With all of us drinking a lot more wine at home than we used to, here's some of my favorite wine accessories to make your week night sipper just a little more fancy!
1. Wine Aerator - https://amzn.to/2EFefZ8 - $10.95
Attach this aerator to the top of one of your favorite full-bodied reds, and experience the bouquet and flavors open up instantly.
2, Wine Decanter - https://amzn.to/34I5IzJ - $29.95
Have a little more time for a luxurious evening of wine enjoyment? Decant your bottle into this decanter and feel extra fancy as your wine aerates with time.
What does aerating a wine do? Aerating exposes wine to oxygen, causing the volatile compounds (molecules that release into the air from liquid) to be vaporized. Some of the compounds are unwanted smells like sulfites that are added to wine to help preservation, which dissipate quickly with aeration. Others come from ethanol, which at high levels can cause wine to smell like rubbing alcohol, but at just the right levels, it is what causes those lovely bouquets or fruits or flowers in our glass.
The more oxygen that comes into contact with the wine, the more volatile compounds are released, causing the smell and taste to be more aromatic and enjoyable (at least for a little while).
When to use it: Aeration is best for bold, structured reds with high tannin, as the aeration loosens up and releases those tightly bound flavors. Be careful using too much aeration on light, delicate reds, as it can actually be too harsh and destroy their elegance. Aeration is not necessary for almost all white wines.
Fun Fact: A wine is aerating the second it is opened, so you can aerate a wine just by pouring it into your glass, these methods just help to quicken the process so you don't have to wait any extra moments to enjoy your favorite vino!
3. Wine Pump - https://amzn.to/32xc5mA - $14.97
This one is a must if you seem to never be able to finish a wine bottle in one night! I worked in restaurants for years and this Vacu Vin brand was used in all of them.
When you've had your glass or two, put the stopper on the top of the bottle and pump until you hear the "click". You are taking air out of the bottle, slowing down the oxidation process and preserving your wine to enjoy again the next night and the next! Even using these however, the wine will continue to lose flavor day after day, so don't wait too long to finish it off!
4. Wine cooler sleeves: https://amzn.to/3lrcOyr - $24.99
These wine coolers are so perfect for the heat wave it feels like we have been experiencing all summer in California.
If you are like me, and have been bringing some wine to park picnics with friends, definitely dress your wine with it's own little cooler sleeve before heading out the door, and you will be happy you did when your wine is still cold hours later.
Just throw the ice sleeve in the freezer for 6 hours, then slip it on your chilled wine before heading out the door, and voila! Refreshing wine for hours!
5. Wine Tumbler - https://etsy.me/3gAZa83 - $14.85
Wine Tumblers are all the rage during quarantine, with drinking moving away from bars, and more into parks, riverbanks, beaches, pools, patios, (and in my case, hot tubs!) Not to mention they are anti-spill and unbreakable, which is always handy.
They are such a fun and affordable gift to personalize, I made some for my bridesmaids, my parents, and even received some as an engagement gift from my cousin!
6. Wine Drink Markers
We all know the dreaded question, "Is this your glass?" at dinner parties. From funny to sophisticated, wine drink markers are the perfect way to keep track of your coveted glass at gatherings.
https://amzn.to/34P7wqm - $9.99
There's countless themed markers, from speedo-wearing men, dogs, cats, music symbols, sea animals, Happy Potter... you name it, you can probably find a wine charm of it!
https://amzn.to/31HD6Vr - $10.99
7. Wine Fridge - https://amzn.to/2YLDLmy - $369.99
Wine fridges are definitely more of an investment, but can be totally worth it if you are a wine collector, or happen to have many bottles on hand at all times.
Storing wine on it's side and at the right temperature it extremely important to preserving it, especially if you have some expensive, special occasion wine you are holding on to for a couple years.
I like this one since it has dual temperature gages, allowing you to have two different temperatures for your reds and whites.
Not enough extra cash or room for a fridge? No worries, just find a cool dark closet or basement, away from vibrations or sunlight, to store your wine and you should be just fine!
These wine accessories have come in handy to me time and time again, what are some of your favorite wine products??
