Grape Expectations

From the essential to the extravagant, these ingenious accoutrements will heighten your wine-drinking experience.

PEK SUPREMO WINE STEWARD
PRICE: $199.95
This compact wine preservation system floods the headspace of your opened wine bottle with inert argon gas, preventing oxidation and keeping your old burgundies tasty for the next day. The wine steward also tailors the serving temperature to the varietal you store so that the perfect glass will be ready for you at your every whim.
(Available at www.wineenthusiast.com or www.surlatable.com.)

WATERFORD LISMORE SHIPS DECANTER
PRICE: $300.00
In the past, the wide-flaring base of a ship’s decanter proved ideal aboard seafaring vessels in order to prevent spillage. Today, this diamond and wedge-cut edition from the classic Lismore crystal collection offers an impressive way to remove irksome
sediment or aerate your wine. Whether the lucky occupant will be a vintage port or that powerful barolo you’ve been saving, this opulent decanter is fit for a king. (Available at Neiman Marcus.)

VINOTHEQUE CHATEAU MONTELENA 700 WINE CABINET
PRICE: $9,395.00
This high-tech, 560-bottle capacity wine cellar’s advanced temperature and humidity control assure your wine the best storage environment. Choose universal racking to accommodate magnum, split, and champagne bottles in addition to bordeaux, and customize the exterior with your choice of wood. With so many options, the right wine cellar can be found to suit any style. (Available at International Wine Accessories or www.iwawine.com.)

CLEF DU VINELEGANCE SET
PRICE: $299.00
Brainchild of oenologist Laurent Zanon and sommelier Franck Thomas, these handy measuring instruments help you determine a good wine’s aging potential thereby letting you predict how long to lay it down for. The set includes pocket, service, and bottle renditions of the Clef. Dipping the Clef into your wine for one second simulates one year of ageing. Tannins will soften and acidity will diminish. Enjoy a glass of young wine now while waiting for the rest of the case to mature in your cellar. (Available at www.wineenthusiast.com
or for more information visit www.clefduvin.com.)

LE NEZ DU VIN WINE EDUCATION KIT
PRICE: $499.95
Even the keenest aficionado has room for improvement. This cloth-bound kit includes 54 vials of essential wine scents,
corresponding illustrated information cards, and an instruction booklet. Hone your senses by discerning aromatic layers of acacia, saffron, or cut hay in wines you once thought were merely one-dimensional. Learn how to identify a wine by type, age, characteristics, and even the soil in which the grapes were grown. (Available at International Wine Accessories or www.iwawine.com.)