You’re on a deserted island. And you have a bottle of wine. Makes sense, right? You can only choose one of your fancy wine gadgets - which one do you pick?
We asked our Bright Cellars’ community which fancy wine gadgets they can’t live without, and here are the results.
THE RESULTS
- 31% of respondents said they couldn’t live without their aerator/decanter.
- 29.2% of respondents voted for their automated opener.
- 24.4% of respondents said they love their wine fridge.
- 8% of respondents said they couldn’t live without their sleeve to cool down wine.
- 6.1% of respondents said they love their bath caddy to hold their wine glass.
- 1.3% of respondents voted for their wine thermometer.
We also asked our Bright Cellars Instagram community, and we received some more answers:
- Do I have to pick just one?!
- My good old fashioned regular bottle opener
Which fancy wine gadget is a must-have for wine lovers? Looks like the aerator/decanter, automated opener, and wine fridge are popular favorites.
Other wine accessories we love include foil cutters, wine bottle stoppers, and wine glass charms to ensure each guest knows whose glass is whose.
What are the benefits of aerating my wine?
Overall, aerating your vino before your first sip helps enhance your wine experience.
There are two routes when it comes to aeration. We suggest decanting for red wine drinkers or those who opt for a cheaper bottle of wine.
Is decanting necessary? No, but boy it makes a difference in the taste, aroma, and experience of your wine.
After being stored for a period of time, wine can give off some funky odors when it’s first poured. This is especially true for cheaper wines. Aerating your wine removes those funky smells and brings out the original aromas the winemaker intended for you to experience.
The increased oxygen exposure softens astringent tannins, letting fruity and floral aromas have their time in the spotlight and improving overall taste.
Decanting does take a little bit of prep time. For most wines, we recommend decanting at least two hours before pouring, but various wines decant at different speeds.
There are many shapes, sizes, and varieties of decanters, but a traditional style would serve a beginner best.
If you don’t have the time, vessel, or patience for decanting (we get it!), an aerator is a great option.
It looks much like a bottle stopper and inserts into the neck of the wine bottle. As you pour through the device, the wine is oxygenated similarly to a decanter.
In Vino Finito
If you’re interested in learning more about handy wine tools, check out our top 10 wine tool suggestions for beginners!
