Top 10 wine gadgets for 2017

With cars driving themselves, virtual reality taking the world by storm and drones carrying everything from parcels to takeaways, the humble twist-and-pop corkscrew has well and truly had its day.

Instead, we welcome in the comfortable reign of water-less ice cubes and inflatable corks.

The wine world has been revolutionised in the past decade with technological advancements in every corner of the industry. For a few years, these developments have started appearing on the high street, accessible to the public to ease their wine-based woes.

There are now answers to the questions: how do you keep wine cool at a picnic? Where can I find a space-age corkscrew? Is there such thing as a pop-up wine glass?

Wonder no more. From hi-tech to low-maintenance, we’ve gathered the best wine gadgets on the market to vamp up your drinking experience.

Wine Pearls

It’s a wine-lover’s nightmare: you’ve just come home from a long hard week at the office, and reach for your favourite Pinot, only to find it lukewarm on the side in the kitchen. Aiming to banish tepid wine forever, these wine pearls chill your glass without diluting it. Get the perfect sipping temperature each time, and then pop them back in the freezer and use them over and over again.

$30 each (£24.43) sparqhome.com

Pop Up Wine Glass

This five-pound gadget is a train ride saviour, the perfect picnic companion, and a festival essential. At only 5cm high when folded up, this collapsible glass extends to full size at 16cm, perfect for either wine or champagne. Designed for anyone who faces a few days, hours, or even minutes without the proper glassware and can’t stand the thought of a regular plastic cup.

£4.99 from thepresentfinder.co.uk

Vinturi Red Wine Aerator

This handy aerator comes with a non-drip stand and will let your wine breathe properly, to allow the full flavour of the wine to be released in record time. The Vinturi Red Wine Aerator promises to “Quickly and conveniently aerate wine by the bottle or glass” Also available for white wines and spirits, Vinturi uses patented technology to decrease pressure as you pour, aerating the wine, before releasing it into a waiting glass below.

$29.99 (£24.42) from vinturi.com

Air Cork

The Air Cork aims to protect leftover wine from oxidation, giving opened wine a longer life. A balloon, inflated using the “adorable grape-shaped pump”, floats on the surface of the wine, stopping any air getting to it as long as it stays inflated.

$28.50 (£23.21) from aircork.com

Wine Thermometer

When attached around a bottle of wine like a belt, this durable thermometer will tell you the exact temperature of your wine. Get the temperature right every time, because no one likes a warm Chardonnay.

$14.95 (£12.18) from amazon.com

The WineCradle

While inflight liquids have strict restrictions, most airlines still don’t have a limit on the amount allowed in your check-in bag. With this inflatable wine protector, you can pack a bottle or two of your favourites in your suitcase without worrying about them leaking onto the rest of your luggage. It’s re-usable, compact, and watertight, and will hold bottles up to a magnum.

€13.38 (£11.38) from lazenne.com

The Corkcicle

So we’ve covered how to cool your wine in the glass, and how to check the temperature when it comes out of the fridge, but how do you keep a whole bottle cold when you’re out and about?

This nifty little gadget sits in the top of a bottle just like any other cork, but has a look-a-like icicle attached to keep a steady temperature. With a specialised cold-friendly gel core, it fits any standard wine bottle, and is of course reusable – just pop it back in the freezer when you’re done.

$17.95 (£14.62) corkcicle.com

Conundrum wine decanter

The stylish design of this decanter allows it to aerate wine as you pour it in and out. The easy to hold glass decanter has a large surface area, providing the best aeration and oxygenation. While not a gadget, strictly speaking, the strong aesthetic and the ‘perfect pour’ make this a must-have for any self-respecting wine drinker.

£16.99 from iwantoneofthose.com

Secura electric corkscrew

While there are no shortage of automatic corkscrews on the market, not many let you watch the magic. Described as an ‘action window’, a blue-lit section lets you watch the gadget work its charms and pop the cork before your eyes. Just as if you were doing it yourself, but with a fraction of the effort…

$24.95 (£20.32) from wineenthusiast.com

Coravin

Originally featured in our previous list of the Top Ten Wine Gadgets, the Coravin remains unmatched and so we thought it deserved a second mention. By inserting a very thin needle into the cork and pressurizing the bottle with argon, the Coravin allows you to extract a sample and then reseal the bottle as if it had never been touched.

No oxygen can get to the wine, allowing it to continue aging undisturbed. Expensive wines can be now be enjoyed slightly more frivolously, as you no longer have to commit to opening the entire bottle when you want just one glass.

Starts at £199.00 harrods.com