Drinking wine is no simple affair for the wine connoisseur with all that sniffing, slurping, sipping, gargling, gulping and spitting - not to mention the elaborate chit-chat about aromas, bouquets and so on.

For us mere mortals, however, it is much more straightforward: into the local off-licence, decide on the colour, look for a label which says "drink me", take it home, pop the cork and enjoy - which can be a bit hit and miss.

But you can join the experts without turning into Oz Clarke, by using the tools the experts use to ensure your wine is just as perfect as it can be before you settle down to drink it.

Here are six gadgets we think every wine lover should have in their cellar (cupboard, fridge - whatever):

Temperature Tracker - Wine Thermometer/stopper, £14.95.

I am told that the perfect temperature for white wine is 53 degrees Fahrenheit and for red 64 degrees, and this little device will help you come pretty close to perfection.

The whole thing is encased in a chrome bottle stopper to keep your wine closer to perfect for longer.

Cellar Companion - Hygrometer and thermometer £59.50

For anyone who is lucky enough to have a wine cellar, or who keeps a number of bottles in their home at any one time, this gadget will help you keep tabs on the surrounding air to avoid unpleasant surprises when you come to pop the cork.

It measures both humidity and temperature and is no Mickey Mouse when it comes to accuracy!

Box of tricks - four-piece wine set, £59.95.

This is a great gift for anyone who, well, drinks wine.

The set includes a foil cutter, a bottle stopper, a bottle necklace and a most ingenious air pressure cork popper which pushes air into the bottle and the cork gently out.

Wine Waiter - Lagne Decanter, £125.

As much of a work of art as a working part, but his decanter has been designed after consultation with leading wine experts around the world to ensure the perfect pour.

This handblown crystal decanter has a stainless steel drip catcher, a cork holder and a funnel complete with filters.

Corks away - Gilberts Rapid Extractor, £125.

Using one of these to remove the cork from your wine bottle has been proven to be the most effective and quickest way to do it - so I'm told.

Usually found in bars and restaurants these level action corkscrews will just clamp on to almost any surface - foolproof too!

n Chill in style - King Pin ice bucket £195.

It looks a little bit like silver bowling ball and is the sleekest ice bucket I've seen around.

Even if you're not a wine drinker just have one around, fill it with ice or just about anything really - it will still look fantastic.

All products are available from www.wheesh.com or call 0800 915 7820.