I'm supposed to bring gift from my hometown for host family on travel/volunteer program. Is wine appropriate?

I'm leaving soon for a travel/volunteer project in Costa Rica. I will be living with a host family for a month while I'm there. The program suggests that we bring a gift for the family there, something from our 'Native Area'. I live in the Wine
Country in Northern California, between Napa and Sonoma.

Is anyone familiar with customs (either at the airport, or within the culture)?

Is this an appropriate gift? If not, any other suggestions?

And in either case do you have any other recommendations for things to bring or do down there? Its my first time.

:)

Thanks!!!

Wine is a perfect hostess/host/house warming gift - it will be most appreciated...

wine is a great gift but i dont know if you will be able to get on the plane with it. check with the airlines website just to be sure. if they don't allow you to take it then you might try like a nice wine painting, postcard, photographs of the area. you could even make a scrap book of your hometown for them. Also, bring some local magazines with you so they can see your town without being there.

take wine but something else too. like something else symbolic of your area. i have no idea what. i just think what if they don't drink?

Did you check if the family drinks?
Once I brought some wonderful, special liqueur and made the worst blunder...my host was a recovering alcoholic! He was gracious about it and thank me warmly but told me he was going to give it to one of his friends.
You can shop around and bring something more permanent, like a nice picture.