As any oenophile knows, storing and serving your wine correctly is essential to enjoy it at its best. And a recent flurry of stylish wine gadgets that go beyond the standard corkscrew and bottle stop has made it even easier to serve wine like a sommelier at home. These stylish gadgets make drinks easy to pour without popping the cork, allow wines to breathe effectively, and increase the life of your favourite bottles once opened.
So, in the Noted edit of eight wine gadgets for 2024, we’ve highlighted our favourite tools to complement your wine collection – plus, sought expert advice from Jacques Savary De Beauregard, wine director at GX Hospitality, on how to serve and store your wine.
£40, mykelvin.co.uk
Kelvin K2 Smart Wine Monitor
The genius of the Kelvin K2 Smart Wine Thermometer is its accuracy. The small thermometer sits around your wine bottle and, using Bluetooth wireless connectivity, pairs with an app on your smartphone, sending you detailed information on the temperature of your wine. This means you can relax on the sofa and your phone will alert you when your wine is at the optimum temperature – banishing the need for any wasted trips to the wine chiller or fridge.
Eto Wine Decanter
Not your average wine decanter, the Eto expertly seals out the oxygen in the air to preserve the full flavour of your wine. It comes in six stunning colourways, including this attractive copper mirror finish, and looks as stylish in design as it is clever in functionality. When you click to buy online, there’s also the option to personalise the decanter, which gives a thoughtful touch when gifting the piece.
£129, etowine.com
£399.99; coravin.co.uk
Coravin Timeless Six+
Fancy just the one glass? The Coravin Timeless Six+ (pictured here in stunning limited-edition Forest Green) provides the perfect solution for keeping wine fresher for longer. This clever preservation system lets you pour a glass without having to pull the cork, so you can enjoy a drink at dinner and save the rest for another day – or even another year if desired. To use, simply align the clamps over the neck of the bottle, push down firmly, tilt the bottle over the glass, and release the trigger to pour – find out more in our interview with founder Greg Lambrecht.
Winewizard Smart 3-in-1 Wine Aerator
Keen to add complexity to a dull-tasting wine? The Winewizard is a multi-functional aerator with micro-oxygen technology that enhances the taste and aroma of a wine. It works with reds, whites, and rosés to remove unpleasant compounds, boost flavours, soften tannins, and neutralise sulfites. Its micro diffuser works on up to 80 bottles of wine or around 500 glasses (175ml) on a single refill, which should see you in good stead through the season. It also comes beautifully presented in a gift box that can be personalised.
£49.95, vinalchemy.com
£29.99, uk.peugeot-saveurs.com
Peugeot Preserve Duo
This sleek, dual-function vacuum pump can be used to prolong the life of your still and sparkling wines. It works manually to vacuum seal still wines and pressurise sparkling wines to retain the bubbles. Peugeot has also designed the Preserve Electric Pump, which works automatically in seven seconds, but this can only be used with still wines. If you like the idea of matching barware, Peugeot also sells a range of stylish items such as a decanter drying stand and a rechargeable electric corkscrew that has an eye-catching carbon finish.
CellarDine Rouge 02 Electronic Wine Breather
Whilst it’s a good idea to allow wine to breathe at least an hour before drinking, this smart gadget just might speed things up. The aerator is perfectly shaped to sit in the neck of the bottle and gently bubble air through the wine – reducing breathing time from one hour to one minute. The CellarDine Rouge 02 by the Glass Wine Breather is also worth a mention as it allows air bubbles to drop into the bottle as you pour your glass, which makes the next glass taste even better.
£22, dexam.co.uk
£9.95, flowbarware.co.uk
Flow Wine Chiller Stick
Pouring, chilling, and aerating are easy with this multi-functional tool, which eliminates the need for an ice bucket. Ergonomically shaped to help keep your whites and rosés cool after opening, it has a detachable gel-filled stainless-steel chiller rod that can be placed in the freezer until ready to use. The head of the chiller stick also has a built-in aerator and non-drip spout that allows the wine to be poured smoothly. It’s light and easy to carry too, which makes it ideal to use on the go or at home.
Huski Wine Cooler
Unlike a standard wine cooler, this Huski design is triple insulated so there’s no need for ice. It can hold an average 750ml wine or Champagne bottle inside and keep it cool for up to six hours, but there’s nothing average about its curvaceous design. It comes in a choice of up to seven colourways with a silicone base to keep it firmly in place on the table. It also has a no-condensation finish to make sure its exterior – and therefore your hands and the table – remains dry.
£54.99, Huskicoolers.co.uk
Improve your wine tasting experience with these tips from Jacques Savary De Beauregard, Wine Director at GX Hospitality.
Keep your wine chilled. I have a Eurocave wine fridge set at 16 degrees to store my more precious bottles. A wine cooler is always a great tool to have when drinking rosé outdoors in the warmer summer months, too.
Choose your gadgets carefully. At home, I’m a purist and only equipped with the essentials. If I don’t finish a bottle, I use a cool temperature to effectively preserve wine and store it horizontally in a conventional fridge. At work, where there is more pressure to serve wines in optimal conditions, we use the Coravin preservation systems – a true revolution if used properly. Rare and old bottles can be poured in perfect condition for months after they were opened – provided they have been stored horizontally and in a cool place, that is.
Decant wine before serving. I use my decanters a lot for both red and white. It’s a good idea to decant as it will help with aeration and reveal more subtle flavours faster. It will soften the tannins of more structured reds and separate older reds from their sediments. A decanter also helps get wines to the right temperature more quickly.
Train your nose. If you’re keen to improve your tasting skills, you can’t go wrong with the Le Nez du Vin (Editions Jean Lenoir) kits, which brilliantly recreate all the aromas found in wine. It’s great practice to train your nose and can also make a great game played with friends.
Choose your glassware carefully. I have always thought that universal glassware offers the best tasting experience, especially when using a decanter. This glass has a broader bowl and a tapered nose closure; most brands now have a universal glass. For example, try Jancis Robinson’s range, Riedel, Zalto and Grassl.
