From stylish decanters and top-spec preservation systems, to fool-proof cork removers, here we list the wine accessories and tools to have on hand at home
As people worldwide have had to take refuge in their homes, some wine retailers found themselves benefiting unexpectedly as people scrambled to ensure their home cellars were well stocked. However, since our wine culture in Asia is heavily focused on sharing wine with friends in public, shifting to home consumption has required some adjustment.
Without sommeliers to manage the pesky business of opening old bottles or keeping out sediment, many have turned to smart tools to make up the difference. Meanwhile, since polishing off a whole bottle in one sitting is often impractical (and certainly not advisable if you live alone), I’ve also heard about the pros and cons of several preservation systems.
Finally, some people are simply missing the theatre of wine, in which case a suitably ostentatious decanter or ice bucket may just do the trick.
The Cork Remover
The Durand Wine Cork Remover
A brilliant combination of Ah-so cork puller and cork screw, this is still many collectors’ top choice for extracting those tricky 100 year-old corks without having to practice ahead of time on less venerable bottles.
I received mine as a wedding gift and still have yet to suffer through the embarrassment of a single cork accidentally pushed into a bottle.