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This 7-item Accessory Gift Set ($55) has just about everything a wannabe snob could wish for, all encased in a fancy wood box. It includes a ‘patented’ one-hand cork screw, thermometer, stainless steel stopper, foil cutter, wine ring, pourer, and bottle cap. Good for someone who often entertains wine drinkers and has one of those wine bar thingys in the home.

The MetroKane Houdini Wine and Stuff
($40) set’s centerpiece item is the Houdini corkscrew, which is a variation on the Leverpull and Rabbit cork removers. It also has a foilcutter, drip-stop ring, wine sealer, identification tags, metal whacker, and extra spiral screw. All nice pieces for the wine geek in your life.

Do you know someone who keeps a “wine book” ? In other words, they keep notes on nearly every wine they drink, and glue a label next to their notes to help remember the wine? Well, it can be gosh-darn difficult to get the labels off of the bottles — especially if they use a specific type of glue that seems stronger than cement. No amount of soaking, blow-drying, or peeling can take those things off. Enter the Wine Label Savers. All you do is stick the thing onto the label and peel it right off. It works every time. They work great, but they’re not cheap, especially if you’re always recording your wine notes. Therefore, they make a nice gift for someone who wouldn’t otherwise spend the ducats to make their life easier.

Built NY Byobag Two-Bottle Tote, Cranberry Red
$20 and under

I have used and loved the BuiltNY two-wine carrier enough to give it out as a gift to several friends, and so I’m recommending it here as well. It’s made of the same stuff deep sea divers wear (neoprene), so it is very effective at keeping your wine at a constant temperature, while being lightweight. Perhaps more importantly, it looks chic, especially when walking into a BYOB restaurant. The durability scores points too — I’ve had mine for three years and it’s like new. Plus, it’s easy to store, as it flattens out for storage in a drawer or the linen closet. It comes in several colors, and in one- and two-bottle versions. (Go with the two-bottle, as it’s similarly priced and light and svelte enough to not be burdensome when carrying just one bottle.) They also have a six-pack version for beer lovers.

Of course, there are those who think that leather is more classic and impressive than neoprene. And so, there is a leather wine bag, which holds two bottles in plush velvet lining and includes a shoulder strap for easy carrying.

But hey, if you’re going to go leather, go all the way and get this Mulholland 2 Bottle Wine Carrier Leatherwine bag, which has an insulated lining to keep wine at optimum temperature.

Not to be left out, the granola crowd will enjoy the Picnic Time Meritage Wine and Cheese Tote For Two, which is ideal for hikers whose pinnacle moment is peaked by a hilltop picnic. (OK, enough puns for one sentence). This fairly lightweight polyester bag has enough room for two bottles of wine, plus the following included picnic accessories: a wood cutting board, waiter-style corkscrew, two cotton napkins, stainless steel cheese knife, two acrylic wine glasses, and a bottle stopper. All you need to add is the wine, the cheese, and the energy to hike up the nearest mountain.

A similar bag for picnics but looking a little more stylish is the Picnic At Ascot Ivy two-bottle carrier. The simulated suede covering gives a more upscale look but doesn’t include all the extras. It does, however, have compartments for the corkscrew and wine stopper (included).

Wine Clip Thermometer
$15 or less
More than half of the wine bottles you pick up have a “recommended serving temperature” stated on the back label. But does anyone notice? Does anyone care? Even if you did, how would you go about finding out the exact temperature of the wine in your bottle? I suppose you could try sticking a meat thermometer into the bottle, but that would require uncorking, and few of those read below 100 degrees anyway. The cheapo trick is to stick an aquarium thermometer on the side, but that isn’t so “cool”.

Enter the Wine Clip Thermometer, which does look cool (or “qool”, as my friend Tish would say), and works quite well. You simply clasp the thing around the middle of the bottle and it gives you a digital readout of the temperature.

Wine Maestro – Bonjour products
$20 and under
If the bangle isn’t high-tech enough for your wine geek – slash – gadget guy/girl, then maybe the Wine Maestro is. I haven’t tested it out myself, but it sure looks formidable.

And if you want to get really insane, go infra-red. (over $40)

VinTemp Infrared Wine Thermometer Pen

This handy little pen comes with its own carrying case and has real James Bond appeal. Plus, it’s better than the other devices, because the infrared light is able to detect the temperature of the wine INSIDE the bottle, WITHOUT removing the cork. And for some people, that’s really important. I have visions of geeks walking around wine tastings pointing their infrared pens and informing vendors that their bottles are too cold / too warm. Lovely.

OK, let’s get something straight — I HATE cutesy wine stoppers. But many people think they’re just so cute and wonderful and this one has a Christmas theme so here it is.

It’s a three-piece set that includes Santa, boozed-up Blitzen, and an unidentified reindeer (looks like Donner to me, though which one they put in your set is anyone’s guess). Sorry, no Rudolph, whose red nose would have been appropriate, but was considered offensive to people who suffer from alcohol flush reaction.

If you’re interested, click on the image to purchase this from Amazon.