Wine Adviser: What would the holidays be without new wine gadgets?

The annual flood tide of wine-related gifts and gadgets has washed ashore some particularly unusual creatures this holiday season. One theme that seems inexhaustible is the idea that wines somehow require special technology to accelerate the aging process.

The Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator ($40) comes in a sleek, futuristic design and aerates wine poured through it and into a wine glass. The claim is that "you'll notice a better bouquet, enhanced flavors and smoother finish." Some users swear by it, while traditionalists may prefer the tried-and-true method of aerating young wine by simply decanting it. You can check it out at www.vinturi.com/home.html.

Ever since Georg Riedel introduced the concept of a specific stemware design for each and every different type of wine or liquor, glass artists have been on a creative binge.

Stemless was the hip innovation a few years ago. Next up was lead-free stemware, bringing health consciousness to wine glasses. This year's new twist is wine glasses that are, quote, breathable. Yes, if your tired old stemware is gasping for air, you may want to try the breathable stemware from Germany's Eisch Glaskultur. Unlike "regular" glasses that just sit there holding your wine, the special molecular structure of this glass, says the manufacturer, allows wine to aerate in just 2 to 4 minutes! So, Mr. or Ms. Impatient Imbiber, you can now open a bottle of wine on the spur of the moment "freed from a breathing time of an hour or more." About $18 -- for a list of local vendors, visit www.mercerimports.com/locations.html.

But wait! That's not all. Act now, you may also order the world's first fancy stemware with the look of broken glass! Silhouette is a Czech-made glass that has a large curve cut out of the bowl. Set on a counter it looks exactly like the glass you dropped at last night's party -- but without the jagged edges. The story here is that the notched rim "allows a generous flow of air into the glass, prompting the wine to release its distinct aromas." So far none of my guinea pig taster testers have been able to detect any difference in flavor with the glass, but they all, without exception, found the Silhouette amazing to look at, if a bit puzzling to use. See for yourself: www.greatestwineglass.com.

Intriguing as the Silhouette is, the most unusual new wine glass I've found is the Sommelier by designer Maxim Velcovsky. A $50 item, it is hand-blown glass that exactly resembles a cheap, plastic beer cup perched on a long, thin stem. A gift that just might bring your beer drinking buddies into the wine fold.

Keeping up with ever-shifting airline regulations has inspired a number of new products designed to answer the question how do I transport my wine safely in my checked baggage?

The Wine Mummy is a zip-sealed, plastic pouch with bubble padding. It's designed to protect bottles when transported in luggage. Each double-layer polybag sells for $4.95 and is reusable. See www.winemummy.com. Even cheaper is Wineskin ($2.99), which does the same thing. Esquin's Arnie Millan tells me he's used it several times recently on trips from Europe and it worked perfectly. To see the Wineskin, visit http://www.ftscontent.com/

Plunging onward, Here is a short list of this year's most intriguing enological exotica:

"Drink responsibly, laugh recklessly," says Cerebral Itch, creator of custom-wine labels that can be plastered over the bottle of cheap plonk that you intend to foist upon your holiday party hosts. Many different holiday-themed options are available (warning -- not all are suitable for a family newspaper). I especially liked "Daddy's Happy Juice" and "Don't waste this wine on the uncultured palates of the other guests." Labels cost $3.95 -- see them all at http://accessories.cerebralitch.com

"How to Lose a Date with Just One Sip!" is the compelling come-on for the how-did-we-ever-live-without-this product of the year -- Wine Wipes. The best part of this product may be the viral video running on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vuT8HjYwAs). I have not had the occasion to test these out, but at $5.95 for a 20-wipe supply, your downside risk is fairly minimal. Given the packaging (a powder puff compact) and marketing, this product seems squarely aimed at a female user. Guys -- we're on our own -- I suggest you use your napkin and scrub those choppers while pretending to wipe your mustache. Wine Wipes come in a single flavor -- orange blossom -- and claim to remove the stain and clean the palate without interfering with the wine-tasting experience. Here's the Web site: www.winewipes.com

And last, but never least, for the unrepentant beer drinker who scoffs at your wine, how about a beer hoodie, complete with a kangaroo-like pouch that positions their brew exactly where it's going to wind up -- at gut level. www.beerhoodie.com.

Happy hunting!

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