Wine accouterments: Assessing the worthwhile from the superfluous
Essential Wine Accessories for Home Enthusiasts
Wine enthusiasts, take note! We've compiled a list of essential wine accessories, as recommended by wine professionals, to elevate your at-home wine experience.
First and foremost, a corkscrew is the fundamental tool for opening wine bottles. Options range from traditional waiter's style corkscrews to modern electric versions.
Properly shaped wine glasses are crucial for enhancing the aroma and tasting experience of different wines. Stemmed glasses are popular due to their ability to prevent hand warmth from affecting the temperature and keep fingerprints at bay. Stemless glasses with insulated lids are gaining popularity, especially for outdoor use.
A decanter is useful for aerating wines, particularly reds, to bring out flavors and aromas. This process can make young, tannin-rich red wines more approachable and intensify their aromas.
Wine stoppers are essential for preserving unfinished bottles and maintaining freshness.
For keeping white, rosé, or sparkling wines chilled during serving, a wine cooler or ice bucket is a must-have.
A wine thermometer can help ensure wine is served at the ideal temperature. White wines should be served between 7 and 13 degrees Celsius, while red wines should be served between 13 and 18 degrees Celsius.
Wine racks provide organized storage and display of wine bottles at home.
Advanced tools like the Coravin system allow wine to be poured glass by glass through the cork, preserving the wine from oxidation.
Other useful but less essential items include drip-proof collars, wine totes for transport, and insulated tumblers with lids for outdoor enjoyment.
Investing in the wine itself or wine books is more worthwhile than buying wine accessories, according to wine experts. However, these items collectively support optimal wine enjoyment from opening to serving and storing at home.
Yvonne Heistermann, President of the Sommelier Union, suggests looking for a waiter's knife with a hollow space in the middle of the corkscrew. A sommelier uses the small knife on the waiter's knife to remove the protective foil on the bottle neck. Konstantin Baum, a Master of Wine, recommends using a waiter's knife with one arm for opening wine bottles.
Konstantin Baum advises against using a water glass for pouring wine, as it doesn't do justice to a fine wine. Similarly, Yvonne Heistermann advises against using a Champagne flute for sparkling wine, as too many aromas are lost, especially with high-quality sparkling wines.
Carafes require care to be clean and odor-free, especially on the inside. Aerators placed on the bottle are not recommended due to potential lack of maintenance.
Decanting can make the pronounced acidity of a young, acidic Riesling more harmonious. Decanting can also benefit young white wines, particularly complex, barrel-aged Chardonnays or Grauburgunder. Not all older wines should be decanted, as they are already very unstable.
References:
[1] Heistermann, Y. (n.d.). Essential Wine Accessories. Retrieved from https://www.wine-facts-for-free.com/essential-wine-accessories.html
[2] Baum, K. (n.d.). Essential Wine Accessories. Retrieved from https://www.masterofwine.org/learn/wine-knowledge/wine-tasting/essential-wine-accessories
[3] Wine Enthusiast. (n.d.). Essential Wine Accessories. Retrieved from https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/essential-wine-accessories/
[4] Coravin. (n.d.). Coravin Wine Preservation. Retrieved from https://www.coravin.com/pages/wine-preservation
A curated lifestyle can be enhanced with essential wine accessories, such as the food-and-drink items of a corkscrew, properly shaped wine glasses, a decanter, wine stoppers, a wine cooler or ice bucket, and a wine thermometer. Also, home-and-garden enthusiasts might appreciate wine racks for organized storage and display of wine bottles.
