A nice bottle is all very well, but what about the accoutrements? Here are the best gifts for the oenophiles in your life.

Ever since mankind worked out how to transform grape juice into a heady libation, wine has played a pivotal role in society. The ancient Greeks were so fond of the stuff they even had a god dedicated to it – Dionysus – who, incidentally, was also the patron of fertility, religious ecstasy and ritual madness… interpret that how you will.

The Romans displayed an equal fervour for the cult of the grape. “Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words,” wrote Plautus, the fabled Latin playwright – which, despite the passing of several millennia, still has a strong resonance and particularly so at this time of year.

Whether you’re a modern day connoisseur or just a novice, there’s no denying that any wine-quaffing session worth its salt is enhanced by the right equipment. To find out what the budding sommelier needs to go pro this Christmas, we spoke to Mr Henry Chevallier Guild, director of Suffolk-based cider maker, Aspall, and self-professed wine addict, on what any wine aficionado will be grateful to find under the tree.

While decanters may just look like fancy table furniture to the uninitiated, there is in fact, a practical purpose to their use. “Many wines need to ‘breathe’ before drinking,” says Mr Henry Chevallier Guild. “Decanting them allows the tannins to open up by being exposed to the oxygen in the air, which helps bring out the depth of flavours in the wine.” This three-piece set by acclaimed British designer Tom Dixon will make a slick addition to any dinner soiree during the festive season and beyond, while L’Atelier du Vin’s mouth-blown version is an equally fine choice for the wine bon vivieur (or yourself, if you’re feeling somewhat indulgent).

When it comes to efficiency and considered design, the Land of the Rising Sun is pretty difficult to top, making this Japan Best cypress wood cooler a solid investment. “It’s well-known that many whites and rosés are best served chilled, but this also extends to light reds, too,” says Mr Chevallier Guild. “Maintaining them at the right temperature is crucial to achieving optimum flavour; this is made much easier if you have a thermally efficient cooler.” Tom Dixon’s take – made from the design material of the moment, copper – not only looks the part, but will keep a bottle of pinot grigio cool, crisp and zesty due to the superb conductivity of the metal; just what’s needed if you’re sat by a roaring log fire.

Ever wondered why wine glasses have such a peculiarly elongated shape? Stemware – as it is appropriately named – is designed not only to prevent your hands warming the wine but to raise the wine closer to your nose, so you can inhale the bouquet of olfactory notes given off by the liquid, enhancing the overall drinking experience. “From sharp, flinty and citrusy white right through to oaked, velvety and opulent red, give the wine the chance to put its best foot forward and serve it in the appropriate glassware with well-rounded bowl shapes to allow the aromas to develop,” says Mr Chevallier Guild. This set of six perfectly formed glasses from L’Atelier du Vin offers the ideal receptacles for a fruity sauvignon blanc, while Linley’s German-made crystal glasses will bring a touch of whimsical charm to proceedings with their intricately etched fish motif. Chin-chin.