The competition
Caple WCi30B
This gleaming stainless steel and glass cooler is the height of modern fashion,
although who knows how stylish it’ll be by the time your record-breaking
2005 vintage is ready to drink? At least the wine will be perfect, held at the
correct temperature behind its slimline UV-resistant doors.
Web address: www.caple.co.uk
Price £530
LG GRW141BXG
This cooler’s wooden interior adds a touch of class and is angled so you
can read the labels – perfect for checking that the cleaner hasn’t
swapped your Petrus Pomerol ’98 for a bottle of Blue Nun. There’s
even a handy dust-free wine glass storage area.
Web address http://uk.lge.com/
Price £1000
Liebherr WTUes 1653
If you’re looking to lay down a cellar in one of today’s compact apartments,
you can’t do better than this under-counter Liebherr. It’s quiet,
unobtrusive and has two separately programmable temperature zones for storing
whites and reds.
Web address www.liebherr.co.uk
Price £1000
Miele KWT4974SGED
Enjoy half a bottle of wine with dinner each evening and there’s nearly
a year’s drinking inside this impressive wine cooler. It stores 143 bottles
in three temperature zones, with digital thermometers, audible warning tones and
a door lock to keep thirsty throats away from your Chateaux Margaux ’95.
Web address www.miele.co.uk
Price £2000
Cellar’s market
Unless you’re lucky enough to live in a French chateau, the chances are
that your cellar is more suited to storing old bicycles than fine wines. Wine
is a living, organic substance and how good it tastes in the glass depends to
a large extent on how it’s packaged, transported and, in the case of older
wines, stored.
Before investing in any wine storage, it’s important to understand the conditions
under which wine will thrive and mature. Most important is temperature: the optimum
range is a chilly 10-13C. If it’s colder than that, the wine can suffer
from deposits; warmer, and it can age prematurely. Slow, seasonal variations in
temperature are much less dangerous than sudden warming or cooling. Light, and
especially sunlight, can also age a wine too quickly, even through dark bottle
glass. White wine is more likely to suffer from excess heat and light than red
wine.
The other key factor to control is humidity. You’ll need at least 50% relative
humidity to prevent natural corks from shrinking, although many experts recommend
70%. Good ventilation and a lack of vibration are also important. Basically, once
a bottle has been laid down (never store wine vertically), it shouldn’t
be moved until it’s ready to be drunk. Bottoms up!
Top Corkscrews
Original Fish
When this fish bites, you’ll know you’ve reeled in a corker. It’s
stylish, easy to use and doesn’t smell of mackerel – what more could
you want?
Web address www.aroundwine.co.uk
Price £20
Alessi Anna G.
Alessandro Mendini’s designer corkscrew is your new best drinking buddy:
she opens every bottle, always wears a cheery smile and never touches a drop herself.
Web address www.alessi.com
Price £23
Suck UK Pocket
When wine simply can’t wait, having this folding corkscrew on your keychain
ensures you won’t have to resort to pushing in corks or sneaking into restaurants.
Web address www.suck.uk.com
Price £15
Screwpull Metal ActivBall GS300
Meet the David Blaine of the corkscrew world. With its self-pulling action, the
GS300 magically opens even the most stubborn bottles, before automatically ejecting
the cork.
Web address www.screwpull.co.uk
Price £40
Vialis Chateau Lagiuole Grand Cru
The choice of discerning sommeliers for decades, this classic Chateau Lagiuole
corkscrew is hand-made from stainless steel and Aubrac bull horn.
Web address www.aroundwine.co.uk
Price £79
Screwpull LM-400
The black nickel LM-400 screws as good as it looks, using a powerful lever action
to remove corks (including synthetic ones) in just two simple movements.
Web address www.screwpull.co.uk
Price £100
Alessi Parrot Sommelier
Who’s a pretty boy then? Alessi’s parrot themed corkscrew is available
in a rainbow of colours – and the beak opens beer bottles, too.
Web address www.johnlewis.com
Price £23
Rechargeable Electric Corkscrew
At parties or serious ‘tasting’ sessions, your wrists will thank you
for using this simple, powered corkscrew, capable to opening up to 100 bottles
on a single charge.
Web address www.drinkstuff.com
Price £25