Accessories make lots of things better. Where would be without glitzy iPhone cases or the perfect pair of aviator shades? Even the wine scene has revolutionized its accessory game in recent years, moving beyond the classic corkscrew and a glass (though they are still necessities). Here, my short list of wine accessories that actually work well – and a few that you may want to reconsider.
1. We all know wine tastes better after it breathes, and there are plenty of products on the market that claim to aerate your wine faster or better than the one before it. Vinturi is the most common aerator; it works by pulling oxygen into the wine through suction as you pour through the device into your glass. While this is effective and will provide a taste boost, I find it to be a rather violent way to aerate your wine. I prefer a simpler, tried-and-true method: 30 minutes in a decanter. Plus, a decanter looks way better on the table than a plastic bobble. Still, if you must sip now, the Vinturi is an option.
Decanters and the Vinturi are widely available at most home goods stores and wine shops.
2. Temperature is one of the most important service elements with wine. We tend to serve our reds too warm and our whites too cold – but all this is a matter of taste, too! My new favorite tool to keep your wine cool is the Host Freeze Wine Glass. Store these stemless, double-layered plastic glasses in the freezer, then pour your preferred bottled and keep your wine cold for the entire time you are drinking. Double-walled glasses like these are also great for spirits, too.
Host Freeze glasses are available at most home goods stores.
3. Finally, there is the Coravin. We’ve made mention of this revolutionary device before, but it bears repeating. For the true oenophile, the Coravin is a must, allowing you to have a glass of rare, exclusive wine without actually opening a bottle. Instead, it inserts a surgical needle through the cork and extracts the wine, then adds inert gas into to prevent oxidation. Tap into any old bottle in your cellar for a glass, leaving the rest still remains intact in the bottle. It’s an amazing device, but be sure your wine is worth the $300 price tag.
Available at Milk & Honey in Wildwood
This article appears in March 2016.