Beautiful Wine Puzzles For Surviving This Winter

Recovering from surgery?  Waiting out the pandemic?  Sitting out some inclement weather? Or simply looking for a fun holiday gift for the wine lover in your life? We’ve put together a list of beautiful wine puzzles that will help you pass the time and keep your mind active. These wine puzzles can be enjoyed with or without wine. But if you do enjoy your puzzle with a glass of wine, it’s definitely a low pressure pairing!

Before we continue with our wine puzzle 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 Wine Puzzles

Wine puzzles, like any other type of puzzle, exist to entertain us, test our knowledge, or challenge our ingenuity. The more pieces a puzzle has, and the smaller those pieces are, the greater the challenge! The wine puzzles we’ve selected depict everything from vineyards to wine bottles to scenes from various wine regions.

History of Jigsaw Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles were invented in the late 1700s in England, first as educational tools and toys for children to learn geography. This year, puzzles have enjoyed a recent increase in popularity, probably due to more people being at home during the pandemic.

To learn more about the history of jigsaw puzzles, check out this short video.

 
 

Best Wine Jigsaw Puzzles

Here’s a collection of our favorite jigsaw puzzles. These puzzles can be shipped to locations in the US and elsewhere.  

Water & Wines: Best Wine Puzzle by A Sommelier

These new wine puzzles by Water & Wines of Sweden are not only the highest quality and most premium product - they also donate a portion of their profits to Charity Water every month.

The puzzles are 1000 pieces and easy to snap together. Inside the box is also a large poster you can frame (or to assist you with putting the puzzle together).

Shipping was fast from Sweden - under 7 days! They have puzzles featuring France, Spain, Italy and you can buy their puzzles directly here.

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Story of Wine Puzzle

This Piatnik puzzle offers a brief, fun “history” of wine. A great gift for your favorite wine aficionado:

 
 

Wine Cork Jigsaw Puzzle

Collect wine corks? Challenge yourself with this monochrome wine cork puzzle. This one is sure to perplex even the most practiced puzzlers!

 
 

Wine Bottle Puzzle

It’s always “wine time” with this 1,000-piece puzzle that pictures almost as many wine bottles. Another great challenge for puzzle buffs!

 
 

Challenging Vineyard Puzzle - 2000 Pieces

This puzzle depicting a beautiful vineyard is very large and boasts 2,000 pieces. At 38 x 27 inches, this one could keep you busy all winter!

 
 

Michigan Wine Map Puzzle

Did you know that there are five distinct wine regions in Michigan? Put this puzzle together and learn all about it. A great puzzle for your Midwestern family or friends who enjoy wine and viticulture.

 
 

Napa Valley Winery Scene Jigsaw Puzzle

This winery scene puzzle is great fun for anyone who has spent time in Napa and Sonoma, especially if they’ve spent time on Napa’s wine train!

 
 

Grapes and Leaves Jigsaw Puzzle - Made in USA

This 1,000 piece puzzle is a fun challenge with a beautiful picture to reward you at the end!

 
 

Corkscrew Jigsaw Puzzle - Made of Wood for Decor

This puzzle has a clean, modern design and is sturdy enough to be framed after completion. It even comes with a bonus poster of the poster image to help with solving.

Wine Barrel Jigsaw Puzzle - Made in Germany

This wine barrel jigsaw puzzle has a romantic, old world feel to it. Perfect for cozy, candlelit nights by the fire.

 
 

Best Puzzle Mat for Puzzle Storage

Ever have to move a puzzle before you’ve finished it, and then had it fall apart? Huge bummer! This ingenious puzzle mat makes it easy to move a puzzle without impeding your progress! Just roll your unfinished puzzle into the mat and unroll it at your next location.

Looking For More Wine Games?

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If you enjoy other types of puzzles as well, like word-search puzzles, relational or logic puzzles, or conversation-starting conundrums, check out our review on other wine games!

We hope you enjoyed our review of engaging wine puzzles!

Have you found any wine-related jigsaw (or other) puzzles you enjoy?  Let us know in the comments!

Cheers!

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

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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
ALBRECHT_cremant_BRUT.png

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

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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!

What Wine Pairs With Southern Shrimp Dishes?

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Shrimp is an often overlooked wine pairing partner. It is often ignored or lumped in with “seafood” in most pairing articles, perhaps because it is a Southern food? Or it could be due to too much flavorless frozen shrimp on the market.

Whatever the reason, we think overlooking shrimp is a shame. Shrimp should be the star of the show! At KnowWines, we love fresh shrimp, especially when paired with wines that don’t overwhelm its flavor. In today’s blog, we highlight different wine pairings based on the preparation of the shrimp: boiled, on a salad, or in a savory dish like shrimp and grits (so good!).

Before we continue with our shrimp pairing recommendations, 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. Thanks for using our affiliate links and supporting our independent blog!

About Shrimp In the South

Shrimp are “born” in the ocean and are carried via waves into waters in the Mid-Atlantic and South. Shrimp spend their lives as juveniles and adults growing and feeding at the base of plants and structures in the Intracoastal marshes, tidal creeks, and inlets. As these water sources are varied, so too are the flavors.

As the shrimp mature, they leave this marshier habitat and head back out into the ocean. And again the shrimp flavor changes as the water out in the ocean (as well as the depth that the shrimp live in) is varied.   

Where To Find Great Shrimp

While your local supermarket might be flush with frozen shrimp, you’re not going to get great flavor unless your shrimp is fresh. And the best-flavored shrimp will be wild-caught and fresh shrimp.

First, Consider Shrimp Origin

Shrimp from different regions of the US, much like oysters, will taste different. Few shrimp connoisseurs mention “terrior” when it comes to shrimp like wine enthusiasts do with wine, but in fact, there’s quite a variety in flavor depending on where your shrimp comes from. Depending on the coastal area, bay, or out island where the shrimp originates, the taste will vary.

Also, the flavor of shrimp will change throughout the season. At KnowWines, this is something that we did not appreciate until we started to buy shrimp from our local farmers market in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Explore Your Farmers Market

Since we moved closer to the beach, we’ve been buying our shrimp from the local farmers’ market. There are a number of farmers’ markets in the mid-Atlantic region of the US from which one can purchase fresh shrimp.

The shrimp you purchase at market be head-on, or it may be sold with heads removed. Unless you are looking for shrimp heads to use for bait or for making a seafood broth, we recommend purchasing shrimp that have had the heads removed but the shell still on.  

With the shell still on, more flavor is preserved, especially if you are not going to cook the shrimp until the next day or if you intend to freeze the shrimp.

Check with Your Local Grocer

Further from the beach?  Check with your local grocer on the availability of fresh or frozen shrimp. 

If you are looking for shrimp to use for a fairly simple preparation, such as boiled shrimp, look for mid-Atlantic shrimp. 

If you are looking for shrimp to use in a more heavily seasoned recipe like curried shrimp, Gumbo, Pad Thai, or Shrimp Carnbonera, then previously frozen or Gulf shrimp might be a more economical choice.

Investigate the Freezer Section

Your grocer may sell frozen shrimp. When looking for frozen shrimp, try to find shrimp from the mid-Atlantic of the USA.  

Look for Coastal Shrimp from the USA

If you are based in the US, you will want to look for shrimp from the US. These shrimp are more likely to be sustainably fished and have fewer preservatives than shrimp imported from further distances like South America or Southeast Asia.

If you want to learn more about sustainability and shrimping, check out the

Shrimp Recipies

When it comes to shrimp, simple recipes are best. Minimal manipulation helps to highlight the expression of fresh shrimp. Use previously frozen, less flavorful shrimp for recipes with strong spices.

Before cooking shrimp, it is not necessary to devein it. However, it is a good idea to boil one of your shrimp and taste it for sandiness before cooking the whole batch. If the shrimp does taste a little sandy (which can happen after a storm) then we advise cleaning the shrimp before cooking. Removing shells with a deveining tool will make quick work of removing shells before cooking. Here’s our favorite:

 
 

Wines to Pair With Shrimp

When it comes to pairing shrimp with wine, shrimp should be the star.  

While one can enjoy any wine with shrimp, we recommend some particular varieties and styles that let the little shrimps shine.  

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Wines to Pair With Poached or Boiled Shrimp

The simplest of preparation - peel-and-eat or steamed - lead us to two of our favorite wines.

First, we recommend an Albarino wine with the simplest preparation of shrimp. As Master Sommelier Evan Goldsmith has said, “If it swims or clings to a rock, it will be happy with Albarino”. These wines can be found at most independent wine bottle shops and online retailers.  They are typically imported from the Galicia region of Spain, which is also renowned for seafood such as octopus.

Another good choice will be a dry Semillon from Bordeaux.  We tend to hear more about the famous red wines of Bordeaux. However, some of the best oyster production is about an hour’s train ride west of Bordeaux.  

If the particular wine you find has label descriptions like “crisp” or “refreshing” and not a lot of descriptors about fruits, then it might also pair well with shrimp.

Wines to Pair With Shrimp and Grits or Coconut Shrimp

Buttery and or creamy dishes like Shrimp and Grits can pair well with lightly oaked or “buttery” examples of Chardonnay (from Napa or Paso Robles), or oaked Assyrtiko from Greece.  

Not sure if the wine you have picked out is a “buttery” wine? If there are descriptors on the wine like “vanilla” or “toasty,” or if there are fruit descriptions that sound like a tropical vacation, then these wines might pair well with shrimp and grits or fried shrimp dishes like coconut shrimp. Yum.

Wines to Pair With Shrimp Cocktail or Spicy Tomato Sauce

Perhaps one of your favorite coastal activities is to order a half-pound or pound of steamed shrimp and go “heavy” on shrimp cocktail. Or maybe you love a good shrimp gumbo. In this case, you’ll want to seek out a rosé wine, or venture off the beaten path with Dolcetto or Xinomavro.   

Wines to Pair With Shrimp Salad

Do you enjoy a simple preparation of shrimp with a salad? If the salad is more on the fruity side - with cantaloupe or other tropical fruits - try a slightly off-dry bubbly wine from Piedmonte, Italy.

If the salad is a little more herbal, then try a Sauvignon Blanc from California. The tropical fruit aromas and flavors will go nicely with the greens in the salad and the saltiness of the fresh shrimp.

Wines to Pair With Spicy Dishes Like Pad Thai or Jerk Chicken

In addition to fruity salads with shrimp, off-dry wines also pair well with spicy shrimp dishes. If bubbles are not your thing, try an off-dry Riesling or Pinot Gris.

Shrimp & Wine Resources

Best Cookbook on Southern Cooking and Foodways

This James Beard Award-winning Southern cookbook will tell you everything you need to know about the right way to eat shrimp.

 
Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking
By Dupree, Nathalie, Graubart, Cynthia
Buy on Amazon
 

Best Book on Wine Pairings 

This fabulous wine pairing book will help you to get maximum enjoyment out of your food and the wine you pair with it.

 
 

Shrimp & Wine Wrap-Up

Next time you have the opportunity to make a shrimp dish or order shrimp at a restaurant or dockside, try one of our wine recommendations instead of reaching for a stronger alcoholic cocktail.

If you let the shrimp take center stage, you won’t be sorry.

Let us know how it goes in the comments.  

Cheers!

 
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Pairing Wine With Flounder

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Flounder, fluke, Northern fluke, hirame, flatfish. This fish of many names is ever so popular with summer anglers here in North Carolina - and all along the eastern North America seaboard.  The fish can be prepared in many ways:  grilled, broiled, baked, fried, or pan-seared.

Happily, there are a number of crisp, white wines that pair well with flounder. The challenge is to select a wine that does not overpower the delicate fish. Eating flounder is an infrequent treat for most, so in today’s blog we’ll recommend some less common wines that often cost less than mediocre supermarket wine. We’ll also share our best tricks for catching and cooking flounder.

Before we continue, 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 Flounder

Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) are a flat-bodied fish. At maturity, they generally have both eyes on one side (the left, colorful side) and no eyes on the right (bottom, white side). Mature flounder can range between two and three feet in length.

Flounder Eyes.PNG

Flounder are primarily sold as fresh fish. Flounder populations are managed carefully by several councils and commissions in both inshore and offshore waters, as well as state and federal waters.

What Wines Go With Flounder

In selecting a white wine to pair with flounder, one might go for the default Sauvignon Blanc, mild Pinot Grigio, or any old Chardonnay.

The problem with such a general recommendation is that these grape varieties - Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay - are international varieties, meaning that the style and quality can vary dramatically.  An especially oaky Chardonnay might cover up the delicate flavor of the flounder.  A run-of-the-mill Sauvignon Blanc may be too uninspiring to do the fish justice.

Here are a few more daring recommendations, many from one of our favorite wine pairing books - Daring Pairings, by Evan Goldstein. Our recommendations are all under $25 per bottle.

Assyrtiko (Dry)

This grape variety grows in Santorini, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea.  

Garganega (Unoaked)

If you are having some stir fry or a salad tossed with ginger salad dressing, you might want to seek out Garganega from Italy’s Veneto Soave appellation. This is a highly acidic wine that is fragrant and aromatic.  We’ve also heard that this wine pairs well with pesto.

Pinot Blanc

Pinot Blanc that pairs well with simple preparations of flounder come from Alsace, Oregon USA or Italy. This wine pairs so well with most fish that it can easily serve as a “default” or “no-brainer” fish pairing wine.  Seek out unoaked Pinot Blanc for the freshest expression of the grape.

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White Vijariego

This is a white indigenous grape from the Canary Islands just southwest of Spain. These grapes struggle to grow in the volcanic sands of the island. The style of these wines is light and slightly aromatic.  

Verdejo

This is a good wine for lovers of west coast Sauvignon Blanc (or someone stuck in a Sauvignon Blanc rut). This is a Spanish wine that might also be good for someone who thinks most white wines are “too weak.”

This wine has aromas of fruits like nectarine/peach, herbs, and a medium body. Some Verdejo wines will have a little residual sugar, so if you like a little sweetness, check with the bottle shop owner to see if your selection is more on the dry or slightly sweet side.  

Vermentino

This variety is grown on Sardinia, Corsica, Provence, and Languedoc-Roussillon. The wine can be very aromatic. Try Vermentino if you like simply prepared flounder with a touch of salt and pepper. This would likely not be a good pairing if you made a rich or complex cream or hollandaise sauce.  

If these wines are not available in your area, check with your local wine bottle shop for recommendations, especially if you are in the Mid-Atlantic of the United Staes where folks are familiar with this tasty fish and common preparations.

Can I Pair Flounder with Red Wine?

Yes, you can drink red wine with flounder. However, you might not taste the flounder after a few sips of most red wines, as flounder is an especially mild, flaky fish.

Depending upon how the flounder is prepared and if it is especially fleshy and fat, the combination of red wine and some flounder may give a metallic aftertaste.

Where To Get Flounder

Flounder are mostly sold as a fresh fish (not previously frozen). There are a few places to get fresh flounder here in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Seafood Store

In the Mid-Atlantic of the US, if you are within an hour of the coast, you likely have access to fresh fish at a farmers’ market or a seafood store like Motts Channel Seafood.

If you are at a distance from the coast but still in the Mid-Atlantic, then check with your local grocer in the meat counter. They can tell you if or when they will have flounder available or can request one for you from the fishmonger. 

Catch A Flounder

Our favorite way to access flounder is to catch them.  

KnowWines Founder With Flounder Wilmington.PNG

Flounder are fairly easy to catch with some basic instruction and minimal gear. One does not need a boat to catch a flounder, especially in the late summer or early fall when the flounder migrate into the Intracoastal waters and hang out around docks or other structures accessible by foot.

How To Cook Flounder

Flounder can be prepared many ways, including grilled, baked, steamed, broiled, fried, or pan-fried (and more!). 

Our favorite way to prepare our fresh flounder is to cook it skin-on, on the grill.  We cook it in the skin as this fish is very delicate. If you filet it and remove it from the bones and/or flesh, it can be tricky to keep the filet in one piece without covering the filet in flour. We’d rather taste the fish than fried all-purpose flour.  

As soon as we catch and clean the flounder (by removing its head, guts, and scraping of the scales with a flat knife), we salt the flounder and place it on a baking sheet in the refrigerator for 12 to 36 hours.

One hour before grilling, we remove the fish from the refrigerator, rinse off the salt, and pat the fish dry.  We let it sit on the baking sheet to warm up to room temperature and season with our favorite spices sparingly. While it warms, we score the fish skin with a sharp knife so that the skin gets extra crispy when cooking, also allowing a little of the salt and spice to get into the fish flesh.

Finally, we grill the fish 3-5 minutes on each side, checking to see that the flesh of the fish is no longer opaque and that the fish flakes nicely.

 
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Is Flounder Skin Edible?

Yes, flounder skin is edible. Enjoy!

Our Favorite Flounder Resources 

Here are a few of our favorite resources on catching, preparing, and pairing wine with flounder.

Perfect Pairings 

A very good resource if you prefer International grape varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

 
 

Daring Pairings

This is a very good resource if you prefer often lower-cost (and perhaps a little more difficult to find) regional and indigenous grape varieties from around the world. 

 
 

Flounder Lure

When fishing the often muddy Intracoastal waters of North Carolina, this is the bait we’ve had the best luck with.  

 
 

Kosher Salt To Remove the Slime

For those who like a “salty salt,” this is a very good one for salting fish. It removes the slimy protective layer on the fish skin.

 
 

Weber Professional Grill Pan

We’ve recently downsized to a smaller home and gave away many of our grill accessories. This is one of three items that survived the cut! We especially like the easy cleanup and universality. You can use it with fish, vegetables, and any other delicate or small item cooked on the gas grill.

 
 

The Final Word on Flounder Pairings

Flounder is a light, delicate white fish that can be prepared in a number of ways. Though flounder can be enjoyed with red wine, we prefer a nice, crisp white wine, though not a typical Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay.

You can find flounder in a local market or you can catch it yourself. Either way, it’s best prepared when very fresh.

If you decide to grill your flounder and enjoy it outdoors, consider the Corkcicle to keep that white wine chilled throughout your meal.

Happy fishing!

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 Hold A Wine Glass

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New wine enthusiasts might worry about the proper way to hold a wine glass. In fact, it’s likely that most people have dined in a fine restaurant or enjoyed a glass of wine at a social gathering have wondered if they’re holding their wine glass properly. “All these people are holding their wine glasses differently,” they might think. “But what is the right way?”

It might sound a bit snobby to insist that there’s a right way and a wrong way to hold a wine glass, but in fact, the recommended ways of holding wine glasses exist to maximize the enjoyment of wine regardless of price point or occasion. And these recommendations have more to do with science than they do with snobbery, we promise!

In today’s blog, we’ll share recommendations for how to hold various types of wine glasses. We’ll also discuss a few other wine glass tips for new wine enthusiasts. Before we continue with our reviews and recommendations, 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 Does It Matter How One Holds a Wine Glass?

As a new wine enthusiast, you’ve put in the effort to pick out a wine and properly store it. Maybe you’ve even moved your wine and wine glass collection from one home to another! Don’t let all that hard work go down the drain with sloppy wine glass holding at the finish line.  

Holding a wine glass incorrectly can lead to flabby, lukewarm wine. If you hold a wine glass by the bowl, the heat from your warm hand is transferred to the mass of the wine in the bowl, effectively warming up the wine. This wine warming can lead to flabby and dull wine aromas and taste, especially with wine and sparkling wines.

Holding the wine glass by the bowl also places your hand closer to your nose. In this case, the “off” aromas you smell might not be from the wine - it could instead be from that stinky cheese appetizer you just touched two minutes ago or that coconut-scented hand creme you applied an hour ago. To prevent smelly hand interference, flabby wine, and unsightly fingerprints, there are ideal ways to hold your glass of wine.

How to Hold a Wine Glass With a Stem

If you’re drinking wine from a glass with a stem, hold the glass by the stem. Because there’s a lot of space between the bowl and base, there are actually many different ways to hold a wine glass by the stem. Check out all the different poses your hands can use to hold a wine glass by the stem in this video:

 
 

How to Hold a Stemless Wine Glass

Hold the stemless wine glass as close to the base as possible, not around the middle or top. If you hold the glass around the middle or the top, your hand will heat the glass and its contents. Holding a stemless wine glass improperly will also leave unsightly fingerprints.

How to Hold Your Wineglass in the Shower

I thought you’d never ask! Would you believe that there’s a wine gadget for holding a glass of wine in the shower or tub? All jokes aside, we actually think it’s pretty great that someone has solved this wine glass need! This model not only fits the needs of showering wine drinkers, but of coffee and beer drinkers as well. It’s also made of recycled plastics!

 
 

Are There Specific Ways to Not to Hold One’s Wine Glass?

In all honesty, it’s not likely that anyone is judging the way you hold your wine glass. That said, you may be better off avoiding the wine glass holds we describe below.

The “Housewives” Wine Glass Hold

In movies and TV shows, one often sees actresses holding wine glasses by the bowl. Thanks to the phenomenon of the “housewives” reality TV shows - and the extra large wine glasses these ladies hold - this wine glass hold got its new name. We think maybe this hold is a ruse for showing off rings, watches, and French manicures, though we can’t be entirely sure.

The “Hail Mary Pass” Hold

The guys also aren’t getting away with their funny wine glass holds. Sometimes, at wine events or corporate functions, there’s that guy holding his wine glass with all his fingers on the bowl like he’s channeling Peyton Manning - ready to lob that wine glass over to Morgan in Accounting to complete some imaginary Hail Mary Pass.  

Is It Ever Okay to Hold a Wine Glass by the Bowl?  

While these amusing wine glass holds point at the “wrong” ways to hold your wine glass, there are times when it’s appropriate to hold a wine glass by the bowl. Sometimes, wine is just too cold when it is served and just needs to be warmed up a bit to release aromas that are muted by the cold temperature. So, if you see a wine lover “cupping” his or her wine in a restaurant, they are simply trying to warm up their drink a little bit.

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Other Wine Glass Tips for New Wine Enthusiasts

How Full to Fill Your Wine Glass

Here are the guidelines, by type of wine:

  • Half full for white wine

  • ⅓ full for red wine

  • ¾ full for sparkling wine or Champagne

Why does it matter how full your glass is? Well, red wines need room to breathe in order for their full aromas and flavors to come to life - hence, the wider bowl in most red wine glasses. White wine and sparkling wine glasses are narrower, as they don’t require the same amount of “breathing room.” No matter what type of wine, though, a too-full glass makes it hard to swirl and thus, you may miss out on the wine’s aromas. 

How To Keep Your Wine Glass Rim Looking Clean

If it has ever been your job to clean wine glasses, either as waitstaff or as a party host, you become quickly amazed (or grossed out!) by just how much lip balm, lipstick, food, and saliva can collect on top of the wine glass rim. Not only is this mess a hassle for the glass cleaner, but it could also lead to bad odors from previously consumed wine or a bad smelling natural interaction between your lip balm and the wine or food you consumed before your next sip. To avoid this, pick one spot on the wine glass and continue to drink from that one spot throughout the entire meal or event.  Your nose - and your host - will thank you.

Rest Your Wine Glass

If you’ve been the recipient of a very generous pour, or if your arms are simply tired from typing all day, rest assured that it is just fine to set your wine glass down throughout an event or tasting. In fact, you will see many wine professionals holding a wine glass only for evaluating the wine and sipping, then immediately putting down the glass. 

You might try resting the glass in your non-dominant hand if there are no hors d'oeuvre tables nearby. If you are seated at a fine restaurant or corporate event where there is formal service, it’s recommended to place your wine glass to the right of your water glass.  No water glass? The glass can be set down in the upper left corner of your place setting.

Resting your wine glass may also help slow your consumption by helping to reduce the impulse to keep drinking sip after sip.

Takeaways on How to Hold Your Wine Glass

  • Being “snobby” about the “right” way to hold a wine glass is actually rooted in a desire to enhance the enjoyment of wine. The likelihood of flabby or bad smelling wines increases with potential odors coming from your hands or previously consumed foods.

  • Hold your glass by the stem, pinching the stem with your thumb and index finger. You can be creative with placement of all the other fingers.

  • Stemless? Hold by the base and minimize contact with the middle and top of stemless wine glasses.

  • Drink from one spot on the wine glass to reduce the occurrence of lip smudges.

  • Rest your glass when it becomes too heavy or to slow down consumption. Hey, you may even want to rest your wine glass in the shower (but for that situation, we recommend unbreakable wine glasses).

Cheers!

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!








How to Sell Wine Online

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Have a big wine collection you need to pare down? We know, most people want to hold onto their wines (that’s the point of collecting, after all), but there are circumstances when selling some of your bottles could be appealing.

For example, maybe you inherited a relative’s wine collection and it’s more than you want or have room for. Maybe you purchased an abundance of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ten years ago and now your tastes have changed. Or maybe you no longer drink wine and are looking to sell as much as possible.

As wine enthusiasts, KnowWines can report that, yes, you can sell your wine legally in the United States through an auction house.  These auction houses do both in-person and online auctions. In fact, in April 2020 we sold 36 bottles of wine online, and in today’s blog we’d like to share our experience and answer any questions you have about how to sell wine online.

A quick note, though, before we continue. We are an Amazon.com affiliate and when we recommend products for sale on Amazon, 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!

Is My Old Wine Worth Selling?

Not all wine sells well in auction well.  Most auction houses sell wines that are popular with collectors.

If you have no clue about the value, we recommend doing a little online research at Cellar Tracker, a website and database that makes it easy to find information on your wine. Simply type in the name of your wine and select the vintage (wine speak for production year).  When you get to the page for your wine, you will find the following information:

  • Production Region

  • My Value (a value that collectors can add if desired)

  • Community Average Value (a value that platform users place on the wine)

  • Auction (the price this wine is fetching at auction)

  • Drink Between Years (the years that wine community members predict as the best drinking window)

No time for research? Simply list your wines in a spreadsheet, indicating the name of the winery, name of the wine, and the year of production. In our case, we exported a file from CellarTracker and sent it to the auction house, indicating we wished to sell 36 bottles of wine from Napa Valley in anticipation of downsizing our home.  

Is It Legal to Sell Wine Online?

Regulations vary from state to state, but in general, you need to sell your wine online through a licensed auction house. As we were in the process of downsizing to a smaller home, we contacted Leland Little, a wine auction house that just happens to be local to us in Durham, North Carolina.

There are several wine auction houses in the United States. If you have an especially large collection of fine wines, you will want to shop around to at least three auction houses for estimates before making a commitment.

We had a fairly small number of wines to sell, so we enjoyed working with a local seller.  

Things to Consider Before Selling Your Wine at Auction

What kinds of wines sell at auction?

The following types of wines typically sell well at fine wine auctions:

  • Vintage Champagne

  • White Burgundy

  • Red Burgundy

  • Fine Riesling from Germany

  • Classified Bordeaux wines

  • Sauternes

  • Cult Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Barolo

Is my wine bad?

Wine that is in bad condition won’t sell. It is difficult to tell by looking at the outside of the bottle if the wine could be bad (generally, you have to open the bottle and then evaluate the wine for flaws). However, there are some tell-tell signs that would cause a wine auction house not to sell a wine on your behalf:

  • The cork is sticking out of the bottle.

  • The cork is sunken into the bottle.

  • The label is in poor condition.

  • The ullage (amount of wine in the neck) is low.

Is my wine authentic?

Wine Auction houses have their own procedures for verifying the authenticity of the wine. However, if you have original sales receipts or packaging from the wine club shipment, those things are helpful to the auction house and buyer (especially in the case of older and rare wines).

How Do I Get my Wine to the Auction House?

Once you have provided a list of wines to the auction house and have agreed on which wines you will sell and the commission the auction house will get, the next step is to prepare your wines for travel to the auction house.

If you are local to the auction house, a representative from the auction house may come to your home to box up the wines. Typically this representative will have some wine boxes like the ones below to pack up your wines.

If you are working with a wine auction house that asks you to ship the wine, they may provide similar boxes. Otherwise, you can purchase these boxes and inserts for shipping.

 
 

How Does The Wine Auction Work?

The auction house will let you know the approximate date of the auction and the bidding process. Typically the auction happens at a location where people can attend in person, and online bidding happens concurrently. 

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Prior to the auction, your wines (and wines of your fellow sellers) are featured on social media, in newsletters, and through other promotional channels to get the word out about an upcoming auction. These promotions may occur anywhere from one month or one week prior to the auction.

The auction house will advise which wines should be sold individually, which should be sold as a pair or set, and which should be presented as a vertical (wines from the same winery/chateau but from sequential years). These decisions are based upon the experience of the seller and their understanding of what people buy. In our experience, we have sold wines as individual bottles, as a set of three identical bottles, and as a vertical of three or five wines (e.g. 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008).

Each auction house sells a little differently. However, there are similar patterns. The auction may start with vintage Champagne, then go to white Burgundy, and then to collectible German Rieslings. From there, they may go to red Burgundy and Bordeaux before switching over to collectible New World wines (e.g. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon)

Each wine (or set of wines by one seller) is presented. If the auction is online, you can watch each wine get bid on and sold! Exciting stuff for wine enthusiasts!

How Do I Get Paid for My Wine?

How (and when!) you get paid for selling your wine online is a key detail! In our experience, it has been a fairly quick and easy process.

After the conclusion of the auction, you will get an email outlining either your sales or the entire auction catalog and the sales price of each wine at auction. Within a couple of weeks you typically receive and email with a list of your wines and their selling price, as well as an indication of when your payment is coming. Within 30 days or so of the auction, you will receive a check (or direct deposit) for the amount owed you, minus any pre-agreed-upon commission.  

Selling Your Wine Online: The Wrap-Up

If you want to sell all or part of your wine collection, selling it through a licensed auction house is your best bet.

Start by making a catalog of your wines (including relevant information like its vintage and production region), and then locate at least three reputable fine wine auction houses to ask for estimates.

Once you’ve settled on a wine auction house, arrange for your wine to be picked up or shipped, and then sit back and watch the auction happen (have a glass of wine while you’re at it!).

Happy auctioning!

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.

 
Eye Screw for Ceiling Mounted Wine Rack.JPG
 

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!

Ten Wine Games To Play With or Without Wine

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In the midst of the current Covid-19 crisis, your favorite wine bar or restaurant is likely closed for the coming weeks. Without our usual social outlets, we’re all going to be searching for productive (or at least enjoyable) ways to spend our time at home. Why not learn about wine? And while you’re at it, play classic childhood games, but with wine themes? If you didn’t stock up on wine, no problem. We have a few fun wine games you can play with or without wine!

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!

Host a Blind Tasting Party

Sheltering in place with friends or roommates? A blind tasting party is a great way to pass time and learn something about wine while you’re at it. If you don’t have enough people at home to pull off a tasting party, this could be a romantic evening activity for you and your partner.

To successfully host a blind tasting, you really need the three components provided in this kit in addition to wine glasses.

 
 

This kit includes pencils, labels for the wine glasses, bags to cover up the wines, a simple wine aroma and flavor guide, and some pre-printed wine tasting notecards for participants.  The kit accommodates up to 10 participants with 5 wines. Or 5 participants with 10 wines. One participant with 10 wines is not recommended (unless of course, you are a sommelier or wine scholar cramming for an upcoming exam)! 

If your wine tasting group wants to more in-depth than the content that is provided in the kit, you might want to use a resource that explains the “why” and “how” and not just the “what” of the wines you are tasting. This indispensable handbook on flavors released in early 2020 will definitely up your blind wine-tasting game!

 
 

Somm Blinder Cards

If you’re a fan of the Somm Movie series or Somm TV, the folks over at Flask Fine Wines have a great wine deck from the makers of the Somm documentary series. These Somm Blinder Cards are similar to the Wine Game Kit, but will definitely take your tasting up a notch!

 
 

With this game, you essentially need the cards, wine, wine glasses, a decanter (optional), pens and paper for scorekeeping, and a spit bucket.  The taster with the lowest points gets to clean the spit bucket!  

 
 

Test Your Wine IQ

Looking for a wine game that doesn’t require wine? If Trivial Pursuit is right up your alley, the folks at Helvetiq have this nice Wine IQ game that can be played with as few as 2 and up to 12 players. (Good for a Zoom or Facetime session with family or friends?)

 
 

If you (and your friends) don’t know much about wines, don’t worry.  Like in Trivial Pursuit, this game offers a huge variety of questions. The variety makes it easy for wine geeks at all steps in the wine learning journey to play. For example, some of the cards ask about the etymological source of “wine words.” There are math and science questions as well!

Wine Word Puzzles

We love a good wine word puzzle. And let’s face it, there actually might be such a thing as too much Netflix. When you need a nice, quiet activity that still stimulates the brain, word puzzles are the best. That’s why KnowWines developed a flight of FREE wine word searches. Perfect for passing time while sheltering in place!

 
 

Wine Bottle Puzzles

Looking for a hands-on wine bottle puzzle? Those who love 3-D puzzles, wooden puzzle toys, or solving engineering challenges might enjoy one of these brain teaseing wooden wine bottle puzzles. Simply place a wine bottle inside the wooden base then follow the instructions to build the puzzle around the wine bottle!

 
 

Whine Games Conversation Starter

Days of social distancing having you at a loss for conversation? This Whine Barrel Conversation Starter does not require wine, and it can be used in person or over Zoom or FaceTime. Inside the “Whine barrel,” there are 150 cards for conversation starters. Not many of the cards are actually about wine, however, so serious wine students might want to pass this one up. 

 
 

Foodie Games: Wine and Food Mad Libs

Many GenXers likely remember playing Mad Libs on the school bus or on road trips (with the Etch-a-Sketch buried under the seat!). This fun throwback game can be played alone or with friends. At KnowWines, we personally look forward to unplugging with the Mad Libs Eat and Drink game (and we also look forward to rediscovering the joy of writing dirty phrases in fill-in-the-blank templates!).  

 
 

Wine Board Game

For folks who like to take it slow with a nice, focused board game, this unique viticulture game will transport you to Tuscany, Italy, where you (or you and a partner) are given a set of supplies to build a vineyard and winery! The game is constructed of very high-quality pieces. It’s also a strategic game that can be played with two players, but is not as competitive as Catan.

 
 

WineOpoly Board Game

Finaly, we’re rounding out our collection of wine games with this classic play on Monopoly - only with wine! The game pieces are wine bottles, corks, and glasses, and Park Place has been replaced with Champagne! Roll the dice and advance to Cheers! We think this is a fun, festive way to spend an evening.

 
 

Wine Games Conclusion

There are a number of wine games on the market.  Some wine games are wine-themed plays on old favorites, while others are classic games enclosed in a wine-themed box or barrel.

Some wine games can be played by yourself, with a friend, or with a large group. These group wine games can be adaptable to online play if your friend is not able to meet up with you in person.  Other wine games are for serious wine enthusiasts or for wine newbies to play with a sommelier friend.

Regardless of the game you choose, you’re sure to have fun with or without wine.  

We hope this will help you to fill an evening (or two) with some good, wine-themed fun!

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!