Forbes Magazine: Cyber Monday Wine Gift Ideas. Backstory Included.

The early numbers are in, and they aren’t pretty.

Retail spending over the weekend — that used-to-be-quintessential-American-shopping-weekend — fell by 11% this year, continuing a two-year slide downward.

The writing is on the wall. Habits are shifting.

How we shop is different. So is why we shop.

Consumers can be more informed about products and purchases now than ever before. That increase in awareness goes hand-in-hand with an increase in intention.

When it comes to wine, that intention can translate to gift ideas that matter to you as the giver and to the recipient of your gift. The research is available, whether your interest is organic wine or hip technology or supporting small businesses or even protecting world heritage sites.

Here are five wine ideas meant to match gift with intention.

When You Want to Know the People Behind the Wine

Wine tourism in Italy can be hit or miss, and vary from virtually non-existent to high-gleam commercial. Yet wine’s appeal here — from its historical roots to its current, complex iterations — is unmistakable. Dive straight to the heart of the matter with a guide like Select Italy, whose goal is to provide visitors with a sense of the people behind the wine, rather than simply the business of it. Check out their Tasca d’Almerita experience in particular — yes, it’ll take you to Sicily and their trendy wines from Mt Etna and elsewhere on the island, but what you’ll write home about are the people you meet who made those wines possible. More information here.

When You Want It Personal. And Just Right.

Sure, it’s contrary to the Cyber Monday theme. But that’s mostly the point. “We’re still old school, and we take mail orders and telephone orders,” said Tim Bucciarelli of Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “You want things to be just right for your holiday party, so lots of people call and need their questions answered. We’re much more hands-on and customer service-oriented.” The retail shop — which first opened in 1978 and is widely known for directly sourcing unique cheeses, oils, and spices — normally does 40% of its annual business during the two months of November and December. Almost half of their shipment orders are transacted by telephone. “For us it’s a lot of fun,” Bucciarelli said. “We solicit input from all our staff to create our own Best Of… gift guide. We get good ideas for what people give to their loved ones, and that creates a spark.” Formaggio ships specialty wine and beer within Massachusetts (ask in particular for their sparkling wine options); all other products are shipped nationwide. More information here.

When You Want to Make an Impact