Don’t get me wrong, we love bottles of wine as gifts. Always. But if you want to look beyond those wonderful glass packages containing liquid delights, then we have a few ideas. Looking for practical? Check. Looking for fun and funky? Check. We’ve covered the wine waterfront, so to speak.

Ideas from Bold:

Cork Lazy Susan Kit

As I toss another wine cork from a really nice bottle, sometimes I sigh deeply, because I’m a pack rat by nature, and these corks remind me of good times, good friends and good vino. So on my holiday gift wish list will be the Cork Lazy Susan Kit from the Wine Enthusiast catalog. There are at least 12 different items to help collect corks (trivets, animal figures, serving tray), but the $129.95 lazy susan would be useful, too. I’m nothing if not practical. Information: www.wineenthusiast.com.

“Inventing Wine: A New History of One of the World’s Most Ancient Pleasures,” by Paul Lukacs

The only thing better than reading while sipping a good glass of wine is reading a good book about wine at the same time.

Paul Lukacs’ book (he’s the author of two previous books about wine) is truly a history book. From the ancients to today, wine’s journey has taken some stops, starts and a lot of odd turns from the bottle to glasses made for every varietal. You’ll find stories about what made different cultures grow certain grapes, why wine was invented (it’s all about pleasure of some kind), and some ideas about where vineyards may take us. Pack this up with a bottle (W.W. Norton & Company; $28.95; 350 pages) of your favorite vino and it’s a gift that will last for a while.

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Ideas from Earthy:

Tipsy Wine Glasses

You can never go wrong with “fun.” And when that fun is also ripe for jokes and teasing, not to mention for the wine itself, you know you have a winning gift.

I absolutely love the Tipsy Wine Glasses from Uncommon Goods. (Are you reading this, friends?) Bent slightly along the stem, the glass indeed looks just a bit tipsy. Says the catalog: “Don’t be fooled by their inebriated appearance, these giddy goblets are built to stay upright with even the most generous glassful. Now, if only the rest of us were built that way.” Gotta love a company with that kind of humor.

It’s a 12-ounce glass, dishwasher safe. Set of two: $25. Set of four: $48. www.uncommongoods.com

Wine Club Membership

While this gift idea isn’t novel, it truly is one of the smartest gifts you can give to both inexperienced wine drinkers and seasoned aficionados. Membership in a wine club is a great way to learn about wines from around the world and have them shipped directly to your door multiple times a year. Typically a club will ship either six or 12 mixed bottles at various frequencies – you pay for the wine (usually discounted) and the shipping. Average $130-190 for a case every 3 months, but many clubs offer a deeply discounted introductory rate.

Some of the best features to look for: no membership fee; allow you to choose whether you want all red, all white or a mix; have a money-back guarantee; and provide an online preview of wines, detailed tasting notes, and expert advice. Some suggestions are listed below, but be sure to do your research. I’d start with the Wine Club Directory, which provides customer reviews of various wine clubs. www.wineclubdirectory.net

WSJwine from the Wall Street Journal: www.wsjwine.com

Wine of the Month Club: www.wineofthemonthclub.com

Laithwaites Wine Club: www.laithwaiteswine.com

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Ideas from Dry:

Wine Bites: Simple morsels that pair perfectly with wine” by Barbara Scott-Goodman

Because is there really such at thing as too many cookbooks? Those who love to entertain will drool over this beautiful book of 64 bite-sized recipes and suggested wine pairings. Recipes include caramelized onion & cheese squares, chopped egg salad & salmon caviar toasts and chicken satay skewers with peanut dipping sauce. Author Barbara Scott-Goodman is a 2007 James Beard Award nominee with more than a dozen cookbooks to her name. ($24.95 from Crate & Barrel)

Decanter cleaning beads

Now here’s a stocking stuffer I hope someone gives me this year (ahem, Mr. Dry). Decanters are wonderful things for opening up the aromas and tastes in a great bottle of wine. But keeping them clean is not so easy. Pour these stainless steel beads ($19.95 www.wineenthusiast.com) carefully into the base of the decanter, add a bit of water and swirl. Voila! Just like new! Combine these magic beads with a decanter drying stand ($29.95 www.wineenthusiast.com) for a squeaky clean holiday gift basket.