Winning Wine Toys

Wine lovers tend to enjoy the many accessories that come with the territory, even moresso at the right price point. Here are two new wine essentials that cost under $40.

The Waring Pro Professional Cordless Wine Opener ($39.95) allows anyone, from a novice to a pro, to open a bottle of wine without any cork tugging. Just place the wine opener above the cork, press the down arrow button until the unit stops. The wine opener’s corkscrew spiral turns in a counter-clockwise direction, enters the cork and removes it from the bottle in one motion. Removing the cork is as simple as pushing the “up arrow” until the cork is released. It comes with a rechargeable base that can sit on the kitchen counter or a wet bar, with a foil cutter housed conveniently in the unit. (It’s not petite, so you’ll need a little space for it.) The Waring Pro quickly and easily opens 80 bottles of wine in one charge.

Want to take even your cheapest bottle of wine and transform it into a drinkable vintage? Check out Vinturi Esstential Wine Aerator ($39.95; www.vinturi.com). What makes this a better alternative to decanting is that it comes with a patent-pending design that speeds up the process. When wine is poured in the Vinturi, its internal design creates an increase in the wine's velocity and a decrease in its pressure. This pressure difference creates a vacuum that draws in air, which is mixed with wine for perfect aeration, making the wine more flavorful with a better mouthfeel. Any bitterness or bad aftertaste is reduced or eliminated.

Both red and white wine benefit from breathing, which is why there are two varieties of Vinturi. Both aerators use the same design principles, but they are calibrated differently for red or white.—Denise Shoukas

Denise Shoukas is a regular foodspring.com contributor and is the author of foodspring’s food forager blog.

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