. If you want to turn the idea into a ready-made gift, read how to put together a Garda aperitif in a hamper.
For those with a sweet tooth
The Garda wildflower honey (15.50 euros) is a simple gift, suitable for all ages, that goes well in tea, on cheese, or on a slice of bread. If you want something more special, the set of four artisan honeys from Apicoltura Rietto (57.00 euros) allows you to taste four different varieties, like a small tasting to keep in the pantry. A more scenic alternative is the Anello dei Gonzaga, a historic Mantuan sweet, while for chocolate lovers there is the artisan chocolate from Lake Garda.
For those who love cocktails and spirits
The artisan limoncello we select is made in small quantities with untreated lemons from the shores of the lake and, in addition to the peel, with the addition of fresh juice: for this reason it is balanced and less cloying than many industrial limoncello. It costs 21.50 euros and should be served ice-cold at the end of the meal. For those who want to impress, the KROKU, artisan gin with Pozzolengo saffron (50 cl bottle, 35.00 euros) is an original gift that wins over even those who are used to more classic gins. If you want other ideas, look at the liqueurs and spirits collection or read some recipes with limoncello.
For those who don't drink alcohol or prefer an experience
There is no need for wine to make a quality gift: oil, honey, preserves, olives, and artisan sweets are choices that work everywhere, and you can find them in the olives and preserves collection. If instead you want to give something to experience rather than consume, in the food and wine tastings section you will find proposals designed to discover the flavors of the lake.
How much to spend: gift ideas for every budget
With less than 15 euros you can give an olive pâté (6.50 euros), a Soave or a Custoza (about 11 euros), a wildflower honey or a Lugana (from 14.50 to 15.50 euros). Between 15 and 35 euros you will find the 750 ml DOP extra virgin olive oil, the limoncello, and the saffron gin, all memorable gifts. Over 35 euros there is the Amarone, the set of four artisan honeys, and the composed boxes, designed for those who want to give an important gift. Prices may vary with promotions, so always check the product page.
How to choose in three steps
First think about the person and what they really like, not what you like. Then choose a protagonist product, for example a bottle, an oil, or a honey. Finally add one or two products that go well with the protagonist, without overfilling: a gift with three well-chosen things makes a better impression than one with ten generic products. If you prefer a pre-assembled gift, look at the FeelGarda gift boxes or the Garda Box, or create your own personalized box.
Shipping and times
We ship throughout Italy and Europe, and the bottles travel in boxes designed to prevent breakage. For a Christmas gift, we recommend ordering in advance, so as not to risk the busiest courier days.
Frequently asked questions
What to give to someone who already has everything?
A product that is not easy to find elsewhere: a DOP oil from a small producer, a honey of a particular variety, or an artisan spirit like saffron gin. It works because it has a story and a place of origin.
Can I put together the gift myself?
Yes. With the personalized gift box you choose the products and put them together as you prefer.
Do the products keep for a long time?
Oil, honey, and preserves generally have a long shelf life, but always check the date indicated on the label. Wine should be kept away from light and heat.
What to give to a colleague or a client?
A simple and quality gift, like an oil or a honey. If you need to give gifts for a company, read our tips on food and wine corporate gifts.
Choose the right gift
Start from the gift boxes and FeelGarda gift ideas and, if you want some more suggestions on how to put together a hamper, read the guide to Christmas food hampers.
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