Gift-giving during the holiday season has many forms of expression, including the all-important stocking stuffer.

These are typically gifts that are relatively inexpensive but useful or clever. When it comes to stocking stuffers for the wine enthusiast in your life, two things come to mind: a pretty darn good bottle of cheap wine that can be popped and enjoyed with friends anytime over the holidays, and a gadget that will enhance the wine experience.

Having attended a fair number of parties this holiday season and taken my turn opening more than a few bottles of wine, I can say with confidence that almost everyone needs a waiter's corkscrew. Those winged screwpull levers that vaguely resemble a toy helicopter simply won't do, especially when attempting to extract a deteriorating cork on an older bottle of wine.

A waiter's corkscrew is inexpensive (you can find a good one with double-lever action for less than $10) and dependable. And if a cork is compromised, you've got a much better chance of extracting the cork intact than you would using a winged screwpull.

If you are intent at stuffing the stocking with a bottle of wine, I have a few ideas about that as well.

The local Italian deli in my neighborhood is selling splits of La Marca prosecco for less than $10. It's a brut-style prosecco, so it's not too sweet. It's perfect for someone who wants just one glass of bubbly at lunch, and it stuffs a little sparkle in the stocking.

Another delicious but inexpensive wine is the Dry Creek Vineyards Chenin Blanc, one of the most underrated white wines in the United States. That's due in part to the fact that chenin blanc isn't as well-accepted as chardonnay or sauvignon blanc. But this $12 wine is a crowd pleaser that is always impeccably made.

And if you are one of those who believes a wine's first obligation to be red, then the Centine Rosso from Tuscany might pleasantly surprise you. It is probably the world's finest $10 red wine. Produced by the folks at Castello Banfi, the Centine Rosso is typically a blend of sangiovese and a variety of international grape varieties, such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon and syrah. Vintage after vintage, it always over delivers and never disappoints.

Finally, there is one of my favorite gadgets: the wine aerator. There are many brands, and they range in price from $15 to more than $30, depending upon the look. The Vinturi aerator is probably the most well-known, but the truth is I have yet to try one that didn't work to some degree.

The aerator is especially effective on young wines that need contact with oxygen to soften the tannins and unleash their full range of aromas and flavors. Prior to the invention of the aerator, the best way to aerate young red wines was to decant and wait for an hour or more for the oxygen to work it's magic.

Using an aerator achieves the same result instantly. And here's a little tip: If you have a decanter and enjoy the elegance and ceremony of decanting, use the aerator anyway and fast-forward your enjoyment of the wine.

Tasting Notes

Wines are rated on a 100-point scale. Wines are chosen for review because they represent outstanding quality or value, and the scores are simply a measure of this reviewer's enthusiasm for the recommended wine.

Georges Duboeuf 2015 Pouilly-Fuisse "Emile Beranger," France ($35) — The Emile Beranger is one of Duboeuf's prestige chardonnays and is priced accordingly. The vintage was outstanding in the Maconnais region, and Duboeuf capitalized on that. This wine is full and round without being heavy, offering complex aromas of pear and lemon and a subtle hint of wood spice. With bright acidity and exquisite balance, it is the consummate food wine. Serve it with smoked salmon, or pair it with pasta dishes in a light cream sauce. Rating: 91.

Georges Duboeuf 2015 Pouilly-Fuisse, France ($35) — This is Duboeuf's negociant Pouilly-Fuisse, the one insiders call the "flower label." It has an inviting lean streak, which isn't to say it is austere. Delicate notes of lemon and crisp pear, a hint of wood spice and a mouthwatering acidity make this an exceptional food wine. Pair it with grilled swordfish or roast chicken. Rating: 90.

Follow Robert on Twitter at @wineguru. To find out more about Robert Whitley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.