Wine Toys
by Adam Haggerty
Ah yes, wine toys, gadgets and the things that keep us entertained. You've been to a friend's house and you ask "what is this thing?" or "you actually have one of those?" Have you been on the receiving end of one these questions or were you the one doing the asking? Sometimes the process before the drink is better than the drink itself. Either way, there's fun in it, whether you're shopping, prepping or waiting patiently, these are the toys that we may or may not know.
DECANTERS:
They've been around for years and years, we've all seen them, well maybe. Funny looking vase-like wine decanters that help open the wine and bring out its characteristics. But when should one be used and for how long? Typically, decanters are mainly used for older wines that have been cooped up for years and need the time to breathe and not be so tight. Of course every winery/varietal is different and time in the decanter can vary. Sitting time can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Newer wines (3-4 years) usually don't need time in a decanter, but you own the bottle, so you can do anything you want.
AERATORS:
Crazy looking contraptions that help wine open faster with the help of air. These are fairly new to the world of wine, coming out about 4 years ago. There's two kinds, the first being a fairly cheap one that you stick into the bottle itself. This will slow the process of the pour and with a small aeration hole, creates air circulation through the juice. The second aerator is a bit pricier at $30 to $40 and is named the Vinturi. This is a hand held aerator with two aeration holes and a wider volcano-like top to store the wine as it works its way through the chamber.
I'm still not 100% sold on aerators and their promise of speeding the process along. But, what I do a lot is pour the wine through the aerator straight into the decanter. Sometimes the romanticism of prepping the wine is as fun as drinking it. Sometimes.
REFRIGERATORS:
Here's my opinion on having a wine fridge. If you're buying wine at $30+ a bottle and at a given time, you have over 10 bottles at home. I say invest in a fridge and store your wine at a nice 55-58 degrees. Wine fridges come in many sizes, the smallest being 6 bottles and of course the largest being a cellar. The prices can range from $80 to Oprah. They're a great buy for holding one of the things you love most.
GLASS:
Pour It. Sip It. Enjoy it.
Adam Haggerty
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