Guide to local holiday gifts: Western Pennsylvania shops, treats and experiences

Whether you’re starting your holiday shopping or trying to find that last gift for a tough customer, a whole world of local businesses has a selection for anyone on your list. From local delicacies to ’Burgh-branded merch to unforgettable experiences, here’s a quick guide to shopping close to home this season.

Edible gifts

As so many holiday gatherings do, let’s start with wine. For a variety of Lake Erie-grown wines — including some unique selections — check out Courtyard Winery in the Strip District. Vinoski Winery in Rostraver has a long tradition of making delicious reds, whites, blushes and fruit wines. Wooden Door Winery in Vandergrift is the perfect place to get a wide variety of locally grown wines with an emphasis on the sweeter side. For unique finds from around the world, head to SPILL — The Wine Bar in Bloomfield for knowledgeable staff and the best Italian wines or P’Vino in Shadyside for hand- selected wines of all kinds.

Want something on the maltier side? Pittsburgh is teeming with craft breweries with a kaleidoscope of beers to gift and sample. If you’re buying for a trendy IPA lover, Hop Farm Brewing Co. in Lawrenceville may be the place to go. Four Points Brewing on the North Side is also great with IPAs but has other great beers that are available in other beer retailers. If lager is a preferable option for your intended gift recipient, Golden Age Beer Co. in Homestead is a great option. Check out Yellow Bridge Brewing in Delmont for fun flavors and seasonal offerings. Or for something different, check out Apis Mead in Carnegie, where you can purchase delicious meads, many flavored with fruits such as apricot, blueberry and strawberry.

How about an appetizer? Chantal’s Cheese Shop in Bloomfield is an oasis of mmm-worthy cheeses, crackers, accompaniments and spreads, all sourced as small-batch and locally as possible. For curated charcuterie boards and grazing tables — as a gift or for your holiday gathering — check out Pickles & Pancetta in Oakmont. Hopefully, it’s not too cheesy to say that The Cheese Queen in Mt. Oliver is a cheese haven with an ultra- knowledgeable owner.

On the sweeter side, Sarris Candies in Canonsburg and Betsy Ann Chocolates are perennial local holiday favorites and are available in many grocery stores around the region. Valos Chocolate in New Kensington has a large selection of different treats and also can be found in many Giant Eagle and Shop ’n Save locations. LUX Artisan Chocolates makes candy bars, bonbons and other creative candies and can be found at locations including the East End Co-Op, Coffee Tree Roasters and The Chocolate Moose in Squirrel Hill.

If you can’t decide on a single local delicacy to send, why not get a whole assortment? Basket of Pittsburgh on the West End has gifts big and small, full of tasty treats such as popcorn, wine, chocolate, meats, cookies and much, much more. DeLallo in Jeannette offers a variety of gift boxes, from Italian favorites to charcuterie and beyond. Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. in the Strip District also has gift boxes including pastas, sauces, olives, cheeses and more, and they also have monthly cheese, pasta and olive oil clubs that you can give as delicious gifts that keep on giving.

Gifts for the home

For festive scents such as “A Cookie Table Christmas” and “Jolly Jagoff,” head to PGH Candle on the North Side. For custom candles, room sprays and wax melts, Mix Candle Co. on the South Side and in Lawrenceville is the place to go — you can even make your own with a reservation for a fun holiday activity. You can do that at PSquared Scents in Bellevue as well, with no appointment needed. Also check out their candles, incense, bath products and more.

Craft-made pottery and housewares make great gifts. Check out gorgeous wares at fdp studio shop in Unity and online for nifty gifts. Stone + Sparrow in Lawrenceville has a traditional-meets-modern design aesthetic in their mugs, bowls, candles and even jewelry. Pittsburgh Pottery in Carnegie has a great selection of items, including lots of Pittsburgh-themed giftables — or give the present of pottery classes. And if you want the chance to shop tons of potters at once, check out the Union Project’s Winter Pottery Pop-Up on Dec. 13.

For lovely decor that will make your friends and family think of you every time they glance around their living room, there are so many local options. Splurge in Fox Chapel is a boutique with a little bit of everything, from seasonal decor to handbags to jewelry to furniture. Global Market Retail in Squirrel Hill is a shop that’ll make you feel good while you browse, with jewelry, furniture, lamps and more sourced from international artists. And for the home chefs and mixologists in your life, In The Kitchen in the Strip District is a one-stop shop.

Gifts for those who love Pittsburgh

The true experts on curating a local collection of great gifts are over at the Heinz History Center in the Strip District, so make sure to check out what they’ve got for sale at their shop.

Bookworms always love a gift they can read, so why not get the literary yinzer in your life a book that takes place in Pittsburgh? Young adults will love “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky and your niece, who’s home on holiday break from college, will absorb Michael Chabon’s “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” or “Wonder Boys.” And horror fans should know that Stephen King’s “Christine” takes place in a fictional Pittsburgh suburb.

For sports fans, there’s nothing like a gift of Pittsburgh sports merchandise. Everyone wants a piece of the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. But don’t forget the recent national champion men’s soccer team, the Riverhounds (and check out apparel for the women’s league Pittsburgh Riveters, while you’re at it).

For everything from cards to keychains to T-shirts and dog toys, all themed around iconic Pittsburgh images, shop love, Pittsburgh, which has several locations around town, including at the Downtown Holiday Market. For unique designs — or to get a large batch of clothing with a specific design screenprinted — go to Commonwealth Press, with a retail store in Mt. Lebanon. Steel City is full of versatile finds in Ross Park Mall, the Strip District, Shadyside and Cranberry. Celebrate Pittsburgh’s area code with locally proud clothing and accessories from Shop 412 on the South Side. For a little bit of locally-made everything, started by a mother-daughter team, head to Songbird Artistry in Lawrenceville.

The gift of an adventure

Subscriptions to local museums and destinations are always a great gift. Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden and the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium all have year-round events for nature lovers. A membership to the Carnegie Museums includes admission to the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, as well as the Kamin Science Center and the Andy Warhol Museum, in addition to other benefits.

For those who love the stage, subscriptions are available to series at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, including the PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh Series, the Trust Cabaret, Liberty Magic and more. There’s also the Pittsburgh CLO, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Pittsburgh Opera and more.

For activity-related experiences, the Pittsburgh Glass Center offers crafty classes to try a new medium. Chop, Wok and Talk in Garfield has cooking classes to help burgeoning cooks try new skills. For beverage lovers, The PA Market in the Strip District has wine pairing and cocktail classes. And for funny people looking for a creative outlet, Arcade Comedy Theater in Downtown offers a variety of classes in writing, improv and standup at all levels.