You know what's great? Opening your mail and finding wine. There are a lot of wine clubs out there. A lot of good wines. But the California Wine Club ($34.95-$182 per month), run by Bruce and Pam Boring, may be a cut above some others. First, it deals directly with small California wineries, ferreting out great bottles from small producers that you might not come across at your local state store. If you get something you like and want to order more, you can go through the club and get deep discounts. There are a number of price levels from which to choose, ensuring that you're not breaking the bank for the indulgence of having someone pick out your wine for you. And best of all, until Dec. 18, Salon readers will get a 15 percent discount when they enter the code "Salon" during checkout. Chin-chin!
Everyone knows that ham is the best way to show your loved ones you care. To show them you really care, get them the world's most expensive ham, Spain's Jamon Iberico de Bellota, which only just became legal in the U.S. Sure, the cost is ludicrous -- almost $100 a pound, which works out to roughly $1,400 for a single bone-in ham. But can you really put a price on love? Or on pork fat? (Oh, and if you could ask the lucky recipient to FedEx us any leftovers, that'd be great.)
Shares