If you are a wine lover, there’s something special about having everything you need to open, drink and store your favorites. I’ve tried my fair share of wine gadgets over the years and have narrowed down my top picks in this post. These are things that I use regularly and love — my favorite tools, gadgets and accessories to enhance the experience!
Waiter’s Corkscrew
Out of all the different types of corkscrews out, many somms recommend the waiter’s corkscrew by Pulltap. It’s not fancy but it’s a classic for a reason — very durable, and the controlled hinge makes removing stuck-in corks smooth and easy.
Riedel Decanter
There are many beautiful decanters out there but Riedel decanters get me every time. The crystal is very thin and the lines are so elegant. The one I linked to is probably their most basic shape and a good price point, but if you really want to blow it out, go for this stunner.
Decanter Cleaning Beads
Decanters are gorgeous and functional, but thanks to their unique shape, they can be a hassle to clean. These decanter cleaning beads are pretty clever — you throw a few in your decanter with bit of water, swirl them around the base, and the steel balls will roll over and remove hard-to-reach wine stains. Rinse and re-use!
Foil Cutter
Most somms simply use the small knife built into their wine opener to make a clean cut in the foil, but if you’re drinking or serving wine at home, a good-quality foil cutter can make this process both safer and seamless. I have this one and it’s been easy to use with a smooth cut.
Bottle Chiller
I have posted about this more times than I can count, but it is that amazing. This really truly keeps your wine bottles chilled for hours! The sleeve fits most 750 ml wine bottles (although I do struggle getting some really large bottles inside). It’s stainless steel, double-walled, and vacuum-insulated. I have never found anything that works as well as this chiller does!
Wine Away
If you’re like me then several of your favorite reds have overturned in a less-than-optimal location. Wine Away is great to get wine stains out of carpets, upholstery, and even clothes. I always keep a few bottles on hand for wine emergencies. They make a travel-sized version, as well.
Vacu Vin
The classic Vacu Vin really helps to preserve your wine. I find that I can get an extra couple of days out of a bottle that has been vacuum-sealed with this tool. If you want to keep your wine fresh, this is a strong purchase that won’t set you back much.
Champagne Stopper
Sparkling wine can be notoriously hard to save because bubbles escape quickly the minute a bottle is popped open. This crown sealer does an exceptional job keeping open sparkling wine fresh so you can enjoy it the next day. The cap provides an airtight seal thanks to a switch-style valve that completely locks in carbonation.
If you are a sparkling wine lover, check out my post here with more to know.
Wine Discs
Even if you don’t do professional wine tastings, these pouring disks are great and will help to prevent drips and red stains on your pretty tablecloths! These are cheap and easy to use, and you can rinse and reuse multiple times.
Wine Coaster
Pretty enough to leave out all the time and saves your counters from all the drips and drops! Nambe is one of my favorite home brands for their sculptural accessory lines, and this wine coaster is a perfect example of that.
Wine Carriers
These wine tote bags are made of durable neoprene. Love these for carrying wine to parties or dinner, or even to use as a gift bag (just add a bow!) I always keep a few on hand for transporting and gifting.
Insulated Wine Bag
Another one of my wine transport go-tos. This is a 2-bottle transport case that has a padded divider in the middle. It’s also insulated so does a good job of keeping the wine at temperature as you are carrying it.
Bubble Wrap for Suitcase
This works in a pinch when you need to get a must-have bottle home from a trip! The bubble wrap sleeve is easy to pack and also reusable.
Durand
If you are into older wines, then you know it can be tricky to get the corks out intact. The Durand is a wine-opening device specifically for removing compromised and fragile corks from older wines. This isn’t for everyone, but if you are opening 10+ year old wine, then it’s good to have one on hand.
Coravin
This one is a splurge but will be worth it for some. The Coravin system allows you to pour wine without pulling the cork, and save the rest of the bottle for months (or even longer). This wine-by-the-glass system “taps” the cork of a bottle, extracts a controlled pour and then fills the vacant space back up with argon gas to prevent oxidation. Pretty genius.
Cheers!
xx—BB
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