We all love a nice glass of wine, whether it’s an We all love a nice glass of wine, whether it’s an We all love refreshing glass of vino, either an We all love refreshing glass of vino, either an Italian wine after a hard day at work or an Australian wine with loved-ones at a formal dinner party, for some of us however, a bottle and a glass is simply not enough for getting the most out of our poison of choice. While using extraneous kit to serve alcoholic beverages may seem pompus and showy to some, you may be surprised to learn that decanters were invented by the ancient Romans thousands of years ago. It comes to light then that wine-based gizmos are nothing new, they simply fell out of fashion in our convenience obsessed and time-poor culture.

It is time to start bringing decanters and the like back into circulation; after all, what’s the use in splashing out on a decent bottle of plonk if we’re not going to get maximum enjoyment out of it? Most of us hastily throw the wine into a glass that’s too small, neck it, and be done with it. This is not the way to savour a permium vintage. The first job is to make sure your wine is the desired temperature, crisp whites and sparkling wines are best served cold, so if you are having a dinner party or BBQ, invest in a wine chiller to keep a constant temperature.

When the wine is the perfect temperature, ensure you un-cork correctly and with a well made cork-screw to avoid having unsightly lumps floating around in your glass. While we’re on the subject of glasses, get some better ones! A long stem will allow you hold the glasses without warming the wine with your hand, while a wide bowel will allow the aroma of the wine to circulate, enhancing the drinking experience, especially with Alsace wines.

Once the wine is opened it would be a good idea to stick an arealator to encourage more oxygen into the bottle, allowing the wine to infuse the surrounding area. A decanter of course performs a similar function. In the unlikely event that you don’t finish all of your wine, a stopper is an absolute essential so it doesn’t take on the stench of last night’s chinese from your fridge-freezer. Of course if you were really a wine buff you’d have an old dusty wine rack wine the basement! There are some simple products to make your next glass of wine into a taste and smell sensation rather than just a drink.

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