Staying with Swiss Family - Small gift to bring them

When we stayed in Switzerland last summer we bought regional things to leave as gifts for the people who owned the house we were staying in. Being from California we brought a good bottle of central coast wine, seashells for the little girls of the family, and a vintage tea towel with a stylized map of CA printed on it. They were easy to transport and the family seemed to really love all of it!

Yikes, one of the most expensive gifts you could give would be the dinner in a nice restaurant. Restaurants are so outrageously expensive in Switzerland.

Wine was appropriate for our trip since the family collects it from all over the world and we knew they would appreciate a good bottle from somewhere far flung...Europeans certainly have excellent wine but CA wine is also exceptional if you know the good, private wineries from which to get it!

Here's a key question.... are they hosting you gratis, or are you paying to staying in their home? If the latter, it's a business transaction, and often, a gift is no more appropriate than if you were staying in a hotel.

California wine if you are from California is a good idea. Some people in Europe are familiar with movies like Sideways and will appreciate or they will simply feel that it is exotic.

If you know the age of the children, a compact American game or children's colorful book would probably be appreciated. Otherwise, everyone appreciates flowers, and you don't need to pack them.

Wonderful, you know what I meant. If you are from California, it is more meaningful because it is part of your own environment and culture.

Now we (the royal "we") enjoy California wine.
But it's never been clear to me whether Europeans, in general, are all that impressed with California wines. They do have a bit of a wine-making tradition themselves over there.
And I do remember a post here in which a French host family was insulted by a gift of California wine.
Those darn Europeans sometimes just have different ideas about things.
:)

Kent, I am Swiss and I think California wine is a great gift to bring in Switzerland. Frankly, to be offended by it reflects poorly on the host.

Kent, some French people look down on Swiss wine too so I don't think it is due to some transatlantic snobbery or rivalry. I am not sure that I would be brave enough to bring as a gift some Swiss Dézaley to people in Burgundy...

Thank you all for the suggestions.