As the weather warms, you can expect the wine to flow. The best way to set yourself up for success? Spring cleaning your bar cart! We're not talking Marie Kondo style. After all, everything wine related sparks joy. Just use this handy checklist of wine bar cart essentials, and you'll be set for the warm months ahead!
Wine Bar Cart Essentials for Spring Sipping
Corkscrew
We’ve all been there. You arrive at the park with some friends and a bottle of wine and... no corkscrew. What good is a bottle of wine if you can’t open it? Invest in a waiter's friend for your bar cart and a travel corkscrew for those spontaneous wine moments.
(Pssst! If you're in a pickle, here are the best ways to open a bottle of wine with things around the house.)
Ice bucket or wine chiller
Springtime is generally reserved for white wines or lighter bodied reds that are beginning to be chilled to perfection. A trendy ice bucket is a must-have for spring hosting. Don't forget to add some salt in you're in a hurry! Here are some other foolproof ways to chill your wine fast.
Bottle stoppers
The last thing you want to do is waste precious wine! Invest in a set of bottle stoppers, so you can keep multiple wines at the same time.
Wine preservation system
Similar to bottle stoppers, a wine preservation system will allow you to enjoy as much of the bottle as you’d like, while simultaneously making your wine last longer. You could look into a vacuum system or a blanket system like Coravin Pivot.
Foil cutter
Sure, you could struggle with the knife on a waiter’s friend and slice away at the foil covering your cork. Or, you could do it like the pros do. Our best kept secret is a wine foil cutter for clean cut, easy removal that makes you look like you could open a bottle of wine in your sleep. (This goes without saying, but please don’t attempt that at home, folks.)
Wine rack
From brass to bamboo, wine racks allow you to express your wine self. When you put your Bright Cellars wine bottles on display, you get to see your full collection in all its glory – cool wine labels and all.
But that’s not the only reason we recommend a rack – storing wine on its side keeps the corks from drying out. Cheers to that beautiful combination of style and functionality.
Aerator
Every wine lover should own an in-bottle aerator. It’s an easy way to take your wine from good to great, without having to wait for a glass.
Decanter
If you’ve got a little more patience and an appreciation for drinking wine right, invest in a decanter. Like an in-bottle aerator, it will aerate your wine to give you the smoothest, balanced flavors like the winemaker intended.
Polishing cloth
Spotty glassware isn’t the end of the world, but it can ruin the vibe. Put your best glass forward by investing in a polishing cloth to keep your glassware spic and span.
Silicone wine glasses for on-the-go
Springtime is all about bringing your wine outside. Keep your fancy barware safe at home and get yourself a set of plastic or silicone glasses that are picnic, pool, park and beach safe.
Serving tray for charcuterie
While this isn’t a wine accessory persay, a serving tray will come in handy during your imbibing activities.
Wine Bar Cart Essentials for Making Spring Wine Cocktails
Cocktail shaker
Shake up or simply stir your ingredients inside a classic cocktail shaker. It's all about the technique!
Jigger
The key to a good cocktail is correct proportions. Use a two-sided jigger to measure out key ingredients like liquor or simple syrup.
Muddler
You could use the back of a spoon to muddle, but something about owning your very own muddler makes you feel like an alchemist. Muddle citrus, fresh mint, or other herbs for that fresh-out-of-the-garden flavor.
Cocktail spoon
Give your work of art cocktail a swirl with a long stemmed cocktail spoon.
Citrus press
This press will come in handy when your cocktail recipe calls for fresh lime juice or a splash of lemon.
How to Store Wine
Did you know one of the most common wine mistakes is not storing wine properly?
Follow these rules to make sure your wine doesn’t turn – always store your wine in a cool, dark place without exposure to sunlight. UV rays can be surprisingly harmful to wine and can do a lot of damage in a short period of time.
So, while your wine may look aesthetically pleasing displayed atop your bar cart, we’d actually recommend storing it somewhere safer instead. Protect your bottles by keeping them in the bottom kitchen cabinet, pantry, cupboard, cellar, or even the fridge, away from the light.
Remember: You should being storing wines with corks on their side to prevent the cork from drying out. Screw top wines on the other hand can stay upright.
In Vino Finito
What else are you adding to your wine bar cart? Let us know in the comments!
