A cask full of gift ideas for the wine aficionado By ANNE SCHAMBERG December 7, 2003 People who love wine have lots of needs. These are crazed individuals -- like mad scientists -- who clutter their lives with the accoutrements of their obsession. And that's what makes it so easy to find holiday gifts for these thirsty folk. Shops and catalogs are overflowing with irresistible Bacchanalian gadgets from corkscrews and wine coasters to wheeled wine luggage with room for 12 bottles. Local department stores and kitchenware shops are fertile ground for wine-related possibilities. But shoppers should also check out wine shops and wine departments in grocery stores, not just for the obvious arsenal of bottles, but also because many of these beverage stores carry tools of the trade, including decanters and glassware. Online and catalog shoppers have an increasing number of choices. One of the best-known catalogs specializing in wine paraphernalia is International Wine Accessories at (800) 527-4072 or www.iwawine.com. Another catalog that came to my attention is Wine Country Gift Baskets at (800) 394-0394 or www.winecountrygiftbaskets.com. And many wineries offer mail-order access not only to their wines, but also to gifts sold in their tasting rooms. Here are my recommendations for the wine-lover on your list: Rabbit Lever Vacuum Pump: Wine should be good to the last drop. And that's where this new and effective device comes in. Pump the handle a few times and the necessary vacuum is created within a bottle. The unfinished wine then retains good-as-new quality for several days. I haven't spotted this Rabbit Lever Vacuum Pump yet in a local store, so you may have to head for a catalog such as International Wine Accessories ($29.95 plus shipping). It comes with two stoppers. The case for wine: Wine lovers really want wine -- lots and lots of wine. So find a big roll of wrapping paper, and bundle up a case of wine for that special connoisseur. One idea: Put together a mixed case of Syrah -- a.k.a. Shiraz, in Aussie-speak. It's one of trendiest red wine varietals, so any up-to-date collector would be happy to tuck a dozen bottles away in the cellar. For a merry mix, pick four bottles of Syrah from California, four from France's Crozes-Hermitage region in the northern Rhone and four from Australia. A good wine merchant -- and the Milwaukee area is lucky to have many -- can steer you to choices that fit your budget. Syrahs start at about $10 a bottle. Dozens of Syrahs are rated in the Dec. 15 edition of the Wine Spectator, a popular trade publication. Wine for women: Wine expert Leslie Sbrocco knows it's not a man's world. And, as she points out, the majority of wine buyers and drinkers in this country are women.</HEAD In "Wine for Women: A Guide to Buying, Pairing and Sharing Wine" (William Morrow, 2003, $24.95) Sbrocco pours her soul into party-planning tips, food-pairing insights and a wealth of wine basics, including price-calibrated shopping guides. She answers questions we've all been asking. Like what to do with leftover wine? Sbrocco suggests pouring it into ice cube trays for later use. Then add it to a sauce or pop it in your Sunday morning mimosas. "Oz Clark's 2004 Pocket Wine Guide": Whether you're curious about Abruzzo in Italy or Yarra Yering in Australia, this encyclopedia will answer your viniferous questions. Clark is known for the clarity of his writing and the breadth of his wine knowledge, making this information-packed, portable reference invaluable. In addition to the alphabetically-arranged entries, there's a list of favorite producers from around the world and handy vintage charts printed on the inside covers. Screwpull corkscrew: Again and again, I return to my trusty Screwpull wine opener. It makes use of a Teflon-coated helix to effortlessly lift the cork out of the bottle. If Santa is feeling flush this year, opt for the level model, which sells for about $100 in the classic edition and comes with an easy-to-use foil-cutter. Otherwise, go with the less expensive table model or pocket model. Look for a package that includes the foil cutter; expect to pay about $30. Hold that wine: The Riedel Cabernet Decanter was included on last year's list of top picks, and it's here again because it remains one of the least expensive, most serviceable decanters around. Made by a well-known Austrian glassmaker, this machine-blown decanter is big enough to hold one 750 milliliter bottle of wine. It can be used for any red wine, not just Cabernet. It's available at several local wine shops, including Downer Wine & Spirits, 2638 N. Downer Ave., and Sendik's Food Market, 500 E. Silver Spring Drive. Sendik's Brookfield, 18985 W. Capitol Drive, has the larger magnum version. All sell for $40 or less. A clear choice: Pottery Barn at Mayfair Mall carries some great-looking, not too expensive wine glasses by Spiegelau. The glass is elegantly thin and feels well-balanced in your hand. Five nicely-proportioned sizes are available: white wine, red wine, Burgundy or Pinot Noir, Bordeaux or Cabernet, and Champagne. All are priced at $10 each, or $54 for a set of six. Is there a doctor in the cellar? "Mon Docteur Le Vin" (My Doctor, Wine) with watercolors by Raoul Dufy and text by Gaston Derys was published in Paris in 1936. It's been resurrected and released in English translation (Yale University Press for the Henry McBride Charitable Trust, 2003, $19.95). And it provides a satirical view of the social and medical benefits of drinking wine. Short, colorfully illustrated chapters include: Wine for Healthy Kidneys; Wine as a Treatment for Obesity; and Wine Makes a Fine Figure of a Man. Most of the text is comprised of quaint, pithy quotes from various French medical authorities in the 1920s and '30s. Don't forget yourself. At $10 a bottle, the excellent 2001 Ravenswood Vintners Blend California Cabernet Sauvignon is as jolly a bargain as you're likely to find this season. So when all your shopping is done -- and all your money spent -- you can still afford to share this inexpensive red wine with a couple of elves. This is the first vintage of Cabernet from Ravenswood, a producer best known for its Zinfandel. It's got lots of ripe cherry fruit, a hint of cedar and a smooth finish that lingers like a happy memory. ------------ Anne Schamberg is a freelance writer who lives in Waukesha. You can reach her with online wine comments or questions at aschamberg@aol.com.