12/10 Wine Q&A

Q. Got any ideas for a practical wine gift for the geek who has everything?

A. See today's column for a lengthy list of interesting and unusual wine gifts. But a couple of truly practical, can't-miss ideas that could be added are: 1) a well-made, ergonomically pleasing waiter's corkscrew and 2) a decanter drying stand.

The first may seem like a "duh" kind of offering, but take it from me, you can never have too many good corkscrews, and you'd be amazed at the shoddy gear that inhabits many a high-end wine cellar. Look for these features: a serrated knife blade for trimming the capsule; a double-jointed hinge for extracting extra-long corks; a Teflon-coated worm (screw) and an overall feel in the grip of your hand that is substantial and comfortable.

As for the drying racks, most kitchen supply stores have them, and they are simple wire or metal structures designed to allow your decanter to hang upside down and dry completely. Simple, extremely useful, and odds are long that your wine geek friends don't have one.

* Paul Gregutt can be reached by e-mail at wine@seattletimes.com.