The best wine travel gift of all would be a carry-on boarding pass for that bottle of pinot noir you picked up on your last trip to Sonoma. But since I haven’t figured out how to snag one of those, I figured the least the Forbes Travel Guide correspondent for the Bay Area and Wine Country could do was share some other wine gifts that will appeal to travelers who love vino:
There’s nothing like drinking champagne from elegant crystal flutes, but since crystal doesn’t travel especially well, I like to have these acrylic ones in my bag. The stem unscrews making them compact, and they’re great for sipping bubbly on a hike or in the Jacuzzi. $5.75
Heading to a party with a bottle of wine tucked under your arm has its pitfalls. I once stumbled down a flight of stairs and watched in horror as a bottle of port I was carrying turned into a projectile and exploded when it hit the wall. I’ve graduated to a purse carrier like this one, which is fashionable as well as practical, since it has a padded interior and a little pocket for a corkscrew. $38.25
This is one of those simple yet brilliant products that falls under the why-didn’t-I- think-of-this category. When traveling, all you have to do is place your precious cargo in this vinyl pouch shaped just like a wine bottle. The bubble wrap layer inside keeps your wine cushioned and secure. And just in case there is a mishap, the end of the pouch seals. $5.99 for a two-pack
If you’re one of those people who worships the wine inside the bottle, but never got comfortable with using a corkscrew, this is the gadget to put atop your Christmas list. Coravin’s ingenious “Wine Access Technology” lets you tap into the bottle and pour with a thin needle that goes through the cork. Argon in the air then pressurizes the bottle allowing your cabernet to flow freely. The rest of the wine stays safe in the bottle, and you don’t have to worry about its flavor starting to deteriorate before you can get home. Starting at $279
The Wine Check Luggage Combo Set
It can be a bit nerve-racking to turn all those fine bottles you’ve acquired on your trip through France over to a shipping company, and trust them to pack and send everything safely to your home. Why not pack the wine yourself and then check them with the rest of your luggage? With this 12-bottle tote, you can do just that. Fingers crossed that the TSA officer doesn’t have a taste for Haut-Brion. $75
Photo Courtesy of iStock
