10 Wine Gadgets You Didn’t Know You Needed
Whether you are having dinner with friends, throwing a party, or just simply pouring yourself a glass at home to celebrate the end of a hard week, it’s always a great time for wine. One glass, or maybe two, or a bottle to share with friends and family - no wine night is complete without the right gadgets and accessories. You may consider yourself to be a wine connoisseur, but chances are there are a few essential items on this list that you are missing. The next time you’re buying your favorite bottle, do some shopping for yourself and top up your collection of these must - haves for wine lovers. Start checking off this list – or your holiday shopping list - and treat yourself and a loved one to something that will make your wine drinking experience everything you deserve.
Serving
Aerator
Attaching to the top of the bottle, an aerator increases the surface area of the wine as it is poured, much like a decanter. This creates a better aroma during pouring, enhances the wine’s flavor and feel, and offers a smoother finish. An aerator is an ideal item if you want to maximize the pleasure of wine for your guests - or for yourself!
Automatic Bottle Opener
Let’s be serious: when it’s wine time, there’s no time to fool around. No one wants to fuss with trying to get the wine opener to work or play around with a corkscrew that just won’t screw in properly. Make opening the wine as easy as drinking it, using an automatic bottle opener: put it on, press the button, and then start pouring!
Corksicle
When spontaneous visitors stop in but you don’t have any wine chilled, the Corksicle comes to the rescue. A permanent ice stick that fits in the bottle top of the wine, keep this in your freezer then just pop it in the bottle when your guests show up – no ice bucket required. 10 minutes later and you’re pouring perfectly chilled wine like you were just waiting to for someone to share your favorite white or rosé with. {INSERT 122117-3.JPG, CENTERED}
Wine Glass Pearls
Pre-filled with water, these wine glass "ice cubes" never dilute your beverage. Simply keep them in your freezer and bring them out for your next impromptu white wine drinking session, like when your neighbor pops in unexpectedly, or you just crave a chilled glass for yourself. After all, nobody wants warm or watery wine - but no wine is not an option!
Decanter
Make serving wine to friends (or yourself) an upscale experience and buy a decanter to use for pouring. Serving the wine out of a decanter instead of leaving it in the bottle allows the wine to breathe and encourages adequate aeration before drinking. By doing this, you’re maximizing the aromatic properties of the wine, allowing your guests to enjoy a smoother wine-drinking experience as you serve it.
Sipping
Üllo (or another sulfite remover)
Unfortunately, many people have to avoid wine due to the sulfite content, which can trigger headaches or mild allergic reactions in some. If you are one of those people, invest in Üllo, a sulfite remover, which purifies the wine once opened. The result is a sulfite-free beverage that you can sip and enjoy without any negative side effects. It also ups the health benefits of your wine when the sulfites are removed!
Wine Glass Charms
"That’s my wine!" Avoid the mix-ups (and accidentally emptied glasses) the next time you get your tribe together for wine by having a set of wine glass charms. Guests each get a different charm to attach their glass to help identify which glass is theirs. Sip, refill, and enjoy your own glass all evening long. (Try making the ones pictured! They’re easy. Follow our tutorial here.)
Storing
Wine Pump/Stoppers
If you like to just have one glass of wine with dinner and tend to go through one bottle in a week, it’s time you invested in a wine pump. After your evening glass, place the vacuum stopper in the bottle, place the pump on top, and use it to extract the extra oxygen from the bottle. This prevents the wine from oxidizing (going bad) as quickly, so you’re able to enjoy another glass the following night that’s just as fresh as when you opened the bottle.
Extra Vacuum Stoppers
Somehow, during all the evening laughing, gossiping, and catching up over a glass (or more) of wine, you seem to have lost your stopper! It happens to the best of us. If you have a few extra stoppers stashed in your drawer, you won’t be left in a pinch and can still be able to enjoy the rest of the wine all to yourself anytime in the following week.
A Smaller Bottle
Transferring a partially empty bottle of wine to a smaller bottle is a great way to make the wine last longer. The less air the wine is exposed to, the fresher it will stay for longer. Simply have a few smaller wine bottles on hand and transfer your wine to one to enjoy equally as smooth and aromatic wine on the second night
Whether you are dealing with the stress of a busy week, or simply enjoying an evening glass to help you wind down, nothing does the trick as well as the perfect glass of wine. Maximize your experience and enjoyment of your favorite red, white, or rosé with these essential gadgets. Buy them for friends, or stock up for yourself (you’re worth it). Your favorite bottle plus these must - have items are everything you need to take your wine experience to the next level.
