Top Wine Accessories to Stock (and to gift to wine lovers!)
I remember the good ol' days, when wine stores had... well, wine. Perhaps the counter would host a few wine openers: the waiter's corkscrew, the rabbit, maybe an ah-so if the owner was serious about their wine... the shelves were stocked with a few decanters and interspersed with wine glasses and champagne flutes... you get the idea.
The amount of wine gadgets in today's wine world is untenible. The industry has seen an influx of new devices: electronic bottle openers, instant chillers, cutesy wine bags/holders/preservers/chillers/stands... if you can think of it and paint a few wine grapes on it, then you can sell it in the tasting room of almost any winery.
There are some negatives and some positives to carrying an assortment of wine gadgets. On one hand, the shelves of gadgets are a little distracting: they seem to take away from the wine itself. Stores looking to focus on wine will have a hard time sending this message to their customers when they have a wall of electronic openers instead of a wall of Montrachets. On the other hand, wine retailers should take into consideration that a large portion of their customers (particularly around the holidays) might be looking for wine as a gift, and they may not know much about wine themself. This task--purchasing wine as a gift for a wine lover--can be more daunting than dressing someone: wine is so personal, and so subjective, and if the customer does not know the palate of the person receiving the gift, then they are sometimes hesitant to decide on a bottle. Wine gadgets are a perfect way to provide customers with a gift, and typically they feel a little more confident about their purchase.
There are a few wine accessories which all wine stores should have: high-quality wine glasses (Burgundy, Bordeaux, and all-purpose white wine), champagne flutes, and decanters. I also suggest carrying the simple waiter's corkscrew and a champagne stopper.
In addition to these traditional accessories, a few gadgets (some new, some old) have recently caught my eye, either because of their ease of use or their inovative design. They are great gifts for a wine-loving friend, and I highly recommend that wine store stock their shelves with them.
The Vinturi Aerator
I love, love LOVE this new aerator. With one pass through the device, wine opens up as if it had been decanted for an hour. Try it! I've demostrated it numerous times in our tasting room and it never fails to impress. It's sleek design is appealing, and they now carry one device for reds and one for whites. The Vinturi comes in a black velvet bag for a little added appeal.
Essence Kits
A serious wine lover will "geek out" on this. Kits come in various sizes (and are sold at various prices) but the general idea is the same: little "kits" (oils or tins) contain the many different smells found in wines. They are a fun and unique gift idea and something that any wine lover can use to hone their ability to detect various characteristics in wine.
Marble Chillers
I love the look of marble AND, in the summer, I love that I can use these little wine holders to keep my whites at an optimal temperature. Nothing is more annoying that jumping up and down to pull a bottle out of the fridge to pour you and your guests another glass! I know, I know... you can always use a champagne bucket to chill the wine, but I advise against it: whites should not be consumed at such a cold temperature.
Champagne Stopper
Perhaps you don't have the problem of being left with a little sparkling wine at the night's end... but for those of us who would like just a glass (but are afraid to pop open a bottle and risk spoiling the rest!) I recommend investing in a champagne stopper. They are roughly $6 and really are an investment when you think about the wine that you could potentially save from being poured down the drain.
Like wines, the industry is always changing, and I love keeping my eye open for new and inventive products! Please let me know if there is anything that you have come across lately which impressed you!
