Italian food gifts for Christmas: panettone, pantry and cellar
How to put together a gift from the products of the selection, what the law says about panettone and colomba, and what to know about bottles given as gifts.
In brief
In choosing a gift, what counts is who receives it and what they cook or drink. Here you will find three schemes for putting a gift together: for wine lovers, for a table of seafood, for those who cook. Wine is sold only to adults.
How to put together a gift
Three questions help you decide: what does the person cook or drink? How much space do they have in the pantry? When will they receive the parcel? Three simple schemes come from these. They are suggestions for putting a gift together, not gift sets on a price list.
- For wine lovers: a bottle from the Wine shop, such as the Taurasi Terzotratto DOCG, and an aged cheese from the Cheese and cured meats category.
- For a table of seafood: the colatura di alici and a small jar of anchovies or tuna from From the Coast and the Sea.
- For those who cook: pasta, pulses or rice, and an extra virgin olive oil from the Pantry.
For those who do not want to choose, the selection also includes a gift set with three jars of rice and a candle.
Panettone and colomba: what the law says
Christmas is, by tradition, the season of panettone; colomba is the Easter cake. In Italy the words are not free to use: the ministerial decree of 22 July 2005 on baked confectionery products, amended in 2017, establishes what may be called panettone or colomba.
- Panettone: a soft-dough cake obtained by natural fermentation from sourdough, with flour, sugar, eggs, butter, raisins and candied citrus peel (at least 20% between raisins and candied fruit) and salt.
- Colomba: the same sourdough base, in the shape of a dove, with a glaze and sugar grains containing at least 2% almonds, and at least 15% candied citrus peel. Raisins are not compulsory.
- Filled or glazed versions: they keep the name if at least half the weight of the finished product is the base dough; the label lists the characteristic ingredients.
The decree applies to everyone, industrial producers or not, and contains no definition of “best”: to choose, read the list of ingredients. You will find the classic panettone (also in a tin) and the classic colomba in the Sweets and leavened cakes category.
Serving and storing
We have found no specific regulation on the storage of panettone and colomba: the minimum durability date and the instructions on the label apply. As common practice, and not as a rule: keep the cake in its resealed bag, away from heat sources. If the label says to refrigerate it, follow the label.
A bottle to give
In Italy it is forbidden to sell alcoholic drinks to people under 18: the seller must ask for an identity document, unless the person is manifestly of age. The rule does not exclude distance selling, and therefore online sales. If you are sending a gift to someone, make sure they are an adult. You will find more guidance on opened or served wine in wine and food pairing.
Timing and shipping
Order early. Shipping conditions are on the Shipping and returns page; for any doubt you can write to us.
