Scott Greenberg
WTOP Wine Contributor
WASHINGTON — The holiday season can put a lot of pressure on friends and loved ones who are trying to find the perfect gift for the wine lover in their lives. Buying a bottle or two of wine is always a dicey proposition, particularly since wine tastes are so personal and bottles may be difficult to return or exchange.
But fear not: There is a huge assortment of wine accessories to suit every wine lover’s interest and buyer’s pocketbook. Here is a list of wine gadgets that every wine enthusiast will love — including me.
Cheese platters made from recycled wine bottles
Made from 100 percent recycled glass, these wine bottle-shaped platters will provide a lovely backdrop for the cheese, crackers, fruits or vegetables you serve at your next wine tasting party. Each piece undergoes an eight-hour process to emerge as a one-of-a-kind platter. These striking platters also shed new light on candles, give spoons a rest and make for an interesting butter dish. Cheese spreader included. Available online at Hip Cycle. $19
Metal wreath cork cage
Perfect for the holidays, the wreath cork cage is a fun and innovative way to keep and cherish all of your wonderful wine memories. Just drop your treasured corks in the top circular opening. Artfully sculpted metal art work with colored glass spheres. Bottom hinges open to release corks. Available online at Gifted Grape. $24
Wine tote bags
You can never have too many wine bags. I like tote bags that can carry two bottles of wine. They’re perfect for picnics, a romantic outing, or discretely bringing your wine into a restaurant (it beats a paper bag). Find one with an over-the-shoulder strap and preferably an insulated interior. Some wine totes will even come with glasses, napkins and a corkscrew. A large selection can be found at Wayfair. $25 – $75
Wine decanters
Decanters are always a stylish and practical gift. Decanting serves two purposes: to separate a wine from any sediment that may have formed and to aerate a wine so that its aromas and flavors will be more vibrant upon serving. They come in a variety of styles and shapes. And you can never have too many. Check out the selection at Wine Enthusiast. $25 – $100.
The BIG splurge – wine saving device
While a little air can help a wine develop aromas and flavors in the short run, too much air will oxidize and ruin a wine. So, what’s a wine lover to do when they only want one glass out of a precious bottle? Why, use the Coravin Wine Access System! The Coravin 1000 System’s unique design uses a long needle to penetrate the cork and argon gas (an inert gas that will not interact with the wine) to push it out. This allows you to access, pour and enjoy your favorite wines by the glass whenever you would like, without pulling the cork. This keeps the wine safe from oxidation, and allows it to continue to age naturally. You can access the wine repeatedly, giving you the freedom to pour a glass from a favorite bottle at any time. However, flexibility has a price — and a stiff one at that. The system — along with two argon gas cartridges — will set you back about $300! Available through high-end wine shops, Amazon.com and the Coravin website.
Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.
