There’s much more to wine gifts than just a bottle of wine. The truth is that unless you know the recipient’s wine preferences choosing the right bottle of wine for their gift can be tricky. Yes, if you know of a specific bottle they like, that’s an easy out but what if you don’t? Instead of risking it with the obvious bottle of wine why not try gifting them with something they’ll use year after year—a great wine accessory.

Wine aroma kits are the perfect gift for those wine lovers who are just beginning to develop their pallets and noses for various varietals. Included in one of these kits are small bottles of fragrances commonly found in the nose of various red and white wines. A large part of appreciating wine is enjoying its aroma and being able to pick out distinctive fragrance notes. This handy kit helps train the wine lover’s nose by giving detailed notes on each aroma as well as the types of wines they are most often found in. If someone you know is starting out on their road to wine appreciation this would be a much treasured gift that they will use and appreciate for years.

A good red wine is often made better by introducing a good amount of air into it. By allowing the wine to oxidize it opens up the wine and lets hidden flavors and aromas blossom. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is with a simple aerator funnel which sits atop a wine glass’s mouth. When the wine is poured in, instead of pouring in a narrow steam the wine is forced to “spread out” much like a waterfall. This incorporates much more air into the wine quickly and lets the wine’s subtleties shine through.

Another way to get the most enjoyment from your red wines is by decanting. Older red wines often contain a certain amount of sediment which, if allowed to pour through into the glass, can affect the clarity and color of the wine. On the other side of the scale, younger red wines are often described as “tight” and need to be exposed to the air or “breathe” for them to be at their best. A decanter is always a welcome gift for any wine lover.

Whether you’re gifting these wine accessories alone or along with a nice bottle of wine the three handy wine gadgets mentioned are sure to please any wine lovers you know.