Read more to discover some more rather strange gadgets- it might just be what you have been looking for all along.
Inspector Wine Gadget, always enjoying a good laugh, has decided to share with you some of the crazy(est) gadgets he has been investigating. Some might not appear to be too strange, but the idea sure is questionable! Take for example the Shelton Davis Pullman wine opener, yes you read right- wine opener, not Mardi Gras headgear or a feather duster, but in fact bottle opener inspired by the floral bouquet of an Argentinian Malbec!
Read more to discover some more rather strange gadgets- it might just be what you have been looking for all along.
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Opinions differ, especially when it comes to wine, whether it is a debate on what the best wine gadgets are or simply whether Right bank is better than Left bank or this region's Chardonnay better that that region. The one thing we all agree on is the actual drinking of the wine. Wine tastings and events, wine clubs and purely enjoying wine with meals has been common practise for centuries. Today wine gadgets can greatly enhance your drinking experience and make sharing wine a much more memorable occasion. Since we are talking 'tasting', we better be talking preserving as well; as tasting generally does refer to 'smaller' serving sizes and often not whole bottle consumption (but who are we to define the actual amounts!). We know you have the low down on swishing, swirling, sniffing (and spitting) so 'read more' on what we recommend you use.
Serving a wine should be easy enough (right?): Just open and pour. However, anyone who has ever struggled with a crumbling cork, or listened to a debate over whether the Cabernet they’re drinking needs to “breathe” more, knows that sometimes it’s not quite so simple. Decanting has one of those question marks. The decanting procedure remains mysterious and intimidating to many drinkers: Which wines need it? When to do it? And how? The answer is quite simple- The action of pouring a wine from a bottle into a decanter does most of the decanting (breathing) work, instantly! Fundamentally, decanting serves two purposes: to separate a wine from any sediment that may have formed and to aerate a wine in the hope that its aromas and flavour structure will be more vibrant and complex upon serving. Cheap, rough/harsh and heavy old (often expensive) wines benefit most from aeration. A particularly old wine (especially one 10 or more years old) should only be decanted 30 minutes or less before drinking, where a younger- more vigorous, full-bodied red wine can be decanted for an hour before serving. Too long and the wine will lose all flavour and might even become oxidised. You forgot to decant your wine before the guest arrived? Or you are simply just too excited to start drinking? Here’s how to speed up the “resting and breathing” timeframe. 1. Pour the wine once or twice between two decanters or between decanter and the wine bottle (there’s a gadget for that) 2. Swirl the wine (slowly) in the decanter to increase the air/wine ratio. 3. Get a wine aerator (fast and straight into your glass). 4. Buy a bottle of white wine or champagne to drink while you wait. Time will fly! Curious how to breathe some life in your wine?
Over the festive season you might have been exposed to a whole new world of wine (previously unknown to your taste buds) or that new years’ resolution of “drinking more and better wine” is still fresh in your memory - considering some form of wine storage, might be something to look into. Wine storage is almost as important as the wine these days, but keeping it in your closet might not be ideal! If you haven’t been blessed with a cool, not-too-damp basement that can double as a cellar, you have one of three choices. One, you start drinking your way through your collection. . .( Sure your friends would gladly assist you!) or two, you can improvise with some simple or unique wine racks in a safe place. Rule out your kitchen and laundry room, where hot and fluctuating temperatures could affect your wines, and look for a location not directly in line with light pouring in from a window. Option three is to get a wine storage fridge, if you are only keeping a few bottles at hand. TIP: keep your wine fridge in a cool place, it won’t have to work so hard- keeping that energy bill to minimum. When receiving a great bottle of wine- displaying the “precious” liquid might make quite the impact, so if you are in the lucky position of having your wine “resting” safely, take a look at how you can display your “Wine of the week” (even if just for a few moments). Where to put all that wine? Find the perfect storage and display solution.
Do wine isles (not to even mention wine shops) intimidate you? Do you feel a little "lost in translation" with that sea of wine labels in front of you? Or are you always choosing the same wine, because you fear being disappointed by another? Christmas might have brought along some fancy new technology, or you have vowed to drink better wine this year- we look at the technical and 'away-from-the-bottle' gadgets to get you wine-ready for the year. From pairing vino with food to finding the perfect gift for your connoisseur father-in-law, we keep our promise of introducing you to the little things (in this case apps) you didn’t know you needed, simplifying your life one sip at a time! Regardless of whether you’re a wine snob and refuse to drink from a bottle with a screw cap, or could care less and happily swig from a box, the following wine apps will help you better understand this refined libation.
As the new year is quickly approaching and you are getting everything ready for the big count down. . . I bet you have thought about sabering the bottle of Champagne at least once in your life! For those of you who don't have a sword or some fancy saber just lying around the house (shocking, I know!). . . Madeline Puckette from Wine Folly shows us how to saber that bottle with a mere teaspoon or butter knife! If you are intrigued and want to know more- perhaps you're THAT person always asking "why?" or just have a bit of scientist in you OR you are just a big Food Network fan. . . have a look at Alton Brown's explanation and demonstration! Remember that sabering is a dangerous act, please consider your safety and the safety of those around you!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Just because Christmas is over, does not mean the entertaining has stopped. . . It is time to bring out the Bubbly and a whole lot of different gadgets and accessories! Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right! Most of us has a special feeling towards sparkling wine - because it means celebration , whether it is drowning the sorrows of the year past or celebrating the fact that you have conquered yet another exam, champagne is in order! None the less- even the wildest parties need some sort of gadget assistance! Cheers to bringing in the new year with one of these. . . "Read more" to see what you have been missing out on. . .
It is that time of the year again- you are either entertaining or being “entertained”. As the entertainer, everyone-and their long lost love (or cousin) is at your front door for Christmas lunch/dinner, and you are going all out- big meal, carefully selected wine and elaborate table and/or house decoration! Since time has caught up to you, let us help you with those festive favours- small yet useful and interactive (yes we can read thoughts), but also not clearing your bank account (further). On the other hand if you are the guest, it would seem rude to come empty handed to such an elaborate meal, and since you have already consumed the wine you thought of bringing. . . Yes we understand- it was a good bottle of wine and you had already decided that they wouldn't appreciate it. Here’s to helping you out with the perfect “thank you for inviting me” gift- practical and much appreciated by the hostess (extra dessert for you!). Seems like these bottles are ready to get this party started. . .
You haven't gotten around to buying that cool corkscrew you saw on our last post or waiting for it as christmas gift … Here is how to open your bottles of wine in the meantime! Thanks wineta.com for showing us the ways..
An open wine is the best wine and in any case it is never good to keep things bottled up – so lets talk corkscrews! Have you resorted to drinking boxed wine- because you had no other choice, or ever bought a good bottle of wine, only to have it stare at you all night? If you have ever wondered what the fuss over corkscrews are- you are part of the privileged few who own an awesome corkscrew, but those of you who have ever struggled to open a bottle of wine or have tried the countless YouTube versions “How to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew”, or simply didn’t have a corkscrew to open your bottle - you will understand and appreciate our NEED to discuss this topic! The corkscrew is that very essential tool, which every kitchen and bar must have (and might even consider having multiple- just in case). In fact, Inspector Wine Gadget never even travels without one (unless maybe when travelling down South to screw-cap country), that’s just a risk one doesn’t take. Centuries have passed and the “steel-worm” is still the main component in most modern day corkscrews. Now here is what you need to know when choosing your corkscrew. . .
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