If you browse through a catalog such as Wine Enthusiast’s retail arm, there is a dizzying array of wine accessories. While many of these are fun to look at, it is not necessary for the average wine consumer to stock up on all of them. Unless you are buying a gift for a friend, you can keep things simple.

For most people, a trusty corkscrew will suffice. Unless you only drink wines under screw cap or crown cap (although it is getting easier to do so), you will need a cork screw. There are various models available from fancy counter-top options to the very basic waiter style openers.  I find that I am very pleased with a heavy duty waiter style corkscrew with a serrated knife attached. The knife is helpful in cutting the foil from the bottle.

I have been less happy with the stand alone foil cutters I have purchased in the past. They have either cut through the foil insufficiently or have done so at too high a point on the neck (I prefer to remove the foil below the lip of the bottle so that the wine doesn’t come into contact with the metal) . Hence, I have stopped using them altogether. Also, in many cases, you can slide the foil off the neck in one piece, making it even simpler.

Once the wine is opened, you’ll need some wine glasses and here I would recommend making an investment in crystal. One doesn’t need to purchase a myriad of different size stemware, but the use of a crystal-grade wine glass can enhance your enjoyment of the wine. Both Spigelau and Riedel make glasses at the lower-end of the spectrum, priced at about $10 per stem. An all-purpose glass will hold you in good stead for nearly all wines, with the exception of sparkling wines.

Beyond the corkscrew and glasses, most people don’t really need anything else. So you can save your pennies for buying wine instead.