hostess gifts

How to Be the Best Guest at the Party from Candice Bergen, Liz Smith and More Grande Socialites

The well known women at wowOwow.com are stopping by Luxist on a frequent basis to answer your savvy shopping and spending questions. This week we asked them: What's your favorite hostess gift to give? And to receive?

Candice Bergen: I was very proud of myself when a dear friend whose ranch we get to go to every year loved the hand-tooled leather songbooks I had made for future sing-alongs for his guests. It's lovely when people bring little things but our own Mary Wells is the MOST extravagant gift giver ever, so it's really fun to have her over. But I do have a drawer of gloves, scarves and bracelets that are up for grabs if anyone's interested? Oh, and I like giving hand-painted mugs I make at Color Me Mine because it's fun and personal.

Tags: candice bergen, CandiceBergen, entertainment, gifts, hostess gifts, HostessGifts, joan ganz cooney, JoanGanzCooney, liz smith, LizSmith, mary wells, MaryWells, wowowow.com

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The Armand de Brignac Champagne Experience

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

We were delighted when Armand de Brignac offered to send us one of their Prestige Cuvees (right).

Priced from $300 per bottle, these decadent champagnes come in three varieties: Champagne Rose, Champagne Blanc de Blanc, and the Brut Gold, which we tried. The bottles include pewter labels, and come in luxurious black cases. These would be an excellent gift for your Valentine; The Brut Gold for him, and the Rose for her (but we hope he or she will share it with you).

If you're not convinced, have a look at our gallery below to experience the excitement of opening the case and tasting the delicious champagne. We paired it with an appetizer of fresh strawberries, sweet pears, and tart apples, and an Organic Ceviche entree with scallops and ahi tuna.

We found the Brut Gold Champagne very delicate and subtle; a rosy scent with green apple and nutmeg. The flavor was not at all grassy, but earthy, with hints of white pepper and a smooth, long pomegranate finish. Because of it's shy complexity, we thought it would be excellently paired with a very mild cheese, and loved the way it was complimented by the pear and, eventually, the ceviche.

About half a glass and we were all saying how much we loved each other. Happy Valentine's Day indeed!

Gallery: The Armand de Brignac Champagne Experience