Hey, thanks for joining me on the couch! Today we’re talking about wine gadgets. From corkscrews to decanters there are so many wine tools on the market it can be overwhelming. At couch + cork we’re all about keeping things chill and also saving money so today we’re opening up the couch + cork HQ wine drawer to show you what we actually use and tell you where to get it and why. Please note: this post includes affiliate links. If you purchase an item you've gotten using one of our links, couch + cork will earn a little money. 

A Peek Behind the Veil

So, here’s a picture of our wine drawer… don’t mind all those corks. I don’t know why we save them, either.

You’ll notice that there’s not too much in there. That’s because much of what is on the market is completely unnecessary. One of the great things about wine is that you need very little in the way of tools. That said, there are a few things that will make enjoying wine easier. Let’s start with wine storage.

Wine Storage: Before and After Opening

All wine should be stored in a cool, dark place away from appliances, temperature fluctuations and light. You do not need a wine fridge. These are expensive and unless you can afford a very large, very high quality one, they’re not worth the investment. The best place to keep your wine is in the basement or a closet. Yes, please take your red wine off the counter! 

At couch + cork, we store our wine in our front closet which is dark and cool using a few simple wooden racks. We suggest this 18-bottle rack from Amazon. You can put it under clothes on the floor of a closet. Wine should be stored on its side and this rack allows you to do that and place it out of the way. Another great place are pantries that are not located above your stove/oven.

After opening wine, use a wine stopper to keep it for up to three days. After that, it’s not going to be good (although great for cooking).

If you don’t drink that much, consider purchasing a Vacu Vin. These handy, affordable tools keep wine for up to ten days. 

A Note on Sparkling Wine

Do not attempt to put a sparkling cork back in a bottle of bubbly. And do not use a traditional wine stopper or Vacu Vin for saving undrunk sparkling. Get some of these super cheap but awesome sparkling wine stoppers and drink within three to five days.

Wine Openers

When it comes to opening wine there are some seriously weird options on the market. But believe me, the simplest option is the best. Fun fact: before moving into my first apartment in Brooklyn, NY in 1999 I bought a $50 box of kitchen supplies from IKEA that included a winged corkscrew. It just broke about a year ago (I was so sad I turned it into a necklace I actually wear sometimes). You don’t need an expensive corkscrew. A winged corkscrew is one of the easiest and most dependable ways to go.

If you have a winged corkscrew, get a foil cutter like this one, which has four tiny wheel blades that won’t cause injury when blindly reaching into your wine drawer. These two tools are all you need.

That said, I love my Coutale waiter’s friend. Waiter’s friends are what you’ll see at most restaurants that have a bottle list. Coutale are French-made and have nice heft. These are not necessary but if you want to upgrade from your winged corkscrew, this is the way to go.

Finally, if you buy older bottles or want to start collecting, consider adding an ah so-style opener to your collection. These are perfect for brittle corks. Using an ah-so can prevent breaking the cork and having to pick pieces out of your glass.

Glasses

Full disclosure: I don’t like stemless wine glasses. That said, I understand that stemmed glasses break more easily and are harder to wash so for that, and only that reason, I will say if you have babies, dogs or limited storage, these are good ones. Honestly, stemless is fine for the everyday wine drinker. For me, as a wine professional and avid Instagrammer, I don’t like that my wine warms too quickly and I also hate the fingerprints.

For stemmed glasses you don’t need Riedel (rhymes with “needle”). You don’t need a million different shapes. I recommend these glasses to start your collection.

One of the trickiest things about wine glasses is keeping them sparkling clean. Stay tuned for a post on how to clean them and get a step ahead by purchasing a polishing cloth. These really help however make sure you’re gentle. I can’t tell you how many bowls I’ve snapped right off the stems because of my vigorous polishing.

These are a great choice, but if you prefer white I have and love these Riedel cloths. I prefer to polish while holding two cloths which is why I recommend the gray ones.

Who’s On First?

With covid-19 getting the headlines I guess it’s a good time to say that sharing wine glasses, accidentally or on purpose, is never a good idea. I’m sure there’s some science behind the alcohol and killing viruses but you can’t be too safe, especially during flu season. 

My only nonessential wine gadgets are charms and markers.

Wine glass charms attach to the stem or magnetically like these, my new fav way to assign glasses and help guests keep things straight.

You can use a wine glass marker instead of or in addition to a charm, too. Check out pinterest for fun, easy hand-lettering. Want your guests’ glasses to look especially good? Just use their initial!

Let it Breathe

Unpopular I know, but I have never, do not currently and will never own a decanter. They are a giant pain in the neck. They’re tough to clean, store and most importantly: tough to dry which can lead to funk. Also, they require a lot of waiting. A decanter allows you to pour wine out of the bottle which oxygenates it and it increases the surface area exposed to the air allowing the wine to oxygenate far faster. This is especially important for older red wines but honestly, aerating makes any red wine taste better. And that’s why I use one of these puppies: a red wine pourer aerator. 

This is one of my favorite gadgets and ALWAYS in use. I really should buy a few more. When I do, this will be the one. Many wine pourers come in a gift box so go with the simply-packaged choice for the best value.

Final Notes

If you’re just starting out and don’t want to spend a ton of money I recommend starting with a winged corkscrew and wine aerator pourer. If you have a corkscrew, get the pourer and a vacu vin. These are definitely priorities for people who want to start enjoying wine regularly and will help your wine last longer.