Govino, the Best Plastic, Stemless Wine Glass

The govino reusable, plastic, stemless wine glasses solve a number of problems for wine lovers on the go.  While we love our luxury stemmed wine glasses like Gabriel Glas and Zalto, these wine glasses can’t go everywhere. We love having a few govino wine glasses on hand for activities like boating and hiking where stemware is a hassle or verboten.

 
 

What to Consider Before Buying govino Wine Glasses

The govino wine glass is best for those wanting to drink wine (or other beverages) in typically outdoor environments where glass stemware is not suitable or allowed.  

The ideal customer for govino reusable, plastic, stemless wine glasses is someone who enjoys boating, swimming, concerts, picnics in the park, or hiking. They are also great for those who are living an RV lifestyle or want to drink wine on the go. 

Other ideal customers for govino glasses are corporations or event planners who want a good quality stemless wine glass with a company logo or special date (wedding, birthday, retirement, holidays) stamped onto the glass.  

Finally, the ideal customer for govino glasses is someone who most frequently enjoys inexpensive or value wines and wants to buy Made in USA products.

Before buying govino wine glasses, buyers should consider the following:

  • Where will I use the govino wine glass?  Will I sustainably reuse the glass, or will I discard it after one use?

  • Am I looking to put my logo or event name on a reusable wine glass?

  • Am I looking for a BPA-Free, Made in USA, plastic product or do I want to take chances with plastic wine glasses of unknown origin and composition?

  • Is my family or customer going to be happy using a stemless wine glass with a thumb indentation, even with it’s award winning design, or does my family or customer demand luxury glassware?

What Is The govino Wine Glass?

The govino wine glass became available for sale in 2008. It’s a re-usable, flexible, shatterproof, and recyclable stemless wine glass. 

This convenient glass was invented in response to the wine industry’s need for low cost yet highly aesthetic wine glasses for wine tastings, wine fairs and corporate events. Many plastic, disposable wine glasses before and since govino have thick rims or unsightly seams.  Goino made a big splash in the wine industry and has won a number of design awards for its innovative design.  

Who is govino for?

Govino is a great unbreakable wine glass for wine fairs, corporate events, and for wine drinkers who want a wine glass that mimics many of the features of traditional wine glasses without sacrificing much in taste.

Who is govino NOT for?

Govino is not for those who want to keep their wines cool while drinking a glass over an extended period.  Govino is also not ideal for drinking fine wines on warm days, unless of course it is the only drinking receptacle around.  

Pros of govino Glasses:

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  • Unbreakable

  • Reusable

  • Recyclable

  • Dishwasher-Safe

  • Made in USA

Cons of govino Glasses:

  • Made of plastic, some wine drinkers don’t want to buy use single or even multiple use plastic cups.

  • Govino won’t keep your wine cool like insulated wine tumblers such as the YETI.

  • The govino is a stemless wine glass. If there are off-putting flavors on your hands, these aromas may interfere with the enjoyment of the wine in the glass due to the proximity of your hands to your face.

Features and Benefits of govino Stemless Reusable Wine Glasses

We have had some 16 ounce govino glasses we picked up in the Bahamas a few years ago. However, they were pretty scratched up from traveling in our checked bags and from using on our boat. The folks at govino provided us with some 12 ounce and 16 ounce glasses that looked much better than our well-loved glasses. 

Govino Wine Glasses Are Made in the USA

We were pleasantly surprised to find out that these reusable wine glasses are made here in the USA.  

Govino Packaging

The govino comes in a few different types of packages. The 12 ounce wine glasses come in a nice cardboard holder that keeps the tumblers from touching and scratching each other.  The packaging also allows one to clearly see the tumblers inside and at the same time not get filled with dust if they happen to sit on a retail shelf for a few weeks or months.

The 16 ounce tumblers also came in a cardboard box. Upon opening, we could see that each stemless wine glass was individually wrapped in material similar to parchment paper.

After opening each box we gave the 12 ounce and 16 ounce govino wine glasses a quick sniff test. We were pleasantly surprised that they were free of odor, no plastic or even “cardboard” odor that sometimes comes with traditional glassware. We’re still wondering how govino manages to make these glasses odor free!

Before giving them a quick rinse, I held up each to a white light and was pleased to find no dust and no scratches. The seam line on the govino glass is very small and does not detract visually from the glass. We felt around for rough patches on the rim of the glasses and found none.

Govino is a Flexible and Shatterproof Wine Glass

Regardless of its size, all the govino products are shatterproof (unless you do something crazy like drive over one in your car or place it in a liquid nitrogen tank!).

Squeezing the glass a little bit, we found that the glass had a pleasant amount of give but did not feel flimsy like some silicon wine glasses we have tried in the past.  

For folks who get nervous at big events they might like the semi-flexible feeling of the glass. One can squeeze the glass to calm the nerves!

What is the govino Glass Made Of?

Govino glasses are made of Tritan. Tritan is an ultra-thin and flexible BPA-free polymer.  

The govino Award Winning Design

Govino swirling.JPG

Yes, we were initially a little skeptical of the govino glass design. In the past, we’ve not been fans of stemless wine glasses for several reasons:

  • One’s hand can quickly transfer heat to the liquid in the glass, causing the wine to warm up and taste flabby or more alcoholic.

  • Holding a wine glass bowl brings the hand close to the nose - if there is any food or fragrance on your hand, you are more likely to smell it while drinking than if you were holding a stem.

  • Most stemless wine glasses can be difficult to swirl.

Upon experiencing the govino design firsthand, however, we were happy to see that the thumb indention could help resolve some concerns on the warming of wine in the glass.  This indention forces you to hold the glass on the side - minimizing warm hand contact with the wine, especially if you filled the glass to just below the thumbprint.   This thumb notch also helps with swirling. How clever!

The govino wine glass has won several awards, including winner of the International Design Excellence Award, the GOOD DESIGN award, and the Pantone Award.

Govino is Dishwasher-Safe

Yes, these award winning glasses can be washed on the top drawer of your dishwasher. Of course, you can also wash govino glasses by hand.

The glasses can become a little discolored by lip-gloss or sunscreen.  If that’s the case, we recommend using a non-scratch scrubber pad built for removing greasy films from glassware.

 
 

The govino Product Lineup

GoVino has a number of products to fit your wine or beverage needs.

The 16 Ounce govino Glass for Wine  

 
 

This 16 ounce size would work well for people with various hand sizes. We felt like the 12 ounce wine glasses might feel a little small for people with larger hands. This larger 16-ounce size also gives a little more surface area for swirling. This glass would also be suitable for wine cocktails like sangria.

For those needing a large quantity of govino glasses for a wedding or corporate event, the 16-ounce glasses are available in sets of 72!

 
 

The 12 Ounce govino Glass for Cocktails or Wine

 
 

These smaller glasses (3 inches x 3 inches x 4 inches) are good for cocktails or smaller servings. In comparison to the 16-ounce glasses, we found that the felt a little small. However, those with smaller hands might prefer the 12-ounce glass to the 16-ounce glass.  

The smaller size is nice however for travel, taking up less space in luggage. This smaller size is more likely to fit in boat or RV cupholders - the 16-ounce glasses might be a little too wide for some cupholders.  

The govino 8-ounce Champagne Flute

If you want to serve Champagne or other sparkling wine in a venue that does not allow glassware, we recommend these flute glasses.  These flutes are a lot more aesthetically pleasing and robust than many other unbreakable wine flutes.

 
 

These sparkling wine flutes would also be great for serving sparkling water.

The only downside of these flutes is for people who like to “nurse” a sparkling wine for more than 15 minutes. In that case, the sparkling wine might warm up in your hand, making the drink taste a little flabby as it approaches room temperature.    

The govino 16-ounce Glass for Beer

 
 

These shatterproof, reusable, and recyclable beer glasses would be good for boating and poolside, and other places where glassware is not allowed.

How Does One Reuse govino Wine Glasses?

Perhaps you’ve been the recipient of a govino wine glass at a wedding or wine tasting. Here are some ideas for reusing govino wine glasses if you normally don’t drink at home or if you already have more than enough glassware! These attractive glasses can be used in any of the following ways:

  • Pencil holder

  • Plant terrarium

  • Fresh herb storage for the fridge

  • Piggy bank

  • Dry goods scoop

  • Vase

  • Rain Gauge

What Do Others Think of govino Wine Glasses?

The govino wine glass has won several design awards including the International Design Excellence Award.  

We did some extensive online research to find what people say about these glasses. Overwhelmingly, we found positive reviews on govino’s surprising thin, crystal-like lip and the positioning of the ergonomic thumb-notch. Many reviewers also observed that there was no icky plastic odor when opening the box.  

There were a few negative reviews, focused on the melting of some glasses in the dishwasher. If you do have your dishwasher heat setting to high and have had other plastic items “melt” in your dishwasher, then that might be a concern. However, we’ve washed these in the dishwasher before and had no issues.  

Many sommeliers and wineries have also given the govino glass positive reviews. They recognize that is is challenging to get a thin lip on plasticware. Often they are looking for glassware for special events where traditional glassware is not allowed and find that the govino glass is the next-best option to traditional glassware.  

What Are Some Alternatives to govino Wine Glasses?

Traditional Wine Glasses

We don’t recommend replacing your traditional wine glasses with govino. We do highly recommend GoVino glasses, though, for use in places where glass can’t be taken, like the pool, beach, or on a boat.

Stemless Wine Glasses

Govino glasses might be a much less expensive option than wine tumblers like the YETI tumbler for events like bachelorette parties or some corporate events. Like the YETI, one can get customized glasses through Govino directly.

Plastic Reuasble Wine Glasses

If you are looking for plastic, reusable wine glasses with stems, check out our previous article on best unbreakable wine glasses.

Our Conclusion on govino Reusable Wine Glasses

While we weren’t originally big fans of stemless wineglasses, we do keep govino wine glasses on hand for boating and for use at our community pool and neighborhood park where breakable glass is not allowed.

When researching the product, I was reminded that the thumb notch does keep one’s hand away from wine lower in the glass, reducing the likelihood of warming the liquid while drinking.

We were happy to find that the glasses are made in the USA and are slightly flexible in the hand.

After researching this article, we might also pick up some govino beer glasses to take to the pool! 

We hope you’ll enjoy your on-the-go govino wine glasses as much as we do!

 
 

Cheers!

Best Unique Wines For Your 2020 Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2020 will be different this year.  

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Your decisions about which foods to prepare and how much will probably revolve around a much more intimate affair than in the past, when you may have been more focused on pleasing a crowd. Thanksgiving 2020 may offer wine lovers the opportunity to celebrate by opening a special bottle of wine. Alternatively, some of us wine enthusiasts have had negative financial impact from the pandemic and are looking for inexpensive wine options that still allow for festive fare while still being gentle on the pocketbook.

Last but not least, it’s important in all years - not just 2020 - to offer non-alcoholic opetions to guests (especially since so many of us have overindulged in recent months!).

In today’s blog, we recommend a variety of Thanksgiving beverages, from budget wines to splurge wines to non-alcoholic drinks.

Before we continue with our Thanksgiving wine recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

Should I Bring Wine to Thanksgiving?

If you are attending a Thanksgiving meal hosted by someone other than yourself, check to see if they would like you to bring a wine.  Perhaps the host has already foreseen a red or white wine, but is happy to have you pick up a sparkling or sweet wine to complement the meal. This conversation is also a good time to find out what type of Thanksgiving meal will be served. Will the meal be traditional? Vegetarian? Coastal? Or will it celebrate a specific regional cuisine?

Non-alcoholic Beverage Options for Thanksgiving

In addition to bringing a wine, also consider asking the host if there are non-alcoholic drinks (or ingredients for non-alcoholic drinks) that you could provide. It’s always a good idea to have festive options for those who don’t partake in wine, and busy hosts may overlook this detail. Non-alcoholic beverages other than the standard (and very un-festive) soda or juice are refreshing both for non-drinkers and for drinkers alike, as a means of pacing consumption.

Need inspiration on the non-alcoholic drinks front? We like the book “Dry” for inspiring alcohol-free drinks. There’s an awesome Autumn Sangria recipe that is super-easy to make and celebrates the flavors of fall!

 
 

What is a Good Sparkling Wine I Can Bring to Thanksgiving?

If you are hosting Thanksgiving or are bringing a sparkling wine to Thanksgiving, sparkling wine does not need to break the bank. Sparkling wines are often high in acid and lower in alcohol, and the fresh flavor is a nice break from what can be an onslaught of heavy, fatty foods. Most sparkling wines are food friendly, so you can drink them throughout the meal, all the way to dessert!

Here are a couple of our favorites:

Made in USA (New Mexico)

One of our favorite inexpensive sparkling wines is Gruet Brut, found in many grocery stores in the United States.

This sparkling wine is made using the Champagne method and is comprised of Champagne grapes including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 

What you might not find in your local grocery store is Savage, which is their zero-dosage Champagne.  So if you or your host like dry Champagne, you might like Gruet Savage Sparkling Rose.

Find the Gruet Sauvage Rose at this link: Gruet Sauvage Rose - Champagne & Sparkling
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Cremant d’Alsace

Alsace sparkling wines (cremant) are another great value when it comes to sparkling wine.

This cremant, by Lucien Albrecht, their Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Brut, is a classic representative of this style. 

This well-balanced sparkling wine has a lovely golden color. It’s elegant bubbles make it a go-to for holidays and special celebrations. It definitely won’t disappoint at Thanksgiving!

Find the Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Brut at this link: Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut - Champagne & Sparkling

What Is a Good Red Wine I Can Bring to Thanksgiving?

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Many under $30 red wine blends produced domestically and found in the grocery store are bulk wines with (often, not always) more marketing than substance. While those wines can be good for everyday drinking and for drinking without food, when sitting down to a meal we look to the Old World for food friendly wines at this price point. Additionally, food wines are higher in acidity than the food one is serving it with. Some red wine blends in the grocery store have very little acidity and can taste flat with Thanksgiving food.

We’re partial to wines from the Cotes de Bordeaux and Fronsac - wines that are both great and affordable. These wines are typically blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Unlike many domestic wines at this price point, these wines are lower in alcohol, lower in residual sugar, and pair nicely with food without overwhelming it with jammy New World fruitiness.  

Check with your local wine retailer for budget-friendly wines from the Cotes de Bordeaux or Fronsac.  If they don’t have anything in stock, we’ve shared links to a couple of our sub-$30 favorites below:

What Is A Good White Wine I Can Bring to Thanksgiving?

As long as poultry or vegetarian fare is served, almost any white wine is good to bring to Thanksgiving. The only wine we shy away from for this meal is an oaky Chardonnay.

Our favorite white wine to make this list of good Thanksgiving wines is Round Pond’s Sauvignon Blanc. Find it by clicking the image below:

 
 

What Sweet Wine Can I Bring to Thanksgiving?

Sweet wines as dessert or with traditional pumpkin pie are a decadent way to end the Thanksgiving meal.

We like Chateau Doisey Daene Sauternes in the 375 mL half bottle, especially for smaller gatherings. Sauternes also keeps well in the refrigerator with a bottle closure for up to one month, so one does not need to consume all the sweet goodness in one sitting.  

What Wines Go Well With Turkey?

Many different wines pair well with turkey. Typically you want to pair a wine that - like a background singer - makes the turkey the star. Don’t select a wine so intense that it will cover up the flavors of the turkey. Here are few suggestions for all types of turkey:

Fried Turkey

Frying your turkey? Pair it with sparkling wines and Champagne.  

Baked Turkey with Herbs

For a baked turkey stuffed with herbs, go for a Riesling, Albarino, or Sauvignon Blanc.

Tasteless Turkey

You gave it the college try, but your turkey just tastes dull or has little taste. Gewurztraminer and Viogner can add some flavor and cover for the star that fell a little flat.   

Wine Pairing with Tofurkey

Since tofurkey tends to run on the salty side, this is the one time where we recommend something more full-bodied like a warm climate California Pinot Noir or Sonoma Zinfandel.

Ridge East Ridge Zinfandel: Ridge 2018 East Bench Zinfandel - Red Wine

Wine Pairing for a Coastal Thanksgiving with Lobster

During the coronavirus, the lobster industry was hit quite hard. If you want to take a break from Turkey in 2020, this might be a great year to support fishermen and women.

To pair with lobster, try a Chardonnay or sparkling wine. Patz & Hall has some great single vineyard Chardonnays from Sonoma. like this Dutton Ranch Chardonnay.

Patz & Hall Dutton Ranch Chardonnay: Patz & Hall 2017 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay - White Wine

How Much Wine Should I Plan for Per Person on Thanksgiving?

Here’s the math: a 750 mL bottle will serve six people 125 m glasses, 4 people 175 mL glasses or 3 people 250 mL glasses.

Where Can I Buy Wine on Thanksgiving?

Many wine bottle shops are open Thanksgiving morning, but not all. These independent shop owners may be at home with friends and family preparing their own special dinner. If you wait until the last minute to buy wine on Thanksgiving, chances are you won’t get the wine you want. You might not get the best price on Thanksgiving day, and you may miss out on good wines altogether. So, order ahead!

What If I Have Leftover Wine From Thanksgiving?

Lots of leftover wine with that leftover turkey? No problem!

It’s perfectly fine to freeze leftover wine for future use in cooking. To freeze wine, we like these larger silicone ice cube trays with lids. You can measure ¼ cup aliquots into each cube space and simply pop out the wine cube when cooking! Not only do these ice cube trays stack, they are also BPA free and super easy to clean!

 
 

The Thanksgiving Wine Wrap-Up

There’s really no need to stress about what wine to bring to Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving meals have evolved to include a little bit of the old traditions along with new flavors. Thanks to this diversity of dishes in Thanksgiving meals, most wines will pair well with at least one food. 

Want to save on wine purchases and have bottles shipped to your home? Check check our special KnowWines discount here: New customers save $25 off your order of $150 or more.  Use code FALLNEW25

Cheers, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Best Bordeaux Wine Maps

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Earlier in the year we wrote a blog on the wide world of wine maps, surveying wine maps from regions across the globe. In today’s blog, we’re looking specifically at wine maps of Bordeaux.

Bordeaux is the largest wine region in the world, so naturally there are many wine maps of the area, all with different target audiences in mind. That’s good news, as wine lovers may want Bordeaux wine maps for a variety of reasons, from trip planning to decor to study and reference.

Before we continue with Bordeaux wine map recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

Types of Bordeaux Wine Maps

Inside Bordeaux soil maps .JPG

There are a wide variety of Bordeaux wine maps available for wine enthusiasts, students of wine, winemakers, and journalists.

There is no one-size-fits-all “best” wine map of Bordeaux. However, KnowWines has collected a number of great Bordeaux maps over the years, and here we are sharing a few of our favorites!

Don’t have time to read through our recommendations? Spoiler alert: all of our overall favorite Bordeaux Wine Maps are located in the book Inside Bordeaux by Jane Anson.  

Easy to Read Bordeaux Wine Maps 

Maybe you’re a new wine enthusiast and you want a simple, trendy, and visually pleasing Bordeaux wine map. Or perhaps you teach wine classes at a bottle shop or wine bar and are looking for great decor. These Bordeaux wine maps are visually appealing even in low light conditions. We like the larger font as well. Overall, these maps are well constructed. However, we took our map to an Office Depot to get it laminated so that it wouldn’t get stained or written on.  

 
 

Bordeaux Wine Maps for Decor

In addition to the Wine Folly map above, we like this classic map that goes well with traditional decor. While the font is fairly small, it looks great in a frame.

 
 

Bordeaux Wine Maps for Tour Planning

Having been to Bordeaux four times now, we’ve amassed quite a collection of maps, books, and guides on Bordeaux. Here are our new favorites and a few of our old ones.

BORDEAUX SIP BY SIP BY NICOLE CROFT

This is an excellent resource for DIY trips to Bordeaux, and for finding exceptional values on off-the-beaten path Bordeaux. We’ve taken Nicolle Croft’s tour in the past and it was delightful. Check out our interview with Nicolle on Bordeaux Buzz podcast!

 
 

BENJAMIN LEWIN GUIDES

Benjamin Lewin has two good resources detailing the locations of the classified and up-and-coming chateaux in Bordeaux.  There are also details in these books on recent vintages and their hours and tour availability in addition to maps.  

BENJAMIN LEWIN GUIDES: RIGHT BANK BORDEAUX

 
 

BENJAMIN LEWIN GUIDES: LEFT BANK BORDEAUX

 
 

MICHELIN WINE MAPS

We usually plug in our final destinations for a wine tour on our iPhones, however for the research phase, we prefer old school maps to a four-inch screen. While there are plenty of Michelin maps available at bookstores and online retailers, one complaint is that they are more for “passing through” purposes than they are for planning a trip. One exception is this Vins de Bordeaux map available on Amazon:

 
 

Bordeaux Wine Maps for Wine Enthusiasts

If you are looking for wine maps that are more detailed than the Wine Folly map or a travel guide, check out this book by the Bordeaux Wine School. In addition to several maps, there is a good introduction and deep (but not too deep!) dive into the wines and the region. This is not a stuffy, dry resource, there are plenty of photos and graphics to illustrate maps and points.

 
The Essential Guide to Bordeaux Wines
By Bordeaux Wine School, Brissaud, Sophie
Buy on Amazon
 

Bordeaux Wine Maps for Wine Certification Studies

  • DE LONG BORDEAUX MAP: While there is not a Bordeaux-specific wine map from Steve De Long, there is this recently released box set which does include a Bordeaux map on the Wine Map of France. 

  • WINE SCHOLAR GUILD WINE MAP OF BORDEAUX: Members of the Wine Scholar Guild can get access to many maps for studies. 

  • INSIDE BORDEAUX BY JANE ANSON: Our top pick for Bordeaux reference maps, Inside Bordeaux by Jane Anson, has a number of Bordeaux maps. This simply gorgeous book is currently occupying our nightstand. The crux of the book is maps, all of them detailing the best soils and terroir of Bordeaux.

Vintage or Antique Maps of Bordeaux

Sites like ebay, Etsy, and Amazon have vintage or antique wine or city maps of Bordeaux. The price and availability of antique Bordeaux maps varies significantly, so check out those sites for vintage or antique maps of Bordeaux.

 
 

Bordeaux Wine Map Wrap-Up

There are a number of maps available to help you visualize Bordeaux, plan a trip, or simply decorate.  

If you like to geek out on soils, the Inside Bordeaux book is a must. If you are interested in a general overview of the region, check out The Essential Guide to Bordeaux Wines. 

Off the beaten path more your style? Check out Nicolle Croft’s new book Bordeaux Sip by Sip highlighting independent wine producers in Bordeaux like Chateau Coutet.

Finally, if you are looking for a colorful and introductory map of Bordeaux, we really like the bright and large font of the Wine Folly map.

Cheers!



Wine Glass Travel Case

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Some wine lovers like to travel with their own glassware, especially to a vacation rental where the glassware is often suboptimal or missing altogether. You might be thinking, “Really? Do people actually travel with wine glassware?”

Yep, they sure do. But to be fair, traveling with glassware is often more about being prepared for unknown situations than it is about being a snob. In fact, if you are prepared in advance for a trip to wine country, you will also be prepared to safely bring back souvenir wine glasses from your favorite wineries.

Before we continue with our wine glass travel case reviews, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We’re an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thank you for using our affiliate links and supporting this independent blog!

Why Bring Your Own Glassware?

Benefits of Bringing Your Own Glassware

When you rent a house on AirBnB or stay at a relative’s home, you don’t know what the wine glass situation will be. 

If your reputation as a budding wine enthusiast precedes you, your host may be expecting a knock-out wine experience as a benefit of an invite. If you are going to share wine with a partner or friends/family in a new locale, it helps to be prepared with quality wine glasses.

Here are a few things we’ve run into over the years when it comes to wine glass inventory at rental homes:

  • Dirty wine glasses.  Gross!  Glasses might be dirty from days or months of non-use, or they may be hazy from too many cycles in the dishwasher. 

  • Cheap, thick-rimmed wine glasses or wine glasses with too much “personality” (over-use of hand lettering, glue gun art, or extravagant laser edging).  Nothing takes the fun out of wine tasting more than drinking a special wine out of a “Mommy’s Sippy Cup” wine glass.  

  • No wine glasses at all.  Perhaps the HomeAway host does not offer wine glasses for personal reasons, thinking it might cut down on partying or save them the trouble of replacing broken wine glases.

Bringing your own wine glass can eliminate the need to stop and buy new wine glasses or hunt down extra strength cleaner to remove dust or even dead flies!

Downsides of Bringing Your Own Glassware

While there are several upsides to bringing your own glassware, there are some downsides, including the following:

  • Bringing your own glassware takes up valuable space in your luggage.

  • Glassware could break in transit.

  • You might accidentally leave behind your glassware at the rental.

Bringing Your Own Wine Glasses on an Airplane

In the United States, you can bring empty wine glasses on the airplane. We recommend that you already have the wine glasses packed away safely in your hand luggage using any one of the methods we share below. If you’re planning a trip to wine country, you can also check wine when you fly!

Best Wine Glass Travel Cases

When it comes to wine glass travel cases, there are a few decent products on the market.

However, when possible, we prefer to go the DIY route, reusing household items that might fit the bill, especially when planning a trip to wine country. In this case, we might not need to take any wine glasses on the outbound portion of the trip, but we may need to be prepared in advance for bringing back any souvenir glasses from wineries.

DIY Wine Glass Travel Cases

Pro Tip: Keep the box your wine glasses came in, as it can double as a wine glass travel case! Canisters from wines like tawny port or the boxes that whisky often come in make great travel cases.

Most food-safe storage or pantry containers over 6.5 L can accommodate easily one - if not two - wine glasses.  Be sure to measure the length and width of your wine glass(es) to make sure that they will fit.

With any of the DIY approaches, make sure to pad around each wine glass bowl with packing paper or bubble wrap so that the bowls are not clanking against each other in transit.  

 
 

Riedel Wine Glass Travel Case

This wine glass travel case by Reidel holds three universal wine glasses and standard red (Bordeaux) glasses.  Unlike our DIY solutions, this wine glass travel case can hold three to five glasses.  And it has a shoulder strap!

 
 

This travel case will not hold extra-large glasses like Pinot Noir glass that have a wider bowl. Note that some users indicate that after a year or so that the bag may start to give off plastic or rubbery smell.  

Ravenscroft Crystal Ultimate Travel Case

This wine glass travel case is similar in size to the Riedel travel case and is a good option if you don’t want a big brand name on the outside of your bag. It also is fairly compact and will pack easily.

 
 

Like the Riedel bag, some users find that oversized wine bowls (like Pinot Noir-specific wine glasses) may not fit in this travel case. Glasses with especially long stems may not either.

In Conclusion

Thanks for reading our review of wine travel bags.

As we discussed, some wine lovers may want to travel with their wine glasses. Reasons for this may include being prepared at an unknown destination that might have unclean glasses (or none at all).  Other wine lovers might want to purchase a wine travel case or come up with a DIY wine travel case solution if they are traveling to a wine region and want to bring home souvenir wine glasses.  

Wine glass travel cases are certainly optional wine hobbyist accessories. Through the years, we have found that one can often “make do” with solutions like liquor bottle boxes, shipping tubes, pantry tubs, or boxes received as wrapping for purchase or gift.  

Whatever solution you choose for your next getaway, we wish you happy travels!

Cheers!

Corkcicle Classic Wine Chiller Review

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As I’m writing this, we are in the dog days of summer here in North Carolina. Come evening, it is often nice enough to sit outside. However, the ambient temperature can be in the mid-80s, meaning that both red and white wines can warm quickly while you’re doing your best to cool down. Too warm white wines can taste flabby. Red wines that are too warm might taste too bitter or too “alcoholic.” And warm wine in general just isn’t refreshing on a hot night.

While there are many ways to chill a bottle of wine, the Corkcicle is a suitable option if you don’t like the hassle of dealing with a bucket full of ice and simply want to keep one bottle of wine chilled while you consume it outside during a meal or event.

Before we continue with our Corkcicle review, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We’re an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thank you for using our affiliate links and supporting this independent blog!

What is the Corkcicle Classic Wine Chiller?

In 2010, the company Corkcicle came out with its first product, the Corkcicle in-bottle wine chiller. It’s likely a result of seeing people put ice cubes in their wine to cool it down and thinking, “There must be a way to cool wine without diluting the wine with ice melt.” After a series of prototypes and tests, the Corkcicle wine icicle was born. 

The Corkcicle is fairly straight forward. It comes in an elegant box without obtrusive plastic wrap.  Once you pop the corkcicle out of the box, simply place it in the freezer and let it freeze over a few hours or overnight.  When it is time to use the Corkcicle, it is ready to go.

The frozen BPA-free, non-toxic “icicle” extends into the bottle to keep the liquid cool.

 
 

With the success of the Corkcicle, the company has since expanded to making beautiful beverage cooling solutions like these wine tumblers.

 
 

Can I Use the Corkcicle for All Wines?

For the most part, yes! How and when you use the Corkcicle will depend on the type of wine and the bottle it comes in.

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Type of Wine Bottle

Corkcicle will work with any wine bottle that has a standard cork.

You may find that the Corkcicle will not fit well in Champagne bottles or some sparkling wine bottles - the bubbles may push the Corkcicle out between pours, leading to spilled wine.

Similarly, the Corkcicle may not fit well in 375mL or 500mL bottles, as it is designed for standard 750mL wine bottles. It might not fit smaller bottles because the “icicle” part of the Corkcicle is about 10 inches long.  

White Wines

The best application for the Corkcicle is keeping already chilled white wines cool while you’re enjoying them in a warmer setting. Many white wines taste best between 50 and 60 degrees F.  

Red Wines

Many red wines are served above ideal temperatures. Ambient temperatures in some homes can be 75+ degree F, and of course here in the southern USA it is a little warmer. We find many red wines taste better at 60 to 65 F than at a higher room temperature.  

Do I Need a Corkcicle?

No, you don’t need a Corkcicle Classic Wine Chiller. There are many different ways to keep wine chilled. 

However, the Corkcicle might be a great solution for keeping white wines cool and bringing down the temperature of red wines a little if you don’t have space for a wine bucket with ice water or don’t want to deal with that mess (e.g. the bucket can sweat on a wood table).

Where to Buy a Corkcicle

Your local wine retailer may sell the Corkcicle. You can also find the Corkcicle online through specialty cookware sites or on Amazon.com.  

Should I Give Corkcicle as a Gift?

We were honestly impressed by the box the Corkcicle arrived in. It was elegant, modern, and recyclable. For this reason, we think it’d make a great hostess or birthday gift. The Corkcicle website also indicates that personalization of their items is also an option, which makes for a great gift.

Note: We did have to wait a week for the item to arrive, but as we’re reviewing this item during the Coronavirus pandemic, we’re pretty sure that supply chain issues have impacted the Corkcicle folks (in addition to many other businesses!) during this challenging time.

Other Single Bottle Wine Chiller Options

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Some Corkcicle users may find that one Corkcicle doesn’t last long enough for an especially long meal or outdoor event. One solution could be to have two Corkcicles on hand in your freezer.

Alternatively, for especially long meals or special occasions, an ice bucket filled with a mix of ice and water might be the best solution. Or, check out our article on other single bottle wine chiller solutions.

Corkcicle Conclusion

The Corkcicle performs the task it advertises. It keeps cool white wines cool for at least 30 minutes in 85 degree F weather and can chill a red wine from room temperature to about 60 degrees F in under an hour.

The Corkcicle can replace the need for an ice bucket, water, and ice - especially if you want to chill only one bottle of wine. The Corkcicle doesn’t take up much space in the freezer compared to other single wine bottle chilling tools on the market

In summary, the Corkcicle Classic is a keeper for those of us in a warm climate.

 
 

Cheers from KnowWines!

How to Keep Wine Bottles Cold

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Welcome to summertime! The sun is bright, the breeze is warm, and you’re relaxing by the pool or on the patio with a nice crisp bottle of Sauvignon Blanc or a chilled bottle of Beaujolais. If you’re settling in for the evening, though, you’ll want to make sure you have something to keep that bottle cool, because nothing worse than a warm glass of wine when it’s already plenty warm outside! And yet, ice buckets aren’t always readily available at barbecues, pool parties, and picnics. There are times when you can’t run back and forth between the party and refrigerator (or maybe you just don’t want to!). In those cases, a wine chiller sleeve or iceless wine bottle chiller can keep wine cool while you enjoy a glass of wine or a bottle with friends.

Before we continue with our recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

What Are Wine Cooler Sleeves?

Wine cooler sleeves were invented to keep individual bottles of wine cold (or to chill down room-temperature wines) without using water. Wine cooler sleeves or iceless wine chillers are typically constructed in one of two following ways:

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  1. A plastic tube with gel ice packs inside the exterior plastic or vinyl sleeve, as in the VacuVin photo here.

  2. A double walled stainless steel or plastic container where air is used as the insulating layer between the two “walls.”

In restaurants, wines are typically kept cold in wine buckets. However, there are times when wine buckets, ice, and water are not handy (such as pool parties, the beach, or in a boat, where a wine bucket might tip over).

Wine cooler sleeves are also handy when you want to keep a bottle of wine cool but want the remove the label later to keep in a wine journal. Submerging the bottle in an ice bucket could damage the label, whereas the label should remain intact with the use of a wine cooler sleeve.

Do I Need A Wine Cooler Sleeve?

If you frequently drink wine at home and are close to your refrigerator or have an ice bucket, then you likely don’t need a wine cooler sleeve.  

If you’d like to enjoy chilled wine while camping, boating, or at a picnic after a hike, then you might want to purchase a wine cooler sleeve to keep your wine cool until you reach your drinking destination. No electrical cords required, and no messy drips from water or wet ice.  

The downside of some of these wine cooler sleeves or iceless wine chillers is that once they get to room temperature or warmer, they start to lose their “chilling” properties. Also, not all wine cooler sleeves are “puncture-proof” which means that if you accidentally stab the chiller with a knife or other sharp object, gel may ooze from the pack.  

Best Wine Chiller Sleeves

Since we enjoy the outdoors and sharing wine with friends on the go, we’ve purchased a few wine chiller sleeves over the years. Here are our six favorite wine chiller sleeves for keeping wines cold.

Le Creuset Wine Chiller Sleeve

This is a favorite because the outer nylon sleeve comes in several great colors, including pink, burgundy, and “flame!”

Pros:

The inner freezer gel packs are pierce-resistant. The chiller is lightweight and folds away easily when you’re not using it. It also happens to work great for soothing smashed fingers or bee stings - just slip your hand inside! This product can be used for countless summer picnics (and it comes with a five year warranty!).

Con:

The only con we have discovered is that this wine chiller sleeve only fits standard sized bottles.

Vacu Vin Rapid Ice Wine Cooler

This is our oldest wine chiller sleeve. We’ve had it for over ten years, and it’s still holding in there. This one is made in the Netherlands and comes at a great value. We also like the simple design on the outside.

Pros: 

This one comes at a great value, especially for its long-lasting qualities. It also has a fold-flat design so you can easily store when it’s not being used. Throw it in the freezer overnight and it is ready to go in the morning. It will chill the wine in just a few minutes.

Con: 

This one, too, only fits standard wine bottle sizes. However, they do make one for larger Champagne bottles (below).

Vacu Vin Rapid Ice Champagne Cooler

This Champagne bottle cooler has all the great qualities of the Vacu Vin Rapid Ice Wine Bottle Cooler, just sized for a champagne bottle. It comes in gold or platinum colors and features a spiral design and drawstring closure. The design would make a sweet addition to a romantic picnic.

Pros:

For the functionality of this champagne bootle cooler, we echo all of the same pros as the Vacu Vin Rapid Ice Wine Cooler: great value, high quality, and will keep your champagne chilled for quite a while.

Cons:

May be too large to properly hold and chill a standard size wine bottles, so if you plan to chill both Champagne and a bottle of Chenin Blanc, you might need two separate coolers.

Best Wine Cooler Sleeve for Gadget Lovers

We have reviewed YETI wine tumblers in the past and appreciate their durability and ability to keep a glass of wine cool. This is a similar product, but for a wine bottle. If you are looking for a gift for someone who loves rugged outdoor products like YETI, we recommend the Huski stainless steel wine cooler.  

Pros:

Wine cooler sleeves with gel packs may keep wine cool only an hour or so. This product will keep a bottle of wine cold for up to six hours, which makes it perfect for sipping wine during an outdoor concert or during a picnic after a long hike.

Cons: 

This wine cooler is pricier than simpler gel wine cooler sleeves. Also, not everyone likes the rugged outdoor look.


Best Wine Cooler Sleeve With Handle

If you like the Vacu Vin cooler but want a handle, then this wine cooler sleeve may meet your needs.  The freezable gel is built into the lining for a streamlined look on the inside and the outside.

Pros:

The zipper closure keeps your wine bottle secure and will help keep your drinks cold a bit longer. The PVC-and-BPA-free liner is easy to clean, and it comes in a plain black or fun polka-dotted style. Finally, this wine chiller sleeve has a narrow profile, but is still designed to hold both standard and champagne bottles.

Cons:

The handle may not be necessary if you plan to just throw the wine cooler into a picnic basket or backpack. But, it’s ideal if you’re just carrying a single bottle and a couple of glasses from the beach house down to the beach!

Best Double Walled Wine Bottle Chiller For Elegant Events

If you are looking for an ice-free wine bottle chiller that doesn’t look like it came from a camping store or grocery store aisle, then this double walled wine bottle chiller may work for you. It will keep your cold wine cold for about three hours.

Pros:

What we like about this iceless chiller is that you can easily see what wine is in to chill. This is a great feature if you’re having a wine party! Also, the elegant look and the stainless steel rim make this ideal for upscale parties or even outdoor weddings. Also, the design is large enough to accommodate both standard and champagne bottles.

Cons:

Keep in mind that with this bottle chiller, you will need to pre-chill your wine. But that may be worth your trouble for the elegant, high-end look.

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The Cool Down on Wine Cooler Sleeves

In most household settings, ice, a bucket, and some cold water will work fine for chilling and keeping wines cold in hot weather.  However, some wine enthusiasts may want to chill wines while in the outdoors without having to deal with ice. Wine cooler sleeves and iceless double walled wine coolers fit this need. 

Wether you need a budget wine sleeve or want a premium wine sleeve that will last for years, we provide a few fan favorite wine cooler sleeves to fit your various needs.  

Our Favorite Wine Pourers



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A wine pourer is simply a device that aids in the wine pouring process. It is also used to prevent drips on tables, to aerate wine, or to meter out a specified volume of wine into a glass. Wine pourers can also serve as decorative conversation makers, as they sometimes feature designs that are humorous, classy, or economical. In today’s blog, we’ll demonstrate how to pour wine, discuss whether or not you need a wine pourer at home, and share recommendations for our favorite wine pourers.

Before we continue with our recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

Introduction to Wine Pourers

When purchasing wine at a grocery store or at a wine bottle shop, you are likely to find a small display of wine pourers mixed in with other wine accessories. A wine pourer fulfills the three following needs:

  1. They serve as an aid for nervous or infrequent hosts or servers to prevent drips on fancy white tablecloths, fancy wood tables, and similar surfaces.

  2. In a serving room or restaurant, they serve as a means of measuring out 1 ounce or 2 ounce pours.

  3. They’re fun conversation starters!

How to Pour Wine (Without a Wine Pourer)

When a sommelier serves wine in a restaurant, you may notice that they hold the bottle in their right and with the label facing the guest. As they pour, they are careful to make sure that the wine bottle rim and neck don’t touch the wine glass. They will fill the wine glass about 1/3 full, and just before pulling the bottle away, they’ll give the bottle a quick quarter turn with their wrist and tilt it upward to prevent drips. If a drip starts to form on the rim of the bottle, they quickly wipe it with a white serviette (napkin).

Prefer a visual? At 1:50 in this video, the sommelier demonstrates the “twist and tilt” method:

 
 

Do I Need a Wine Pourer?

No, most wine enthusiasts don’t need a wine pourer.  After a little practice, it is easy to pour and do a slight twist, as in the video shown above.

However, we do recognize that there are some instances in hosts or servers would like a wine pouring devices to prevent drips on nice surfaces (such as a tablecloth or fancy table), especially in a large group setting like a party or wedding. It may also just ease your mind to have a pourer on hand for occasional guests and spontaneous gatherings. In other words: you don’t need a wine pourer, but it can’t hurt to have one around!

Our Favorite Wine Pourers

Over the years, we have accumulated a mix of wine pourers, most of them displaying the brand of the wineries and wine clubs where we acquired them. While we don’t frequently use a wine pourer, we can appreciate that many wine enthusiasts do enjoy using them.

Here, we share some popular wine pourers. As always, we highly recommend reusable wine accessories when they’re available, so as to reduce landfill waste.

The Classic Wine Disc

This classic, easy-to-use wine disk is frequently encountered in wine tasting rooms and fast casual dining establishments. These simple mylar discs are small, portable, and roll up neatly into the neck of a wine bottle for a stress-free pour. They’re a trusted brand that’s also affordable. A great way to train yourself to pour wine without drips!

 
 

The Aerator Wine Pourer

This wine pourer does double duty as both wine pourer and wine aerator. If you want to give your glass of wine a fuller bouquet or a smoother finish (without waiting to let it aerate in a decanter), a wine aerator is a great option. And this one will help prevent spills, too! This simple tool will infuse your wine with oxygen and keep your tablecloth stain-free. Plus, its elegant design makes it a great addition to any dinner party. It also makes a lovely hostess gift.

 
 

The Measured Wine Pourer

In wine tasting rooms, wine pourers may be required by law to dispense wine in 1 or 2 ounce increments. Since wine tasting rooms employ people with wide ranges of abilities, some will be able to gauge these volumes more successful than others. In some cases, a measured wine pourer can aid in getting that just-right pour. For at home use, these might come in handy for pouring wine at a wedding or large party. They can be used to dispense liquor for making mixed drinks (you may have seen them on the top of liquor bottles at bars).

 
 

The Whimsical Wine Pourer

Last but not least, wine pourers can be fun! Some wineries use whimsical or animal-themed wine pourers for a bit of variety and fun conversation. Conversation starters are never a bad idea for dinner parties. These shark-themed wine pourers, in a durable, shiny steel alloy, would be especially perfect for a pool party or a Shark Week celebration! This one also has a built-in aerator. Or, have a shark-loving friend who also enjoys wine? Here’s the perfect gift!

 
 

Wine Pourer Summary

There are a variety of wine pourers on the market for those desiring some assistance in wine pouring or looking for a fun conversation starter. In some cases, wine pourers are needed to ensure that a group of wine pourers with various expertise pour the same amount of wine across tasters and drinkers.  

Wine pourers are an accessory the average wine enthusiast can live without. However, if you are looking for one for a specific application (or as a gift!), we hope you enjoyed our recommendations!

Cheers!








Wine Stoppers: Drawer Clutter or Useful Tool?

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More often than not, we prefer to use the “free” approach to resealing a wine bottle: re-using the cork. But sometimes the cork gets damaged when you are removing it with a corkscrew. Unless you finish the entire bottle of wine within a few hours, you’ll need some way of closing up the bottle to extend its life after opening. This is where a wine stopper comes in handy. There are a quite a few wine bottle stoppers on the market - so many, in fact, that it can be overwhelming. Here, we’ll share a few of our favorites wine stoppers and tell you what we appreciate about each one.

Before we continue with our recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

How to Get That “Free Wine Stopper” Back In The Bottle

Success! You’ve removed the cork from the bottle intact and it looks like it is sturdy enough to re-use.  Here are the quick steps for re-inserting the cork when your drinking session concludes.

  • Set the wine bottle on a solid surface, like a table or deck railing.

  • Wipe the cork with a napkin to remove any debris (like a small hanging piece of cork).

  • Orient the cork into the same direction as it came out of the bottle (the portion that was in the bottle is what is should be going back into the bottle).

  • Ease the cork into the bottle by angling the cork so that a portion is inside the bottle and a portion is resting on the lip of the bottle

  • Twist and push down on the cork at the same time.

  • Insert the cork about halfway into the bottle.

If you break the cork while re-inserting it, you can either choose to push the cork portion into the bottle and insert a bottle stopper OR use one of these handy tools to extract the cork from the bottle. 

 
 

Do I Need a Wine Stopper?

If you generally drink box wine or wine with a screw cap, then you really don’t need a wine stopper. If you tend to drink wine with a cork, you can re-use the cork that came with the bottle. However, it is sometimes difficult to get the wine cork back into the bottle. In the event that this happens to you, having a spare wine stopper around will come in handy. It’s also good to have one as a backup plan in case the cork falls apart while you are removing it from the bottle.  

Will a Wine Stopper Prevent My Wine From Going Bad?

Great question!

If a bottle of wine is open too long, let’s say overnight, the wine might start to go bad. The wine will not hurt you, it will simply taste less pleasant. 

Wine stoppers, regardless of type, primarily serve to minimize the amount of oxygen entering the bottle after the wine bottle is open (as exposure to too much oxygen will cause the wine to lose flavor and aroma). Most wine stoppers will not stop wine from coming out of the bottle if you lay it on its side in a refrigerator or cabinet. Some wine bottle stoppers, like the Repour Wine Saver , are designed to absorb oxygen when one desires to savor an expensive wine over weeks or months.

Where Can I Buy Wine Bottle Stoppers?

Wine bottle stoppers of all varieties can be purchased at wine bottle shops, gift shops, online, and in big box stores.  Below, we share some of our favorite options.

Nine Best Wine Stoppers by Type

Want to have a wine stopper on hand for those times when the original cork fails its intended purpose? Have a festive occasion on the horizon for which a decorative wine stopper would be the perfect gift? There are plenty of wine stoppers available to fill all sorts of wine bottle closure niches. 

Repour

This wine stopper type is good for wine lovers who occasionally splurge on higher-priced wines (say, $30 or higher) and want to savor the wine over several days, weeks, or months. The Repour is also great for wine bottle shops that pour premium or luxury wines over a period of days. Check our in-depth report on Repour here.

 
 

Best Unique Wine Stopper

There’s an endless supply of unique wine stoppers available online. We like this one because it combines our love of gardening and a little tongue-in-cheek humor about “opening up the tap.”

 
 

Best Personalized Wine Bottle Stopper

This is a great option if you live with roommates who also drink wine and need a personalized wine bottle stopper to identify wine among roommates. It also makes an inexpensive but thoughtful gift for any wine-loving friend!

 
 

Best Decorative Wine Stopper

Decorative wine stoppers are really a personal design preference. However, this handmade Italian made Murano glass bottle stopper will delight most wine lovers.  

 
 

Best Vacuum Wine Stopper

The vacuum wine stopper is good for wine enthusiasts who want to savor a bottle of wine over several days, but don’t want to make an investment in the Repour.  This is a good way to lengthen the drinking window of everyday wines.

 
 

Best Champagne Bottle Stopper

Most wine stoppers won’t work well in Champagne bottles. These specially designed sparkling wine bottle stoppers will increase the likelihood that any leftover Champagne will taste great the next day (or two!). That’s something to celebrate!

 
 

Best Cute Unisex Wine Stopper

These adorable wine stoppers will never ‘desert’ you. You’ll be glad you pricked these cacti!

 
 

Best Wine Stopper for Cat Lovers

Cats + wine = a timeless pairing. And this wine stopper tells it like it is. Curious cats will get into pretty much anything!

 
 

Best Game of Thrones Wine Stopper

Fans of the book series and HBO blockbuster will appreciate these well-crafted Game of Thrones wine stoppers designed to reflect the six sigils of the GoT houses. GoT-themed wine party, anyone?

 
 

Wine Stopper Wrap-Up

We prefer to re-use the cork that the wine came with to store any leftover wine under $30.  

If we plan on drinking fine wine, we use the Repour wine stopper so that we can enjoy the wine over several evenings and with different foods. If we don’t have a Repour stopper handy we use the Vacu Vin.  

If we damage the cork on a sub $30 bottle of wine, we keep on hand a few different bottle stoppers to close up the open wine bottle.  We’ve accumulated a few different types of wine stoppers, including some that are decorative and unique. The options out there today are endless!

Happy sipping (and saving!).

Cheers!

Best Hygrometers for Wine Cellars

So, you’ve taken the plunge and purchased a wine cooler. You’ve even started to fill it with wines you’d like to age. Or maybe you’ve purchased a home that has a wine cellar and don’t know the first thing about maintaining it.  Or perhaps you’ve saved up for years and are converting an unfinished basement space to a wine cellar. First, congratulations! Collecting wine is a wonderful and rewarding pastime. Second, how much do you know about humidity? We’re asking because humidity is pretty important when it comes to aging wine. Here are some questions you should be asking yourself about your wine cooler or wine cellar:

  • What is the current humidity and how do I measure it?

  • Is the current humidity level good for my wines? 

  • How do I monitor and adjust wine cellar humidity?

In today’s blog, we discuss the very best in hygrometers, the tool you’ll need for measuring humidity in your wine cellar. We also give you a mini-course in wine cellar humidity and how to control it so that your are creating the best possible space for your wines.

Before we continue with our recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

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What is a Hygrometer?

A hygrometer is a device that measures relative humidity in an enclosed space (such as a room, a wine cooler, a greenhouse, or a cigar humidor) or in a sample (as in a soil sample coming from a farm or vineyard).

The first crude hygrometer was invented by Leonardo da Vinci in the 1400s. These crude devices often comprised of a weight and an absorptive substance, like a sea sponge or a piece of wool!

What Does a Hygrometer Do?

A hygrometer measures the amount of water vapor in a given space, typically in a room or a confined space like a wine cooler. Since the amount of moisture air can hold varies by temperature, most hygrometers measure and display readings for both humidity and temperature.  

A hygrometer will not take action to fix anything that might be wrong with the humidity in your wine refrigerator. It simply provides you with an accurate reading, and from that, you can take measures to increase or decrease humidity. 

Do I Need a Hygrometer?

If you don’t have a space to store wine (such as a closet, wine refrigerator, or pantry), then you don’t need a hygrometer.

If you have a wine refrigerator or maturation cabinet like the EuroCave, it already has a temperature and humidity digital display, so you won’t need one.

If you have a closet, basement or wine cellar for storing wine, then purchasing a hygrometer is a good investment. It will enable you to measure the humidity in the enclosed space and thus, to correct too-high or too-dry conditions.

The Best Hygrometers on the Market

Best Analog Hygrometer for Wine Cellars or Wine Cabinet

This analog hygrometer for wine cellars or a wine cabinet is both functional and attractive. The wood case, ivory-colored dial, and elegant illustration of grapevines will add a bit of style to your wine storage space.

 
 

Best Digital Hygrometer for Wine Cellars or Wine Cabinet

This digital hygrometer is affordable, accurate, and conveniently sized for smaller spaces. It also has three mounting options: a tabletop stand, a magnetic backing, and a hole for hanging from the ceiling or wall.

 
 

Best Smart Hygrometer for Wine Cellars or Wine Cabinet

This smart, wireless hygrometer is simple and attractive by design. Also, if there’s a problem with the humidity in your wine cabinet, it will push a Bluetooth notification to your device to let you know.

 
 

Best Small and Inexpensive Hygrometer for Wine Cellars

This mini hygrometer fits any budget and is small enough to be inconspicuous, even in small spaces. The digital display makes it simple to instantly gauge the humidity of your wine cellar.

 
 

How to Calibrate a Hygrometer

If your hygrometer is not giving you the reading you expected, or if you inherited an old hygrometer and aren’t sure it’s accurate, you can calibrate it with one of these kits.

 
 

Alternatively, you can calibrate your hygrometer using a saturated salt calibration. It’s very inexpensive, requiring only a Ziploc bag, a lid from a water bottle or a bottle of orange juice, and some table salt. When following the saturated salt calibration, make sure to keep some distance from the salty solution and your hygrometer so that you don’t damage the hygrometer. 

Here’s a step by step video on how to calibrate a hygrometer from cigar enthusiasts (the process is the same for calibrating wine hygrometers).

 
 

How to Increase Humidity in Wine Cellar

Too little humidity in your wine cellar can be a problem if you live in a dry, arid region like the desert of the Southwestern United States.  Too little humidity could also be a seasonal challenge in places like the upper midwest, where spring, summer, and fall might be humid enough, but winter humidity can fall to 20% or so since the cold air can’t hold too much water vapor.

If you are in a dry area or have seasonal fluctuations in humidity, you may want to consider getting a humidity tray, like the kind people use who grow orchids and bonsai trees during the cold winter months. You will need to select a tray like this one that fits inside your wine cabinet or cellar. To use, simply fill the tray with charcoal, river rocks, and a little water.  Monitor the humidity in your wine cellar every three days or so.  If it goes up too high, simply remove water. If the humidity is still too low, simply add a little more water to the tray.  

 
 

How to Decrease Humidity in Wine Cellar

Too much humidity in a wine cellar may stimulate the growth of mold and could cause the labels on your wine bottles to mold or get wrinkly. If you suspect too much humidity, first inspect your wine cabinet or cellar for any standing water in the corners or on the floor.  Wipe up any excess moisture with a towel and fix any drainage issues the unit or room might have due to blockage of any tubes or a unit not being level on the floor. If, after a thorough inspection, you are still concerned about the amount of moisture, purchase some DampRid at your local home improvement store or online.

 
 

Hygrometer Wrap-Up

Hygrometers have been used for centuries to measure and monitor humidity in confined spaces.  The ideal humidity for a wine cellar is between 50 and 70% (see the KnowWines chart below for a quick guide to ideal humidity!).

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You don’t need a hygrometer if you store just a few wine bottles in your pantry.  If your wine refrigerator has a digital humidity display you also don’t need a hygrometer.

If you have a wine cabinet or walk-in wine cellar that feels either too moist or too dry, purchasing a hygrometer and checking and monitoring the humidity is a great place to start troubleshooting.  

Hygrometers are available in analog, digital, and “smart” versions.  Smart versions connect to devices such as iPads or smartphones to enable monitoring.

If your humidity is too high, remedy the situation by absorbing excess water with a towel and absorptive material like DampRid.  If the humidity is too low, use a tray filled with water to add moisture to the enclosed space.

And when you have the humidity in your wine cellar all figured out, just relax and enjoy your wine!

Cheers!

The Uline UnderCounter Refrigerator

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If you enjoy having a wide variety of beverages on hand, including wine, beer, sparkling water, sodas, and spirits, an under-counter refrigerator is a great, space-saving way to keep your beverages cool so that they’re ready when you want them.

The U-Line Built-In Beverage Center is a great option. This undercounter refrigerator is made right here in the United States. We’ve had one in our basement for seven years and have had great success with it! In today’s blog, we’d love to share what’s so great about the U-Line refrigerator as well as a few tips for installation and maintenance.

Before we continue with our recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

Do I Need an Undercounter Refrigerator?

Undercounter refrigerators were invented at a time when many people entertained from home.  These beverage centers were designed to accommodate a wide variety of beverages as a true entertainment beverage center.

If you entertain often and need several cold beverages on hand at one time, or if you just like the idea of keeping your beverages separate from food in your regular refrigerator, you might consider getting an undercounter refrigerator. 

A few benefits of undercounter refrigerators:

  • Many have attractive, “tucked away” designs that fit beautifully into your kitchen aesthetic.

  • They save space in your regular refrigerator (especially ideal if your regular refrigerator is a smaller, counter-depth style).

  • Undercounter beverages are great for keeping beverages cool and visible. 

  • They can be locked, an ideal feature for households where parents want to have a cool alcoholic beverage available without offering open access to teens or younger adults.

This type of undercounter refrigerator should not be confused with a wine maturation cabinet.  A wine cabinet is designed to keep wine stored at about 55 degrees F and with about 60% humidity. 

Introducing the Uline Undercounter Beverage Center

At KnowWines, we’ve had a U-Line refrigerator for over seven years. Ours, like the one featured here, has two pull-out shelves for wine or spirits and two glass shelves for storing other beverages or snacks (see photo above). There’s also a small space on the bottom of the unit for storing additional beverages or small plastic containers.

The U-Line Undercounter Beverage Center is designed to sit under a counter as a built-in unit, although the unit will have some space to the left, right, and behind to allow for air circulation.

The U-Line undercounter refrigerator is 23 5/8 wide and 34.5 tall. It is made for a 24" cutout.

The refrigerator has a compressor for the cooling system.  We’ve written previously on our preference for compressors versus thermoelectric units in wine refrigerators.

U-Line Refrigerators: Made in the USA!

If you’ve been following KnowWines for a while, you know that we love to feature made-in-the-USA products (like the Ponderosa Wine Racks by Wine Racks America!) Similarly, we love that the U-Line Beverage Center is designed, engineered, and made in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.  

The U-line company was started in 1962.  U-Line was the first American company to make undercounter freezers, wine coolers, and beverage centers. In the beginning, U-Line founder Henry Uihlein, Sr. sold undercounter freezer units door to door! Their production has been based in the United States since day one, and remains there today.

U-Line Beverage Center Refrigerator: Warranty

The U-Line Beverage Center is a great product for undercounter storage, but it isn’t a small purchase. That’s why the warranty they offer is a nice bonus. Components of their undercounter refrigerator are covered by a one year, two years, and five-year warranty. 

If you purchase a premium undercounter refrigerator like the U-Line, you could also consider contacting your credit card provider to see if they offer an additional warranty for free. For example, a Delta Reserve credit card adds another year to the one-year limited warranty for no additional cost.

If you have questions and want to talk to a sales or service team member, U-Line does have a dedicated service and parts phone line open during normal business hours.  

U-Line Beverage Center: Installation

When your U-Line refrigerator unit arrives, have the delivery person set the refrigerator as close to the final location as possible (the unit weighs 136 lbs!). It is possible to install two units side by side, but keep at least ¼ “ between the units so that the doors can swing freely and not bump into each other. The refrigerator comes with an anti-tip bracket in case you are installing the item in an area prone to tipping (such as a boat, RV, or tour bus). You will need a level for installation, to make sure that the unit is sitting squarely on the floor. You’ll adjust the feet as necessary for a good door swing. The door can be installed for left or right opening.

 
 

The U-Line Beverage Center Refrigerator: Our Personal Review

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Overall, we love U-Line Beverage Center. We’ve enjoyed the unit for over seven years for the following reasons:

  • The U-Line unit is quiet when running.

  • Durability is great. We’ve had only one issue in seven years and it was easy to fix.

  • The undercounter refrigerator cools down to 34 degrees F to keep beverages nice and cold (versus 40 degrees F in a typical refrigerator).

  • Construction is robust, consisting of stainless steel and heavy glass.

  • Replacement parts are very easy to order if you need them as the unit ages.

What are some downsides?

  • The second sliding drawer does not have enough clearance to store “fatter” bottles like Champagne or Burgundy bottles, so you will need to store them in the top drawer (not really an issue unless you have several bottles of Champagne). The sliding drawers are perfect for standard Bordeaux bottles or slim Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc bottles.

  • In our experience, a refrigerator you don’t use every single day may have a greater likelihood of developing odors (in the case of a leaky growler, for example). A container of baking soda tucked into the back of the refrigerator is an easy fix!

 
 

The U-Line: Our Favorite Made-in-the-USA Beverage Refrigerator

If you are looking for an all-purpose undercounter refrigerator as a means of storing drinks separately from your kitchen refrigerator, then this unit might be for you.  

When purchasing one of these undercounter refrigerators, keep in mind that the main purpose of the unit to keep beverages cold. It is not intended for aging wine. If you want to age wine, check out our article on a great wine cabinet.

The U-Line unit is heavy but easy to install. If you spill something inside, it is easy to clean up with a washcloth.  

The made-in-the-USA U-Line Beverage Center undercounter refrigerator holds up well for many years (unlike many appliances these days!). If you decide the make the purchase, we hope you enjoy yours as much as we’ve enjoyed ours!

Cheers!

All About Wine Glass Racks

Introducing Wine Glass Racks

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If you are looking into wine glass racks, we’re guessing that you’re interested in the purchase for one of two reasons:

1) You have inadequate shelf space in a small home or kitchen and need creative ways to store those extra wine glasses.

2) You have a magnificent wine glassware collection and you would like to showcase your love for stemware in a tasteful but clearly visible display.

Before we continue with our recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

Do I need a wine glass rack?

If you have ample in-cabinet storage in your kitchen or unconditioned storage elsewhere in the home, then you may not need a wine glass rack for storing your stemware. If this is the case, be sure to read our blog on how to properly store your wine glasses.

However, if you don’t have in-cabinet space for storing wine glasses, or you want to showcase wine glasses in your kitchen, bar, or even a repurposed armoire, then wine glass racks are a great solution to storing wine glasses.  

What types of wine glass racks are there?

Different types of wine glass rack designs are generally dependent upon the intended location for installation. Wine glass racks can be installed in any of the following locations:

  • Ceiling-mounted

  • Wall-mounted

  • Under the cabinet

  • Free-standing counter-top or table-top unit

  • In an armoire, bookcase, or pantry

What types of materials are wine glass racks made of?

Just as there are many types of wine glass racks, there are also several materials from which wine glass racks are made. Stemware glass racks can be made from metal, wood, composite wood, glass, plastic, and reclaimed architectural elements like pallets.  If the wine glass rack is made out of metal or wood, frequently there is more than one finish available from the manufacturer so that the rack will fit in with a variety of aesthetics.  

How Do I Select the Right Wine Glass Rack?

Select a Location

While under the counter is a popular option, consider some other spaces before purchasing a wine glass rack. Think about how often you use the space where you’re considering putting a wine rack. Is this spot easy to access when you’re entertaining guests? Do you want to showcase your glassware, or do you simply need an out-of-the-way place to store it?

Consider Type and Number of Glasses

Consider the diversity of glasses you own or may own in the future.  Are you just beginning to purchase wine glasses or do you already have a collection?  If you’re single or live with just one other person, a smaller wine glass rack may work just fine. If you have a bar in your basement or entertain frequently, you will want to consider a wine glass rack that will store 18 or more glasses. 

Most wine glasses have a fairly thin base - if you have wine glasses with “fatter” base you may find that these don’t fit well into some wine racks.   

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Take a Measurement

After you’ve decided where you want your wine rack to go, measure the space available. Consider not only the width and depth of space but also the height.  

You’ll also want to measure your wine glasses. Consider how much space each glass takes in diameter. Some specialty large-bowl wine glasses for Burgundy or Bordeaux take up more space than universal wine glasses.  

Make sure that there is enough space between glassware to store them a half-inch apart. When glasses are stored too close together, vibrations can damage your glassware (or just make an annoying noise).

When taking your measurements, you should also consider if there are pets or children who could bump/break glasses by accident as they are passing by. Hold up your favorite glass under the counter and see if your cat can safely pass under it (no, we don’t love cats on our countertops either, but we all know they get up there when we’re gone!). You may also want to consider if an under-counter wine glass rack will reduce your counter space.

The Best Under-Counter Wine Glass Rack

The simple, clean design of this under-counter wine rack is perfect for today’s modern kitchens. The rack is easy to install and holds up to 18 wine glasses (it will also hold champagne flutes or martini glasses).

 
 

The Best Hanging Wine Glass Rack

When selecting a wine glass rack that hangs from the ceiling, make sure to measure how far from the ceiling that wine glasses will be.  You don’t want to look out across a room and stare directly into wine glasses instead of at your guests or partner.

We love the rustic elegance of this wine glass rack. And we love that it holds wine bottles in addition to wine glasses.

 
 

The Best Countertop Wine Glass Rack

If you are looking for a stemware storage rack that can sit on your counter or in your pantry, consider one of these. The spiral staircase effect is visually pleasing, and because glasses are stored vertically, they won’t take up too much counter space.

 
 

Wall Mounted Wine Glass Rack

One of the most flexible wine glass racks on the market are these wall mounted wine glass racks.  Like this one, many have both a framework for hanging wine glasses and a “bonus” bookshelf surface. This is a great space for storing wine books or even wine bottles! When you’re short on cabinet space, using wall space is an excellent way to get more storage.

 
 

The Best DIY Wine Glass Rack

On a budget or good with hand tools? You can make your own wine glass rack for under-counter storage. Check out this short video for instructions.

To make the wine glass rack, you can purchase your own T-Molding in a variety of lengths from your local hardware store and even online. We like this unfinished T Molding as you can stain or paint it to match your cabinet or armoire.  

 
 

Installing Your Wine Glass Rack

Most wine glass racks require screws (which are often included with purchase), a screwdriver (manual or electric), a tape measurer or ruler, and a pencil to mark where to insert the screws.

It’s a good idea to have extra screws on hand in case the screws provided with the rack are too shallow or too long. Nothing’s worse than installing a wine rack and puncturing through the cabinet. Or, even worse, using too short a screw, resulting in your wine glass rack falling down. No one wants to clean up that mess (or lose all that glassware!).

 
 

If you are installing a ceiling-mounted wine glass racks, you might want to have a few spare eye screws on hand in case the eye screw you receive is not sufficient.

 
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When installing a ceiling mounted wine glass rack, try to screw into the ceiling joists.  Alternatively, you can first install a decorative board on the ceiling and secure that to the ceiling joists. Then, you can hang the wine glass rack from the board.  

If you’ve no clue where the ceiling joists are, you can get a stud finder (these are also helpful for hanging up large paintings, shelves, mirrors, or other heavy objects).

 
 

Stemware Rack Wrap-Up

There are a variety of wine glass racks to store your stemware depending upon the space you have available and the number of glasses you need to accommodate.

Wine glass rack options range from DIY to higher-end, ceiling-mounted units. The most flexible type of wine glass storage is a wall-mounted wine glass rack, as it can be installed just about anywhere you need it.  

When installing any wine glass rack, make sure the screws you use to install it are long enough (and also not too long!). If the wine glass rack weighs over a couple pounds and is to be installed in drywall, we recommend that the screws are inserted such that they go into the studs (for a wall installation) and joists (for ceiling installation).  

When filling the glass wine rack with glassware, make sure that the glasses are about ½ inch apart so that they don’t chip and to prevent a ringing noise if there are any vibrations near the wine glass rack. Also, if you’re displaying your glassware for guests to see, be sure they’re nice and clean!

Cheers!

How to Store Wine Glasses

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Wine Glass Storage Rule of Thumb:

Before stashing that glass, make sure it is clean and polished!

Storing wet wine glasses is a sure recipe for mold or mildew, as well as unsightly water spots.

If you’re a wine lover, you probably have a collection of wine glasses. Some of them might be cheap glassware from big box stores (no shame in that!), some may be your grandmother’s crystal, and some may be fine wine glasses like Gabriel Glas. If you’ve recently acquired new wine glasses or have undergone a bit of kitchen reorganization, you may be wondering about the best way to store your variety of wine glasses.

In today’s blog, we’re offering tips and tricks for wine glass storage. Whether you’re storing cheap wine glasses, fine wine glasses, or something in between, we have the advice (and a few great products) to help.

Before we continue with our recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

How to Store Wine Glasses

It might not be obvious how how a wine glass should be stored, especially since you’ve probably seen friends or even restaurants store their wine glasses in different ways.

Below are our recommendations, based on type of glass.

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How to Store Expensive Wine Glasses

Fine, thin-rimmed glassware should be stored “bowl up.”

Storing wine glasses with the bowl up significantly reduces the chances of chipping the bowl when putting the glass away and retrieving it from the cupboard. High-end wine glasses are also designed with a robust base for storing upright. Storing on the bowl rim puts a lot of weight on the delicate structure of the rim. 

When storing fine wine glasses in this manner, keep them about ½ inch apart so that it’s easy to both store and use the glassware. Again, this reduces the likelihood of chipping the glass. It’s tempting to store glassware “yin/yang” style (one up, one down, in a repeating fashion). This might look nice in the cupboard, but it unfortunately increases the likelihood of tipping over a glass.

How to Store Cheap Wine Glasses

Cheap glassware can be stored on its rim, as they will typically have thicker rims than their fine china cousins.

Cheap wine glasses can also be stored in the boxes they came in.  If you didn’t keep the original box or the box they came in is too flimsy, you can purchase wine storage boxes online.

We prefer a banker’s box style since they can be reused for other purposes. Also, they are recyclable when they reach the end of their lives.  

 
 

When using cardboard boxes to store the wine glasses, remember to clean the glasses before and after storage. This will reduce the likelihood of the glassware taking on a musty box smell. 

Rotate Through Your Glassware 

Once you’re done storing your wine glasses - whether they are expensive or cheap - be sure to rotate through the individual glasses in a collection. This will prevent those two or three wine glasses you usually reach for from looking more worn than the others due to repeated dishwashing.

How to Prepare a Cupboard or Shelf for Wine Glass Storage

So we’ve solved the “up or down” debate. What about shelf lining - is that necessary?

We store our glassware on maple shelves in our cupboard. Since we don’t currently live in an earthquake-prone area, we’ve left the shelves unlined. However, if you do live in an earthquake-prone area or are especially clumsy (with our without wine), you might consider installing some simple shelf liner. Shelf liner will minimize the movement of wine glasses in an earthquake or and will minimize the accidental tipping that occurs with normal use.

These Gorilla Grip liners are smooth, come in several colors and sizes, and have a 10-year guarantee:

 
 

How to Store Wine Glasses in a Small Space

If you live in an apartment or a house with a small kitchen, your wine glasses may have to compete with plates, coffee cups, and small appliances in limited cupboard space.

Happily, there are many different types of under cabinet racks available in a variety of colors. These racks are perfect for small spaces. The only downside to these wine glass racks is that the wine glasses can be broken if you have active cats or children in the space.

 
 

If you only have limited cabinet space, but have another area where a free standing rack or ceiling mounted rack is a possibility, here are some solutions. These also might work if you want to keep the wine glasses out of reach of small children (thought they could still be an issue with particularly acrobatic cats!).

We love that this one has extra storage on top that could be used for wine bottles or wine accessories.

 
 

And we like ceiling-mounted style for its rustic elegance (it also provides storage for quite a few wine glasses):

 
 

How to Store Wine Glasses in a Mobile Home or Boat

Love the RV or boating lifestyle, but want some fine wine glasses for special occasions? Or just want a break from Solo cups? An option other than unbreakable wine glasses is to store a couple of wine glasses in a box especially designed for this purpose. We recommend this one especially for fans of larger, expensive wine glasses.

 
 

With this travel case, you can drink wine in style, even when you’re relaxing beside your RV or floating into the sunset on your boat!

The Bottom Line on Storing Wine Glasses

When storing expensive wine glasses, store them “bowl up.” Inexpensive glassware can be stored either up or down, as cheap glassware tends to have thicker bowl rims.

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Always be sure to clean and dry your glassware before storage (and afterward!) to prevent mold or mildew and to clean away any dust (or bugs, yuck!) that may have taken up residence in the wine glass during storage.

If you live in an earthquake-prone area or are especially clumsy, consider limiting slippage by installing a shelf liner on the cupboard shelf where you store wine glasses, or consider getting a slide-out rack.  

If you like to take your wine glasses on the go, be it an RV, a boat, or on a camping trip, there are options to protect a couple of wine glasses for celebrating those special occasions.

We hope you find success in your wine glass storage endeavors!

Cheers!   

Wine Aerators Exist So You Can Drink Right Now

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Wine aerators are very popular among wine enthusiasts. To be honest, we’ve rare rarely used wine aerators at KnowWines because we prefer to use a decanter or to age wine in a wine cabinet.  So, we set out to investigate why wine aerators are so popular.

Wine aerators exist so that we can drink now (well, once we get the screw cap off or release the cork from the bottle!). Studies show that 90% of American wine consumers drink the wine they purchase within two weeks of purchase, and of that 50% is consumed within 2-3 days. So, it makes sense that wine aerators are popular. We decided to open a couple of bottles and try out the very best wine aerators (all in the name of research, of course!).

Before we continue with our recommendations, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

What Is a Wine Aerator?

Honestly, any product that one can pass wine through is technically a wine aerator. But can be also be aerated through a specially designed wine accessory called a wine aerator. These devices are typically made from various plastics and may or may not include a metal mesh to collect wine sediments or cork debris. Wine aerators typically have a cylindrical path for wine to flow through and an inlet allowing precise exposure of oxygen to the flowing wine. They may or may not include a stand. Alternatively, wine can be aerated using a blender, large wine glass, or classically a decanter.  

What Does a Wine Aerator Do?

When aerating younger wines, an aerator simply serves as a vessel for carefully exposing young wine to oxygen before it is consumed.  Exposing wine to oxygen allows the young wine to breathe and open up. Some frequently heard comments expressed by wine drinkers after tasting aerated wine are:

  • “This wine has a better bouquet.”

  • “The flavors are more enhanced.”

  • “This has a smoother finish.”

We don’t personally recommend using a handheld wine aerator for older wines with sediment. The sediment can clog the filter or the device, resulting in wine spills or extra time at the kitchen sink. With older bottles of wine, we prefer using a decanter and enjoying the entire bottle with friends!

Do I Need a Wine Aerator?

No. You can find a lot of advice online telling you that you can “make your wine taste twice as expensive by using a wine aerator.” However, the same effect can be had by using traditional wine aeration methods like a decanter, a blender (for ultra-fast aeration), or simply letting the wine sit in a glass for a while (15 minutes or more).

However, we understand that not all wine drinking is “fine wine drinking.” There’s definitely a time and a place for beverage wines in our busy lifestyles! We don’t all have time to get out decanters and plan hours ahead for a five-star drinking experience. That’s why these wine aerators are a good tool for minimizing wait time between opening a bottle of wine and enjoying it. And if you tend to purchase and consume quite a few bottles of younger wines each month, this would be a good investment for you!

And here’s a KnowWines secret:  we do keep one wine aerator on hand. When we have a white wine that we think could be improved by aeration, rather than decanting the whole bottle, we pass some of the white wine (75 - 100 mL) through a simple handheld wine aerator made by Vinturi. If we are pleased with the preliminary results, we then decant the bottle. 

Where Can I Buy A Wine Aerator?

Wine Aerators can be found in most of the following retail locations:

  • Independent bottle shops

  • Large wine stores like Total Wine & More

  • Big-box retailers like Target, Walmart, and Bed Bath & Beyond (though it may take a little hunting around or asking a sales associate!)

  • Online

What Is the Best Wine Aerator?

We own only one wine aerator, the Vinturi. We didn’t actually give this purchase much thought. The Vinturi simply looked easy to use and easy to clean. Also, it had a minimal footprint and was on sale at our favorite local wine bottle shop. So, we gave the Vinturi a try, and we’re happy we did!

 
 

Like we said, we don’t use wine aerators often, but for the times we do, we’ve been quite happy with the Vinturi. And after further research, the Vinturi looks to have a strong fan base, with lots of positive comments.

Positive reviews address enhanced aromas and flavors of everyday wines, ease of use, and simple clean-up. The product also comes with a stand, which gathers the drips after use in case you want to come back and use it in an hour or so before cleaning it.  

 Negative reviews highlight a common flaw with acrylic composition - if the item is dropped, it may have a propensity to develop hairline cracks that are either cosmetic in nature or that eventually impact the utility of the item. This is true of many acrylic items and can also occur with the age of the item, rather than as the result of dropping it.

For folks with manual dexterity challenges (or those who simply want to aerate a glass of wine without holding onto the aerator), Vinturi has designed this tower for less cumbersome aeration.

 
 

How Do I Use a Wine Aerator?

We’ve made this simple video to show you how to use the wine aerator. (Don’t worry, it’s a pretty straightforward process!)

Simply pour the desired volume of wine (75 to 150 mL) through the aerator positioned above your glass. After using the wine aerator, place it back into the stand. If you only intend to use it once, place it directly into the dishwasher or sink.

How Do I Clean and Store a Wine Aerator?

Most wine aerators are dishwasher safe. However, they are small and may get damaged in a dishwasher if the dishwasher is not loaded correctly. You can also clean the aerator with dish soap and water. If you can’t get it clean, try placing the aerator in a glass dish, cover the aerator with warm water, and add a table of denture or retainer cleaner. 

One can also attack any blockage in one of the tubes by using compressed air - the same compressed air one uses to remove dust from electronics and computers. We like this rechargeable and cordless compressed air tool as it eliminates the waste associated with cans of compressed air. 

 
 

When the aerator is not in use, keep it on a stand to keeping it from rolling around in a drawer. Keep away from other heavy items to prevent the acrylic portion from breaking.  

Finally…Why Do Wine Aerators Look Like Adult Toys?

We wonder if we are alone in this assessment? But humor us for a second. Here is a popular personal massager ...

 
 

And here are a few popular wine aerators on the market in addition to our favorite Vinturi…

 
 

This one, too …

 
 

And also this one …

 
 

But, we digress!

Wine Aerator Summary

Aerating wine simply exposes wine to oxygen in a controlled manner. Today’s busy lifestyles don’t always allow us to plan in advance and use traditional methodologies like decanters.

Much of the wine purchased and consumed in the United States is drank within the first two weeks. Wine aerators can increase the enjoyment of wine, especially when a single person or couple just wants to enjoy one glass in an evening.

KnowWines recommends the Vinturi Wine Aerator. We don’t use it often, bit it does come in handy when we want to quickly learn how well a wine we just opened might respond to aeration in a classic decanter.  

A Little Footnote

Like the hourglass in the Vinturi photo? I purchased it in Napa Valley at Pennyweight in St Helena, California. If you can’t find a similar item there, they are also available here:

 
 

Happy aerating! And cheers!

How to Pack Wine Glasses for Moving

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No matter how you approach it, moving is an exhausting undertaking. It can also be nerve wracking, especially when you’re moving valuable and highly breakable items such as crystal glassware? Well, we can’t take the exhaustion out of your moving process, but we can ease your nerves about that crystal glassware with a few tips, tricks, and ideal products for packing wine glasses.

Before we continue with our tips, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

How to Pack Wine Glasses for Moving

Measure Your Wine Glasses

To select the right size of box, you’ll need to measure the height of your tallest glasses. You want to be sure that the boxes you select have enough room to accommodate your glassware. Attempting to force crystal glassware into a too-small box will leave you with shattered crystal glassware!

Find the Right Boxes 

The type of box we prefer for packing wine glasses is a “banker’s box.” The top is constructed of a single piece of cardboard (versus four pieces as seen in traditional boxes). Also, a banker’s box lid does not require tape to close, minimizing the amount of pressure one has to place on the box. Finally, the banker’s box can be reused after moving to store paper files or home items in your closet. 

These boxes come with dividers and cushion foam 

If you already have a standard-sized box and simply need glass dividers, you can also buy just the dividers and cushion foam online:

 
 

Alternatively, if you have only the box and glass dividers but no cushion foam, the foam can be purchased here:

 
 

If you don’t want to take on the added expense of glass dividers and cushion foam, just skip them and pack them as we describe below.  Simply make sure you have lots of packing paper!

Select Your Packing Paper

You will definitely need some kind of packing material to protect those wine glasses. Packing paper is less expensive than bubble wrap and a lot less bulky. It’s also recyclable or reusable by kids as a canvas for drawing or painting! You can get unprinted newsprint paper at most moving supply stores as well as online.  

 
 

Yes, could also use regular printed newspaper. However, some inks will stain wine glasses, which is why we recommend the unprinted paper instead.  If you do stain your wine glasses, you might want to try an overnight soak in the sink or in a bucket with some unscented denture cleaner.

 
 

Find Good Quality Packing Tape

It’s really important to get some good quality tape to secure both the top and the bottom of the box. Higher-quality tape will secure the lid to your box securely, thus preventing a box that pops open during the move, potentially damaging your glasses. These heavy duty rolls will do the trick.

 
 

Get Some Packing Labels

It’s really important to indicate to movers (or, friends and family who are helping you move) which boxes have fragile contents. We love these color-coded packing labels as they make box sorting a breeze. Included are labels indicating to not stack other boxes on top of your wine glasses and to orient the movers or your friends which end of the box is up.

 
 

Our Step-by-Step Guide to Packing Wine Glasses

This is the process we use to securely pack our wine glasses when we move. We have a lot of wine glasses (and we’ve been through several moves), so we think it’s a tried-and-true method!

Prep the Moving Box

Assemble the moving box as instructed. Don’t forget to tape up the bottom really well using that heavy duty packing tape! Taping the box well not only prevents the box from coming open, it also provides more structure and strengthens the box. If you’re using glass dividers, insert them once you have the box constructed.

Wrap the Wine Glasses

Remove one sheet of packing paper from the box and lay it out flat.  Place the wine glass in one corner of the paper, far enough from the corner that you can insert a small portion of the wrapping paper into the bowl of the wine glass. Bring up the bottom corner of the packing paper and gently wrap the stem. Then, roll the wine glass gently to use the rest of the wrap. Don’t ram too much paper in the wine glass bowl or you will break it.  Also, don’t twist the glass too much when you are wrapping it. When you’re done wrapping, carefully place the wrapped glass into the box (within layers of more packing paper OR in the glass dividers you’ve inserted).

Secure the top of the box

Tape up the top of the box really well.  Label it with all the pertinent stickers: “This End Up,” “Fragile,” “Kitchen” (to indicate where movers should take the box), etc. Be sure not to stack other boxes on top of boxes holding wine glasses. Finally, if at all possible, supervise the moving of these boxes to be sure that they are handled carefully!

How to Wrap Wine Glasses (for Visual Learners)

Check out this video if you prefer to see (rather than read!) an example of wrapping wine glasses for moving. This video will show you how to wrap wine glasses for packing, just like the pros do it!

Check out this video if you prefer to see (rather than read!) an example of wrapping wine glasses for moving. This video will show you how to wrap wine glasses for packing, just like the pros do it!

That’s a Wrap on Packing Wine Glasses!

To recap, here’s our approach in a nutshell:

Get all your supplies together (you can use the fancy boxes with dividers, or use the more economical process we show). Wrap your glasses individually. Make sure the exterior of the box indicates that the contents are fragile.  Don’t put a heavy box on top of it your box holding wine glasses.

When you’re unpacking (which is so much better than packing!), reuse your bank box for storing paperwork or other items that you’d like to keep dust-free and away from light. If you don’t have space to keep the boxes, upcycle them on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist. People are often looking for this type of box, and you shouldn’t have trouble finding takers! 

Best wishes for a great move, and happy packing!

Cheers!

What to Wear to Wine Country

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If you’ve booked a trip to wine country, you’ve likely already researched the wineries and other attractions you want to visit. Your next step is figuring out what to pack. Whether you’re visiting Napa and Sonoma, or are crossing the pond for Bordeaux or Rhone Valley adventure, you’ll want to be sure you know what to wear to a winery. Packing the right winery outfits will help you to pack minimally and purchases less during your trip. 

First, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

How do I select my winery outfits? 

Whether you’re enjoying a romantic weekend, reuniting with a  group of girlfriends, or attending a winery wedding, dressing for the winery is usually a no fuss affair. Here are a few guidelines to get you started: 

  • Dark colors are a great go-to for winery attire (that way, spilled red wine won’t ruin your entire outfit!). We like to coordinate black separates with a colorful shawl or accessory. 


  • Practical shoes are essential. Essentially, you’re visiting a farm, so high heels and shoes that can’t tolerate a bit of mud just aren’t a good idea. Aim for practical but stylish boots.  


  • Plan for rain with an umbrella and a raincoat. It could be a chilly 55 degrees or lower, so you’ll also want layers for that damp cold. 


  • Plan for sun with sunglasses, a practical sun hat, and (of course) sunscreen.

     

  • Avoid excessive jewelry, floppy hats, or flowy clothes that can catch on vines or wine barrels. 


  • Dark-colored separates are ideal, as they will transition nicely from winery to an upscale restaurant, in the event that you’re dining out after your wine tasting. 

Now that you have a general guide to winery attire, here are a few of our favorite items to fill the gaps in your winery wardrobe. 

Best Shoes for Winery Tour

Tours can involve a great deal of walking, sometimes across uneven surfaces, up and down stairs, in and out of golf carts, and through the vineyards. To keep up with the terrain and the tour guide, go for dressy hiking boots. The vineyard pros often wear Blundstone. 

 
 
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Best Windproof Umbrella for Wine Country

Conditions at a winery can include bright sun, wind, and pop-up showers. This large golf umbrella comes in a variety of sizes for singles, couples and small groups. 

 
 

Best Wine Country Sunscreen

Sunscreen is essential when traveling to wine country, no matter what time of year you go (it’s especially important in the summer, though!). Travel can make your skin prone to breakouts, though, so you’ll want to pack a good sunscreen that’s formulated specifically for the face and won’t clog pores. 

 
 

Best Winery Handbag

A crossbody shoulder satchel is ideal for wearing on a winery tour, as  you will want to keep your hands free. A larger handbag will just get in your way and feel cumbersome as you walk throughout the winery. Take this slim satchel instead. Then, slip the satchel into a larger bag in the evenings.

 
 

Best Scarf for Wine Country Style 

We love this classic brushed cashmere scarf by Burberry. It is warm, cozy, and stylish without being overstated. It’s the perfect accessory for pairing with elegant but practical black separates. 

 
 

Best Wine-Friendly Denim 

In wine country, basics are the best when it comes to attire. Simple, dark denim can be dressed up or down. We prefer a classic, easy-to-wear pair of Levi’s. 

 
 

Best Sunglasses for the Vineyards

No matter the season, you’re going to need a pair of shades. And when you’ve pared down your wardrobe to the basics, classy sunglasses are a great way to upgrade your look. These Prada sunglasses provide 100% UV protection and are 100% chic.

 
 

Best Rainy Vineyard Rain Jacket

The likelihood of pop-up showers and damp weather is high in wine country. You’ll definitely want to pack a sturdy but lightweight rain jacket that keeps you dry and warm at the winery. This hooded rain jacket by Levi’s also has convenient pockets for storing a phone or other items you want to bring along. 

 
 

Winery Attire & Accessories Wrap-Up

We hope this list helped you to pack a suitcase that’s primed for a perfect wine country experience. With the right clothes, boots, and rain gear, you should be all set for looking like pro at any winery you visit.

And if you love the wine at those wineries enough to take some home with you, check out our article on how to fly with wine.

Cheers!

Funny Sexy Wine Stuff

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Valentine’s Day or anniversary approaching and don’t want to fight the crowds?  Are you looking for Valentine’s Day ideas or activities with your significant other?   We’ll help you set up your at-home wine-themed as well as share some of our favorite funny sexy wine stuff to add some spice to your evening in. 

Before we continue with our review, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

First the wine …

It probably isn’t as hard as you think to pick the perfect wine for your romantic evening. For starters, consider your significant other’s preferences and then read helpful guide to finding great wine at the grocery store. However, for such an intimate occasion, it’s not a bad idea to seek out a small, independent wine store. In the Triangle Area, we love the Hillsborough Wine Company for their wide variety of wines at different price points. If you’re not sure what your beloved likes to drink, take note of their food preferences and relay that information to your local wine bottle shop for advice.

Once you have just the right bottle, consider writing a sexy message on the bottle (and on the pair of wine glasses) with one of these fun wine pens.

 
 

Then the food …

Perfect Pairings

Celebrate your perfect pairing… with a perfect pairing. If you’re planning on making the meal yourself, we recommend Perfect Pairings by Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein. When wine students receive recommendations for wine pairing books, this one is almost always at the top of the list.

 
 

This book isn’t just for sommeliers! It is also great for wine lovers and foodies. Anyone can use it to select a special wine at any of three of Evan’s price points: Everyday, Premium, and Splurge. In the book, wine styles and varieties are listed, as well as why some foods are considered “classic” pairings. Evan goes into detail on grape variety, wine-growing areas, what vintners are looking for in making their wines, flavors you can expect, how to make great pairings, and how to avoid pairings that might not be so good. There are even a couple of recipes with recommended wine pairings.

A Year of Perfect Wine and Food Pairings

Want a valentine’s day activity that will keep you and your partner connected throughout the year? Consider creating a standing date with your significant other. Each month, on this special date night, try a new wine and food pairing. So you’re prepared, purchase six or twelve “Everyday” wines from Evan’s book and prepare a dish to pair with it. Keep track of your journey in a wine journal. You can record the details of the date as well as what you loved (and didn’t love) about each wine and food pairing.

Setting the Scene

Now that your wine and food are in order, let’s set the scene for your romantic at-home dinner!

Best Romantic Candle for Wine Lovers

If you are preparing a meal for a loved one, we recommend against strong perfume, household fragrance, or overly scented candles that might interfere with the aromas of food and wine. We love this candle because it really does smell like a European wine cave (and it’s not overpowering in its scent). It’s perfect for a romantic evening of wine pairings (especially if you and your partner have ever dreamed of traveling to Bordeaux or Burgundy!).

 
 

Best Romantic Wine Opener

If your wine opener needs an upgrade, or if you just need a wine opener that helps to inspire a romantic mood, check out this beautiful handmade wine opener from France. 

 
 

The Sexiest Wine Decanter

Once you’ve got the wine open, it’s a good idea to decant a younger wine with a narrow-topped decanter. Have some fun with this voluptuous handmade decanter from Austria.  

 
 

A Pair of Sexy Glassware

If you are looking for an elegant pair of glassware perfect for sipping wine by the fire with the one you love, we’ve got the set for you.

 
 

If you end up loving this glassware and want to learn more, check out our full Gabriel Glas review.

The Perkiest Wine Stopper

If you’re finished drinking but there’s still wine in the bottle, Sir Perky is at your service to add some naughty silliness to the evening. This novelty item is a fun way to enclose an unfinished bottle of everyday wine. If you really splurged on a premium bottle of wine and you want to preserve what’s left, try the Repour Wine Preserver. Sir Perky will do just fine, though, for an “everyday” bottle.

 
 

Vineyard-Themed Romance Novels

Finally, a vineyard-themed romance novel is a great end-of-the-meal Valentine’s Day gift for a romantic, wine-themed evening. You might consider placing a few of these wine-themed romance novels in a gift basket with a bottle of wine and sexy wine accessories. This is the kind of gift that really sets the mood!

 
 

It’s a Wrap

Well that’s a wrap on our sexy, wine-themed recommendations for your romantic evening at home. Oh, and if you have any wine left in the bottle at evening’s end, you might consider wrapping it up with a Wine Condom!

 
 

Cheers to a Happy Valentine’s Day, from Sir Perky!

 
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Best Wine Bottle Coasters

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If you entertain frequently, a wine coaster might be on your list of helpful host/hostess items. Or maybe you already have a wine coaster but aren’t exactly sure of its purpose. In this blog, we share the history and purpose of wine bottle coasters, as well our recommendations for the best wine coasters.

Before we continue with our review, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

What is the history of the wine coaster?

Between the 1820’s and 1840’s, Britain saw an increase in both clothing and wine consumption driven by the abolition of import and export duties. Wearing nice clothes and drinking great wine with dinner became a way for upper society to demonstrate their wealth.

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People organizing formal dinner parties needed a way to slide or “coast” a bottle of wine or a wine decanter around on a very large dining table. These first wine coasters were wooden. In early nineteenth-century dining, silver was all the rage, so wine coasters became more elaborate, with artisans mixing wood and silver. These wine coasters became a platform for silver artisans to show off their ornamentation skills.

Entertaining large groups of people was fashionable, and as this dining trend passed from Britain to the United States, it became popular with Industrial Revolution plutocrats who populated the east coast. As a result, one will find antique wine coasters made in Europe, the United States and China. Because dining tables of the time were quite large, wine bottle coaster collectors will find that these coasters came in sets of two to six. 

In the early nineteenth century, due to recent advances in bottling and the utilization of bottle corks, wine bought and served from bottles was becoming more common. Technological advances in filtration were still over 100 years away, so a lot of wine in these bottles needed to be decanted to separate wine from its sediment right before serving.

The decanters of this time were tall and narrow, so the footprint of the decanter was often about the same size as the wine bottle. The wine decanters were tall and narrow because they were simply secondary containers to pour wine into so that sediment could be left behind in the original wine bottle. These narrow, handmade decanters are still available today online and in antique shops.

 
 

How is a wine coaster used today?

Today most of us are not hosting large, elaborate dinners where we need to slide a bottle down a long table filled with guests. Neither are we “coasting” a bottle around a drawing-room after retiring from a formal meal and letting our corsets out a notch or two.  

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Wine coasters these days are primarily objects of decor, though there are some helpful aspects of having one in your home. Constructed from a number of materials, today’s silver and/or crystal wine coasters can add a touch of sparkle to a formal holiday meal or the bride and groom’s table. Also, a wine bottle coaster is used as a barrier between a sweating bottle and a piece of wood furniture or marble countertop. A wine coaster can also hold a narrow decanter upon the occasion of decanting older wines.  Wine bottle coasters can also be used to show off a single wine bottle before the meal. Finally, wine coasters are sometimes passed down generation to generation and are simply a unique heirloom.  

How do I use a wine bottle coaster?

A wine bottle coaster can be used in any of the following ways:

  • To simply display a single bottle of wine before opening it

  • To act as a moisture barrier between a cold wine bottle and a warm tabletop, to prevent a water ring

  • To “coast” a bottle of wine from one end of the table to another.  

To use, simply place the bottle of wine or narrow base decanter into the wine coaster.

What materials are used to make wine coasters?

Traditionally wine coasters have been constructed of silver and wood.  

As wine coasters have transitioned from a functional item used by the upper class in the early nineteenth century to more decorative and functional purposes in modern times, the construction of wine coasters has become quite diverse.

Wine coasters today can be made of wood, silver, crystal, glass, wood, stainless steel, cork, metal, stone, and more.

Where can I buy a wine coaster?

Today, one can find new or antique silver wine bottle coasters in antiques shops or online auctions, big box stores, thrift shops, or various online retailers.  

Do I need a wine coaster?

No, you can get by just fine in life without a wine coaster. However, if you are a wine lover, wine coaster collector, or are desiring a way to prevent water rings on your tabletop in a more elegant manner than using a wine koozie, you may want to buy a wine coaster. Wine coasters might may also make a nice, inexpensive gift for a wine lover or someone who enjoys the accouterments of formal service and wants to convey some of those aspects to their home dining. Others might use a wine bottle coaster to add a sparkle of crystal or silver on the tabletop.  

What’s the best type of wine coaster?

The best wine coaster for you really depends upon the application.

If you are simply looking for a decorative item, the best coaster for you will be based on the design aesthetic that appeals to you. Big box stores, mall stores, and many online retailers sell a wide variety of wine coasters.

If your intent in purchasing a wine coaster is to avoid unsightly water rings on the table, look for a double-walled wine coaster.  Alternatively, a wine coaster made from cork or another absorptive material may meet your needs.

Our Favorite Wine Coasters

Waterford Crystal Heritage Bottle Coaster

If you’re looking for a timeless crystal coaster, Waterford is a great place to start. This coaster accommodates all 750 mL bottle sizes, including Champagne bottles. What we like about the Waterford Crystal bottle coaster is its sparkle and heft. This wine coaster can also be used to hold jewelry, a candle, or other small items, when you’re not using it for a bottle of wine. If you’re looking for a gift for “someone who has it all,” it’s hard to go wrong with a wine coaster like this.

 
 

Double Walled Bottle Coaster

This practical wine coaster will keep excess moisture from dripping onto your table or tablecloth. The style complements other stainless steel frequently found in kitchens these days. The wine coaster is easy to clean up. It’s also worth noting that American Metalcraft has been in the restaurant supply industry for over 70 years and has a good reputation for quality in the industry.

 
 

Vagabond House Handcrafted Wine Coaster with Oak Design

If you collect silver and/or pewter items and you are looking for a handcrafted lead-free pewter wine coaster, consider this one by Vagabond. Oak leaves and acorns signify longevity, patience, and endurance, making this coaster a perfect wedding gift.

 
 

Cork Wine Bottle Coaster

If your favorite type of wine is sparkling wine, you may already know that these wines are best served around 40 F to 50 F, to maintain freshness and fruitiness. When enjoying your sparkling wine, however, you may run into the issue of moisture on the outside of the bottle that quickly accumulates as the bottle warms and sweats. Simply placing the bottle on a cork glassware coaster might not be enough, as there’s often not enough absorption in this type of coaster to accommodate the volume of water that is “sweated”.

This marble and cork wine bottle coaster contains a thick layer of cork to absorb liquid. Any excess liquid is contained within the marble walls. This is a beautiful way to solve the issue of sweating wine bottles.

Since these coasters are made from natural marble and natural cork, the actual color will vary. 

 
 

Stainless Steel Wine Bottle Coaster

If you are in the wine or restaurant business and need a volume of wine coasters to spread out among tables, or you simply need an inexpensive but good looking set of wine coasters for large parties at home, consider these brushed stainless wine bottle coasters that come in a set of four.

These are the bottle coasters we use for our in-person wine tasting parties. There’s a sufficient lip that contains any bottle sweat, and they are very easy to clean and stack. What’s great about these flat wine bottle coasters is that they don’t obstruct any portion of the label.  

One thing we’ve noticed is that they can be scratched if you are moving them around a bit. They are not as heavyweight as I expected, however for this application (displaying a wine bottle) a super thick layer of stainless steel is not really needed.

 
 

And that’s a wrap on wine bottle coasters!

Wine bottle coasters have been around since the early nineteenth century, where they were used by the upper class to “coast” wines around a room when servants weren’t around to pass the wine for them.

Today, wine bottle coasters serve both decorative and practical purposes, such as absorbing or containing bottle “sweat” or drips. Traditionally made of wood and silver, wine bottle coasters of today are made out of a wide variety of materials. The quality of materials, place of manufacture, and level of craftsmanship involved drives the price. 

Wine bottle coasters can be purchased online, as well as in antique shops, big box stores, and thrift shops. We hope you enjoyed learning about wine coasters and considering our recommendations!

Cheers!

Demystifying Wine Decanters

If you are looking to purchase a decanter or are simply curious about how decanters work, you’ve come to the right place. Decanting might look elegant and intimidating, but there’s no secret to the art of decanting. In fact, if you’ve spent any time in a kitchen or laboratory, you probably already know a lot more about decanters than you realize! In this blog, we’ll demystify the art of decanting as well as recommend a few of our favorite decanters.  

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Before we continue with our review, though, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

What is a wine decanter?

According to The Oxford Companion to Wine by Jancis Robinson, a decanter is typically a handleless clear glass bottle or container exceeding one-liter holding capacity. The decanter may or may not have a closure.

Wine decanters have been around at least since Roman times.  Historically, they have been comprised of various materials including earthenware, glass, crystal, bronze, silver, or gold.

Do you need a wine decanter?

No, you don’t need a wine decanter, though there are certainly benefits and pleasures to using one.

If you don’t purchase much wine to drink at home during the year, you can find another suitable one-liter or larger container to aerate wine before consuming. Suitable substitutes include a glass pitcher, a blender carafe, or even a salad bowl.  You simply need a container large enough to hold the volume of wine you wish to decant. The larger the surface area, the faster the poured wine will “breathe”.

If you are enjoying one glass of young wine for yourself, you don’t need to hassle with a decanter.  Simply place the wine in a glass with a broad bowl like this one and swirl the wine in the glass. Then, let it sit for a few minutes.  

If you simply love the shape and allure of decanters or drink wines often enough that you desire to own a decanter, then, by all means, purchasing and using a decanter will increase the pleasure of consuming wines.  As decanters can get rather large, decorative decanters have become popular (a large decanter typically can’t fit in a standard cupboard or shelf, and so must be displayed on a countertop or open shelf). 

What does a wine decanter do?

At the end of the day, a decanter is simply a receptacle for holding wine.

When decanting younger wines, a decanter simply serves as a vessel for carefully exposing young wine to oxygen before it is consumed. Exposing wine to oxygen allows the young wine to breathe and open up. Decanters intended for younger wines tend to have a wide base.  Using a decanter to aerate a young wine is more effective than simply opening a bottle of wine and sitting it on a countertop for an hour or so. Leaving the wine in the bottle with the cork removed only exposes the wine in the neck of the bottle (a very small portio) to oxygen.

When decanting older wines (typically wines with some sediment in the bottom), the decanter serves as a place to separate the wine from the sediment that will remain in the original wine bottle. Decanters (or carafes) for older wines tend to be narrower at the base.  

Why use a wine decanter?

Wine decanters are used for three main reasons, which we have detailed below.

Decanting Still Wines to Aerate Them

Many still (non-sparkling) wines benefit from controlled exposure to oxygen before consuming them. This process allows the wine to open up and breathe before serving.  

Decanting young wines is not always necessary, as many modern wines are made for immediate consumption. However, if you are consuming a fine wine, artisanal wine, or quality wine from an independent producer, the wine will likely require some decanting as it has likely not been filtered as much as simpler commercial wines. 

Decanting Wines with Sediment

Prior to the implementation of filtration systems in many wineries in the 20th century, many wines would build up sediment as the wine aged in the bottle. So that the sediment didn’t end up on your or your guest’s glass, wines were (and are) poured from their original bottle into a decanter over candlelight. Once the sludge of sediment is visible in the neck of the bottle, the pourer puts down the wine bottle and places the decanter on the table. Then, guests enjoy the wine as it is poured from the decanter into individual wine glasses. 

Decanting Cheap Wines to Disguise Frugality

If you are hosting a wine party on a budget for a crowd or want to switch over to some cheap wine later in the evening, pouring cheap wine from a box or inexpensive bottle into a nice decanter will “dress up” the wine presentation. Brilliant!

How do I use a wine decanter?

It’s really quite simple, no need to overthink it! We’ve found the best way to learn how to decant is by watching someone else with training and experience wines. To learn more, check out this video on the decanting of young wines in a large decanter and older wines (via candlelight) into a narrow-based decanter (carafe).

Decanting an Older Wine

If you are decanting an older wine, you really don’t want to decant it until just before consuming, as some of the aromas will become muted and disappear with exposure to oxygen. With an especially old wine, you will want to cover the top of the decanter (carafe) with some sort of enclosure so that aromas don’t escape.

Decanting Younger Wines

If you are decanting a younger wine, such as a premium or artisanal wine from a region like Bordeaux, the Rhone, or Napa, you will need to do a little experimentation and let the taste be your guide. First, pour yourself a small taste before decanting. If the aromas and flavor are quite muted (not very expressive), then you might need to decant the wine for an hour or more. Our best advice is to keep tasting a sip or two at a time, 15-20 minutes apart, until it starts to taste as you like (such hard work!). To anticipate how long this might be, you can consider looking up others’ tasting notes on an application like Cellar Tracker to see how long the same wine was decanted by other people who drank it. You may need to take this information with a grain of salt as everyone has different preferences for length of decanting, but at least you’ll get a general idea of the decanting period (which could be anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours!).

If you are decanting a very young wine, such as a cheap wine from the grocery store, decanting for 15 to 30 minutes is usually sufficient.  

What are the different types of decanters?

Decanters vary by construction, shape, design, and price. The material of which the decanter is made and the shape are significant factors.

Materials Used to Make Decanters

Basically, you want a decanter that is made of an inert substance that will not interact with the wine you wish to decant. This means plastic is typically out of the running. Commercially available decanters are typically made from glass, crystal, earthenware, and silver.  

Glass decanters are typically the least expensive and least durable. However, they generally take to automatic dishwashers better than crystal decanters, mostly due to their thick walls.

Crystal decanters are quite durable.  Crystal decanters can be mouth-blown or made from a mold.  Crystal decanters are also likely to be more elaborate in shape than glass decanters, as even very thin walls can be quite strong.  

Different Shapes of Decanters

As trends come and go, so do the shapes of decanters.

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We categorize decanters into two main groups: tall thin carafes for decanting older wines and broad-bottomed decanters for younger wines.

You will find various sources describing the differences between decanters and how they affect wine. However, we’ve found that there’s really a very minimal difference in the aroma and flavor of wine decanted in the various types of decanters outside of these two groupings of tall/thin and broad/round.

When you are shopping on the internet or at a bottle shop, antique shop, or large retail shop like Williams Sonoma or Crate & Barrel, you will find lots of cool names for decanter shapes, like shaft and globe, Indian club, taper, shoulder, mallet, pillar cut, cruciform, cornett, and duck (to name a few!).

How do I clean a wine decanter?

If you clean your decanter right after using it,, you can usually just triple rinse the decanter with hot water from the tap. If wine sat in the decanter for a few hours or overnight, however, a more aggressive approach to cleaning will be needed.  

After a night of drinking, cleaning a decanter can be quite a bother. If you don’t have time or are afraid that you will damage a decanter in a tired (or inebriated) situation, we recommend a quick rinse followed by filling the decanter with an inch or so of water so that you don’t have to fight with a stain in the morning.

Most glass decanters (and some crystal decanters) can be washed in the dishwasher. If in question, we recommend washing by hand. When washing by hand, try to minimize aromas and residues on both decanters and any fine glassware by washing the glassware in warm water using fragrance-free dish soap. We use this brand:

 
 

When washing by hand use a decanter brush to get into the nooks and crevices of a decanter. We like this one:

 
 

How do I remove wine stains from a wine decanter?

If a wine stain is not removed by the above methods, there are still a couple of approaches to cleaning dried-on wine stains deep inside the decanter.

Decanter Beads

There are beads designed specifically for the purpose of removing stubborn wine stains in the decanter. Carefully place beads in the decanter with soap and water, then swirl to free the debris. Invert the decanter and collect the beads in a kitchen sieve. When you’re done, rinse, dry, and store your decanter beads in the container the beads came in.

 
 

Denture or Retainer Cleanser

If you entertain frequently or are often battling dried on lipstick or wine stains in glassware, do what the pros do - use denture cleaner!  Place a tablet in the decanter, fill with a couple inches of water, and let the decanter sit overnight. This often removes the most stubborn wine stains. When cleaning individual pieces of stemware, we break up a denture tablet and insert just a piece of the tablet into each piece of glassware that requires some deep cleaning. Fill the glass to just above the stain.

 
 

Hard Water Stains

Perhaps your roommate or well-intentioned spouse used your favorite decanter for a flower vase or to temporarily house a goldfish when an aquarium started leaking. Or maybe you live in an area with especially hard water and are annoyed by that invisible film that keeps showing up on your glassware.

Here’s a product that’s used in the craft beer industry to clean glassware with hard water mineral stains from calcium and other naturally occurring elements and minerals.

 
 

How do I polish and dry a wine decanter?

To prevent water spots on the outside of the decanter, we recommend a quick once-over with a fun glassware polishing cloth like this one. You can also use this glass polishing cloth for cleaning glassware, eyeglasses, and photography lenses!

 
 

To air out the inside of the decanter, you have a couple options. First is to “wedge” the decanter into a dish drying rack. This is a good option if you have an inexpensive glass decanter.

If you have an artistic or treasured wine decanter, consider getting a decanter drying rack like this one. We like this drying stand as it has rubber coating to prevent scratches to the decanter.

 
 

Which decanter should I purchase?

Now that you know everything there is to know about decanters, we’ll share our three favorite wine decanters.

Best Wine Decanter for Older Wines

This mouth-blown lead-free decanter from Austria can be used to decant one 750 mL bottle of wine. It’s a good decanter for older wines as one can minimize exposure to oxygen. This very high quality of crystal has no distracting design, allowing one to easily see the color of the aged wine. 

In addition to decanting wine, this carafe can be used to serve water, juice, or other beverages. The hourglass shape is attractive and easy to clean. This decanter is also dishwasher safe. 2500 mL versio is also available if you need to decant a magnum (1.5 L) bottle of wine.

 
 

Best Inexpensive Glass Wine Decanter

If you are looking for a simple, dual purpose wine decanter (for new and old wines) that is inexpensive, this decanter may be for you. In addition to being economical, it does not have a wide base, making it easy to store. This decanter also has an insert that can be used for aerating younger wines (use without the insert for older wines). Due to its shape, this decanter does not scream “wine decanter,” so it can be used for beverages other than wine, like orange juice or flavored water.

 
 

Best Multi-Purpose Lead-Free Crystal Wine Decanter

Perhaps you already have a glass decanter and want your second decanter to be a lead-free crystal wine decanter. This one has a very wide base (8.5 inches) and plenty of surface area for decanting. The slanted top makes it attractive and easy to pour. 

 
 

Best “Splurge” Lead-Free Crystal Wine Decanter

This mouth-blown, high quality, lead-free decanter made in Austria has a sleek design that maximizes surface area of the wine to oxygen. The decanter easily holds a 750 mL bottle of wine and is easy to pour and clean.  

 
 

Wine Decanter Wrap-Up

We hope you learned something about wine decanting and that you feel less intimidated by the process. Have more questions or a favorite wine decanter you want to tell us about? Share in the comment section! Happy decanting!

Cheers from KnowWines!

Thirteen Funny Wine Glasses

Looking for some levity in 2020? How about gifting a set of funny wine glasses? We scoured the internet for the best selection of funny wine glasses out there. This blog shares our top thirteen selections.

Funny Wine Glasses.JPG

Before we continue with our review, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you.  The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

Why Funny Wine Glasses?

While many prefer to drink out of traditional wine glasses (insert Gabriel Glas article), special events and gift giving can provide occasions for having fun your wine-loving friends who also have a sense of humor!

Things to Avoid When Purchasing Funny Wine Glasses

If you are purchasing a funny wine glass to gift to a wine connoisseur, here are a few things to keep in mind to increase the odds that your carefully purchased gift won’t end up in the dark corners of a cabinet.

Hand Lettered Wine Glasses

Hand lettering became a big trend in the 2010’s. Cute, funny, and naughty sayings found themselves plastered all over home decor, t-shirts, and coffee mugs. Wine glassware, unfortunately, did not escape this trend.  

Hand-lettered wine glasses available through online retailers are often “cheap” wine glasses constructed of lower quality glass or glassware with very thick rims. Sometimes the issue is not the glassware but a low-quality printing or etching on the glass. The saying isn’t funny anymore when a few letters go missing from a printed-on slogan after only a couple washes.

Also, hand-lettering is distracting to some wine lovers. While funny, the lettering can detract from the visual aesthetic of swirling and visually evaluating the wine in the glass.  Instead of choosing hand-lettered glasses, we focused on funny shapes and styles of glassware with more timeless appeal. 

Avoid Stemless Wine Glasses (Unless Requested)

Stemless wine glasses were developed in response to some wine lovers’ need for wine glasses that don’t tip over easily, or that are easier to wash without fear of breaking the stem.

While these stemless galsses are very popular, they can be polarizing. Some wine lovers are turned off by smudged wine glasses (as there is no stem to hold on to). Others don’t like that wine in stemless glasses can become warm too quickly due to the close proximity of the wine to the warm temperature of hands.  

Unless a gift recipient has expressed a love for stemless wine glasses, we recommend sticking with funny wine glasses with stems.  Another option is purchasing a wine tumbler like the Yeti Wine Tumbler and personalizing it.

Where to Buy Funny Wine Glasses

One -of-a-kind funny wine glasses are available at many online retailers.  These include large box stores, online platforms like etsy.com, and small businesses. For locally sourced humorous wine glasses, check on etsy.com, your local wine retailer, or a local glassblower.

Some online retailers specialize in personalized wine glasses. Does the gift recipient have a “trademark saying,” or is there a special retirement sentiment you’d like to share? Plan a few days or weeks in advance and obtain a personalized funny wine glass 

Funny Wine Glass Themes

Funny wine glasses are often inspired by the comedy of everyday life.  Here are some common themes in funny wine glasses:

  • Oversized or odd-shaped wine glasses

  • Professional, vocational

  • Stage of life or lifestyle

  • Naughty

  • Hobbies and Pets

  • Regional or City

  • Current events

  • Overindulgence

  • Humor at expense of “Wine Snobs”

Our 13 Favorite Funny Wine Glasses of 2020

Even with sidestepping the hand-lettering trend, we were able to find thirteen funny wine glasses that are great as gifts or for entertaining at home with friends.

Tipsy Wine Glasses 

No, it’s not an optical illusion, these glasses are tipsy! This set of two funny wine glasses comes with bent stems, giving the illusion that the bowl is going to fall over.

If you are looking for a gift for a raffle or office party, this set of funny wine glasses might be the perfect fit. These glasses can also serve as a great practical joke - replace your friends’ glasses with a couple of these and wait for the startled response.

Pros:

  • Good for practical jokes

  • Timeless

Cons:

  • Not necessarily uniform; stems in a set of glasses may bend at different angles

  • If you fill the glass over 150 mL, it may tip over!

Giant Wine Glass

These novelty giant wine glasses stand twenty inches tall. And yes, they can hold an entire bottle of wine. While the primary purpose of such a glass is as a gag gift, this giant wine glass can also serve as a cork holder, fishbowl, or wine chiller.

 
 

Pros:

  • Ships in a sturdy box

  • Handblown

Cons:

  • Variation in glass quality reported by some consumers

Vampire Wine Glass

These funny wine glasses are more quirky than laugh-out-loud funny. However, many wine enthusiasts will find their design fun and unique. Essentially, one can consume the wine in the glass “like a vampire,” aspirating the liquid through a glass straw on the side. Perfect for a Halloween get-together!

Pros:

  • Made out of food-safe Borosilicate Glass

  • Microwaveable

Cons:

  • Delicate

Beaker Wineglass

Here’s a fun wine glass for the STEM crowd - a wine glass designed to look like a beaker! This would make a good white elephant gift for a doctor, nurse, scientist, science teacher, or science grad. Or, maybe gift it to someone who is “experimenting” with new types of wine!

Pros:

  • Handblown

  • Made from authentic laboratory glass

  • Foodgrade

Cons:

  • Due to the handmade nature of the product, there might be slight variations in the glass and robustness of the graduation labeling


Hourglass Wine Glass and Martini Glass

One side is a wine glass, the other side is a martini glass. Visually, this represents an hourglass. Cool, right? This could be a good gift for a martini lover who also enjoys wine, or perhaps someone who is a fan of Days of Our Lives.  

 
 

Pros:

  • Design is complementary to many other styles of glassware

Cons:

  • Due to the handmade nature of the product, there might be slight variations in the glass 

Mason Glass / Ball Glass Wine Jar

This funny wine glass is a staple in steakhouse gift shops and Cracker Barrel stores: the Mason Jar Wine Glass. This item may make for a nice white elephant gift.

 
 

Pros:

  • Made in USA

Cons:

  • Can be difficult to drink from - the opening is small 

  • Better to handwash

Miniature Wine Glasses

Technically these are shot glasses, but we can think of lots of fun ways to pass them off as “mini wine glasses.” We envision them decorating wedding tables or being used as decorations for a bachelorette party or wine lover’s birthday party. Or, buy a set to have a little fun with that friend who always says “Sure, I’d like to try a little bit of that wine - just a little.”

 
 

Pros:

  • Lead-free, food-grade glass

Cons:

  • Small, even small for a shot glass

Aerating Wine Glass

Have a friend who is obsessed with wine aeration and aeration gadgetry? This will make the perfect gift - fun, but fragile! Also makes for a good conversation starter at parties.

 
 

Pros:

  • Unique design

  • Conversation starter

Cons:

  • Delicate, easy to break

  • Difficult to clean

Halloween Zombie Wine Glass

Perhaps you know a wine enthusiast with a dark sense of humor. Or maybe you have a friend who loves doing the Halloween Zombie Lurch. This polyresin hand could be a fun gift. Spooky!

 
 

Pros:

  • Realistic

  • Perfect for Halloween

Cons:

  • Delicate

Christmas Wine Glass Ornament

Friends or family who collect Christmas ornaments in addition to wine may enjoy this fun wine glass ornament for their tree. Consider gifting it with a bottle of wine! This ornament might also be a good selection for a white elephant gift exchange.  

 
 

Pros:

  • A simple wine glass ornament

  • The “wine’ moves around inside the ornament

Cons:

  • Not available in “white” wine color for white wine lovers

Wine Horn

This is a good gift for someone who enjoys Renaissance Festivals, fantasy novels, or the Highland games. Enjoy wine or your favorite beverage in “the original wine glass.”  

 
 

Pros:

  • Handmade

  • Available in two sizes

Cons:

  • Not a traditional wine glass

  • Not transparent 

Floating Wine Glass

These floating wine glasses look just like traditional wine glasses, but they float! These fun glasses might be good for enjoying wine in a pool, a hot tub, or at the beach. They are generous in size and are constructed of Tritan, which is more shatterproof than acrylic.  

 
 

Pros:

  • Plastic, which is great for pool use

  • Unlike acrylic floating wine glasses that lack a base, these “glasses” can transition from the water to the patio.

Cons:

  • White wine does not show up well, you could “lose” the glass in the pool due to the lack of color

Funny Wine Glasses Wrap-Up

We hope you’ve enjoyed our round-up of funny wine glasses! Though some wine lovers profess a desire to drink only from traditional wine glasses, there are often occasions to cut loose, not take oneself so seriously, and enjoy a funny wine glass or two!

Cheers!

The Best Wine Purses of 2020

Jolene heading out to host a wine dinner.

Jolene heading out to host a wine dinner.

Are you a wine sales rep in search of an attractive insulated wine purse for daily on-the-job use? Or maybe you’re a wine enthusiast looking for a wine purse for carrying some bottles to the beach or to a special event?  Or maybe you’re looking for a whimsical wine tote for an upcoming birthday gift. We’ve got you covered in this review of the best wine purses for every need.

Before we continue with our review, a little about the KnowWines blog. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and we do receive a small commission if you purchase items through our affiliate links at no cost to you. The commissions we receive help us pay for web hosting fees, products to test, and other costs associated with running this site. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

Do I Need a Wine Purse?

If you are in the wine trade - perhaps as a sommelier, an event planner, or host of wine classes - an insulated and professional wine purse is a must. These insulated wine purses have enough structure to keep wine bottles upright. As these wine totes are a necessary tool for the trade, they should have some style elements enjoyed by the owner in addition to practical features like insulation, structure, and wear-resistant fabrics.

If you are a wine enthusiast or buying for a friend who is a wine lover, then you are looking for one of two types of wine purses. The same companies that make professional wine purses also make smaller handbags that fit two or three bottles, keeping them upright and chilled. The second type of wine purse is what we call a recreational wine purse - one intended for carrying wine in a discreet manner with the wine itself inside a food grade bag with dispenser.

Wine Purses: What to Consider

Once you’ve determined the style of wine purse you’re looking for - a professional wine purse to hold one or more bottles, or a fun wine purse to discreetly transport wine to an event or party - there are a few more things to consider. 

Construction and Aesthetic of Wine Purses

Wine purses are typically constructed from vinyl, leather, or faux-leather (also called vegan leather). If there is potential for the wine purse to be exposed to water, you may want to consider avoiding leather. Alternatively, if you are taking wines to show to a wine bottle shop or wedding planner, then you might want to consider the finer aesthetics of a leather or faux-leather wine purse.

Number of Bottles the Wine Purse Contains

Will you (or the recipient in the case of a gift) need to carry one, three or six bottles of wine for appointments?  

In the case of recreational wine purses - where a hidden bag holds the wine instead of the original box or bag - consider how much volume you need for the event.  

Should my Wine Purse be Insulated or Uninsulated?

Most wine purses offer both insulated and uninsulated compartments. You’ll need to consider whether you want a bag that simply helps pre-chilled wine remain cold - much like those insulated grocery bags you see in the freezer section of the grocery store - or if you want a bag that uses ice packs which can be removed from the wine purse in cooler weather.

Wine purses without removable ice packs frequently cannot be kept cool by placing ice directly into the purse.  Placing ice directly in many wine purses often results in leaking or dampness of surrounding materials and could discolor or damage leather bags.  

Does My Wine Purse Need a Spout?

If you plan on serving wine from a spout connected to a discreet bladder inside the wine bag, then yes, you will need a wine purse with a built-in spout. Professional wine purses don’t have wine spouts.

Overall Top Wine Purse

The chill-n-go family of professional wine bags has been making wine purses, totes, and luggage for 30 years. Jolene has had this bag for almost two years and would purchase again if her original wine tote disappeared.

 
 

With good construction, removable ice packs, and pouches for storing maps, handouts, corkscrews, and more, one could easily get 2-3 years of everyday use out of these sturdy nylon bags available in many colors.

Best Wine Purse for Wine Professionals

Chill-n-go has been making the go-to wine purse (or tote) for sommeliers, instructors, and wine salespeople for years. Consider this wine bag (available in several colors) if you have frequent need of a wine purse and want a high-quality bag that will be a trusted partner for years.

 
 

Why do we like it? This bag was clearly designed with the professional in mind. The nylon construction is very sturdy and easy to clean regardless of your travel conditions - dusty roads, sticky floors, errant wine splashes from excited wine tasters - no problem.  Also, the design is unisex (not too feminine, not too masculine).  

We like that the ice packs are removable and easily stored in the freezer between uses (or one can go without the ice packs in cooler weather). There’s a zippered pouch for storing an extra corkscrew, a champagne stopper or two, or a credit card swipe device that attaches to your cell phone for any off-premise sales.  

Nylon fabric separates the ice pack from the bottles and any literature you might have, so no more wet labels or wet literature if you’ve been compensating with other bags. With this bag, we’ve easily carried wine maps measuring up to 14” in height. We’ve also used the tote for grocery shopping.

Pros:

  • Easy to clean

  • Sturdy bag and handle, including shoulder strap

  • Structured bag holds one to six bottles upright easily

Cons:

  • The classic design in nylon might be too “plain” for those seeking a luxury look

Chill-no-go does offer a similar tote in Italian leather for those wanting to splurge on a Made in USA wine purse bag including this red leather snake print.

 
 

Best Wine Clutch Purse

Perhaps you are looking to discreetly carry just one chilled bottle to an event (sans paper bag). When you’re not using it for wine, this wine clutch purse can also be used to carry medicines requiring insulation.

 
 

Pros:

  • Clutch is a discreet way for wine enthusiasts to carry one bottle of wine

  • Available in many trending colors and prints, including cork

  • Use to carry other beverages in addition to wine, including craft beer bomber or a couple of smaller beers.

Cons:

  • Don’t put ice in the bag, as thawed ice will leave water spots

  • Good looking, but not robust. 

  • Designed for infrequent use, not as an “everyday” bag

The PortoVino Wine Bag, the Best Wine Bag for the Beach

While originally designed for wine, any beverage can be placed in this discreet wine purse when glass wine bottles are not allowed.  

 
 

Inside the PortoVino purse is a pouch that you pour wine into.  In the front of the purse is a spout hidden behind a flap that allows one to pour wine out of the purse into a wine glass.  

Check out this video to learn more about what you can store in the wine bag and how to fill it with wine. It is also possible purchase replacement BPA-free bags in case you forget to clean out the bag or you rupture the bag accidentally with a sharp object.

 
 

PortoVino Wine Bag, the Best Fashionable Wine Purse With Hidden Spout, Insulation, and Leather Construction

Like the beach bag, this purse has a compartment for up to 1.5 L of wine. Unlike the other PortoVino wine bags, the leather bag interiors look more like a traditional purse, with pockets for a cell phone and other accessories. Made of Italian leather, this bag would make a great gift for someone who wants to bring wine with them to outdoor concerts or to pool parties in an elegant carrier.

 
 

Pros:

  • Italian leather construction

  • Fashionable and discreet

  • Reliable customer service if there are any issues

Cons:

  • Does not hold bottles, only wine poured into a bag inside the purse.

Our Favorite Overall Wine Purse

Each of these wine purses has unique, favorable qualities that we appreciate. Still, our favorite wine purse is still the chill-n-go wine tote, and that distinction is based on our two years of experience with the bag.

Here’s an overview of what we love about this wine purse:

  • This bag will last for years, is available in several colors, and an upgrade to leather is available. 

  • The design is not too feminine or too masculine.

  • The bag itself does not look or feel “cheap,” but rather has the timeless look and feel of something from a premium outdoor retailer like REI.   

  • The Chill-n-go wine purse holds up to six bottles of wine and has the flexibility to be insulated or not, depending upon your environment.

  • If it gets dirty, clean up is easy.  

  • There is a handy compartment (separate from the bottles within) into which you can easily place a wallet and wine accessories like a corkscrew.  

  • When you are not using it to carry wine, it can be used for a grocery tote.  

Whether you’re a sommelier, a host of wine classes, or a just a wine enthusiast seeking the perfect wine tote for special events, we hope you found what you were looking for in this review.

Have other recommendations? Share them in the comments below!

Cheers, from KnowWines!