Growing up within the Agony family there was never any shortage of quirky idiosyncrasies that have scarred moulded me into the gentleman I have become today. Take, for example, the ceremony that would occur whenever a bottle of wine was empty: Before anyone could jettison anything into a waste receptacle, it was met with a cry from my beloved mother, “Don’t throw out the cork—I’m saving it for the elephants!” “Which elephants, mother?” I would ask. Her reply? “I don’t know … just the elephants.”

Now, I’m certain that this is as bemusing to you as it was me. Indeed what is more perplexing were the plastic bags full of corks stored in the pantry for some elephants who I can only imagine are building a raft large enough to escape the African continent and start a new world order. Why anyone would want to collate all evidence of their libations in one place is beyond me; a not-so-subtle reminder of the week’s debauchery. Just like the clinking sound of glass on recycling bin night, I’d rather not be reminded—that’s why I have someone put the bins out for me weekly.

Speaking of all things wine-related, designer, Aurélian Barbry has created a set of cork wine accessories for Danish retailer, Normann Copenhagen, whose website makes me feel is that I should be sniffing a wall and listening to dub-step in a darkened room. Entitled “Wine & Bar”, Mr Barbry says, ”The cork-based design and expression is organic, their function is clear. The source of inspiration was traditional wine production, in which cork was used to seal the bottle.”

Including a drip catcher, a foil cutter and beer and wine openers and bottle stoppers, each set is no more than €20 making them an affordable gift for any wine connoisseur. Or elephant, for that matter.

 

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