5 wine gadgets you shouldn’t live without

Happy #NationalWineDay! To celebrate this most auspicious of days, here are my top tips for the best wine whatchamejigs that you shouldn’t be living without.

Image from JohnLewis.com

L’Atelier du Vin Tire Bouchon Classic Corkscrew
£40, John Lewis

These are absolutely my favourite corkscrews. I was lucky enough to pick one up in a charity shop a few years ago and it’s absolutely revolutionised my life. I haven’t had a single broken or split cork or even the merest mote of cork in my wine ever since. And it’s really really easy to use, no effort needed. If you’ve still struggling with a rusty Waiter’s Friend, treat yourself to one of these bad boys.

Image from Lakeland.co.uk

DropStop Wine Discs
£3.78, Lakeland

Simple, cheap and clever, these little silver discs simply roll up and sit inside the neck of your wine bottle to ensure a controlled pour with no spills, drips or dribbles. A perfect serve each time and no wine running down the bottle and ending up staining your table cloth. Simple!

Image from WineWare.co.uk

VacuVin Rapid Wine Cooling Carafe
£20.50, WineWare

I have had one of these for years now and it is fabulous for spontaneous BBQs, surprise sunshine and last minute visits from friends. You just keep the ice packs in the freezer, then whip them out and add them into the plastic base when you need to chill the wine. Decant into the carafe, and just five minutes later your wine is perfectly chilled. Again, a really simple but genuinely effective piece of kit.

Image from Lazenne.com

WineCheck Luggage
£68.15, Lazenne

I don’t have one of these, but I would definitely like one! Protection for 12 bottles of wine in your hold luggage so you can bring all those delicious tastes home from your travels. We always end up restricting to one or two special bottles, wrapped carefully in clothes in our rucksacks and you are always holding your breath at the end of the journey hoping that it’s not broken! It’s lightweight so you don’t go over weight limits and it even has wheels. Reusable, collapsable and just very convenient!

Corkers – Deer
£5.95, PrezzyBox

Yep, got one of these too, it’s a super cute way to finish off, no? Make your used cork into a cute deer. Hiccupy fun for all the family. Naughty Moose not included.