“Would you like to let that wine breathe for a few minutes, sir?” says the server at the white tablecloth restaurant, meaning that the wine in the neck of the bottle is supposed to mix with the air and the whole bottle will taste better. A myth based on the fact that wine does taste better when properly aerated, but that means you have to take the trouble to pour it out into a decanter, which is a pain. The Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator is the right kitchen accessory for the job; it looks great sitting on the counter, and feels right in your hand, too. Just hold it over the glass and pour the wine through. Plus it’s easy to clean: rinse it out after every use and run it through the dishwasher whenever necessary. It makes a pleasant slurping/hissing noise while it’s working, which adds to its charm. It can be a little messy, and if you’re too impatient and pour too fast, it can be a lot messy. So watch what you’re doing. It comes with a mesh filter in the top and a handy rubber stand to hold it afterward and prevent drips. Does it work? Yes. But you don’t have to believe me. Just taste the first glass you pour, before and after the wine goes through the aerator. If you don’t like what it does, you can send it back, but you won’t want to. It’s one of the best $25 purchases I’ve made in a while.
Affordability: 9 Luxury: 9
Available from Amazon.
Want more luxury? This is pretty much it. There are cheaper imitations out there and you can get a stand for this one, but I think it’s fun to hold it in your hand while you pour.
