Wine Bottle Opener

Oster 4207 Electric Wine Bottle Opener

Elle — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:40:25 +0000

2006 was a great year for Oster! If you’re looking for a great wine bottle opener, than this is the route to go. And it’s less than $20!

I don’t know about you, but I simply hate using a corkscrew! Mainly because I generally manage to screw up getting the cork out of the bottle. I’ve used the Connoisseur lever models and do like them—more on those in another post—but in my opinion, the granddaddy of bottle openers is the Oster 4207.

Used properly—and gently!—this product makes opening a bottle of wine a wonderful thing. And you’ll never have those embarrassing bits of cork floating in the wine again!

When fully charged, the unit will open about thirty bottles with the touch of a button. When the motor stops, the cork has been removed from the bottle. Simply lift the unit off the bottle, and using the reverse button, eject the cork from the unit. When the unit needs to be recharged, just sit it in its base. The base also houses a foil cutter, so be sure you use that to remove the foil from the bottle spout before using the opener.

Now, like anything else, there is a right way and a wrong way to use this. Take a little time, be patient, and practice makes perfect. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you can look forward to years of use. Get impatient, don’t use it properly, and guess what? It will break! It’s a $20 item. It’s not made of titanium that can withstand abuse!

I do have to say, make sure you keep it recharged! It’s a little embarrassing when you have guests and the battery is dead. They are all oohing and ahhing about the cool gadget you’re about to use and you realize the thing is dead! Then you have to pull out the backup opener. Oh, well. Worse things have happened, believe me!

All in all, this is an awesome product. Buy one for yourself. And oh, they make great gifts, so buy an extra to have on hand to wrap up to give away.

This is a must for any household that drink wine!

Don’t believe me? Check out what hundreds of satisfied buyers have to say!

Oster 4208 Electric Wine Bottle Openers w/Chiller

Elle — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:36:50 +0000

I reviewed the 4207 Wine Opener in a previous post, but wanted to make sure you were aware of the Oster 4208 wine bottle opener package as well. Nothing has changed as far as the unit itself goes, so the previous review stands, but Oster has updated the package.

If you buy the Oster 4208, you get the unit plus a wine chiller. For the few extra dollars this package costs, it’s a pretty sweet deal, and again, make a great gift.

People, the Oster 4207 has been on the market for more than 3 years now and has stood the test of time. Will it last forever? No! It’s a $20 opener. I did read in one post on Amazon that, if used properly, and assuming you didn’t end up with a lemon, you should be able to open about 750 bottle of wine with this unit. That’s a lot of wine!

You can find out more on the 4207 unit here, and the 4208 package here.

Be well, and drink responsibly!

Connoisseur Corkscrew

Elle — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:32:04 +0000

I’ve had one of these for 3 or 4 years now and still use it occasionally. The electric does need to be recharged and sometimes you forget, so having a backup is probably a good idea. And I hate using a plain old corkscrew.

I got this as a gift, and I have to say it’s one of the most useful gifts I’ve ever received.

First, use the foil cutter and then position the opener on the wine bottle. When you push down on the lever, it engages the gear mechanism, which drills the screw down into the cork. When the screw is completely in the cork, you simple reverse the process by pulling up on the lever which removed the cork from the bottle. Voila! Let your wine breath and enjoy!

This corkscrew is in the $20 range, and as mentioned, makes a great gift. Naturally, you can also buy one for yourself!

There are more expensive lever model corkscrews on the market, but frankly, I don’t see the need. This is a nice mid range product that works like a charm. By mid range I mean you can open your wine bottle with a corkscrew you picked up in the dollar store, or you can spend $60 – $70 on an expensive lever model. They all work but personally, I go for ease of use and common sense and stick with the $20 product!

Resources

Elle — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:41:31 +0000

Resources

The Best Kitchen Gifts
Need ideas for kitchen gifts or gifts for the kitchen? A wedding shower gift, a gift idea for mom, or a holiday gift? Check our huge selection of ideas.
http://thebestkitchengifts.com/

Gift Ideas
A selection of articles about gift ideas and gift giving in general.
http://giftideas.oddana.com/

Gift Ideas for Everyone
A selection of articles about gift ideas and gift giving in general.
http://agiftideaforeveryone.blogspot.com/

Gift Baskets
Gift baskets are a great gift and there is a gift basket for nearly any occasion. Check out what we have to say about them.
http://giftbasketsetal.blogspot.com/

Gift Ideas for Mom l Mom Gifts l Gifts for Mom
Looking for gift ideas for mom? Forget the flowers and chocolates and buy her something with meaning! We’ve got plenty of suggestions.
http://giftideas-formom.info/

Aromatherapy Gift Baskets & Bath Gift Baskets
Aromatherapy & bath gift baskets are thoughtful gifts for someone special. If you’re looking for gift baskets for women, check out our awesome collection.
http://aromatherapy-giftbaskets.com/

Niche Marketing Insights
While it’s true that the number of niche ideas is practically limitless, there is still a basic principle you need to base your research on when choosing your niche market.
http://nichemarketinginsights.wordpress.com/

Niche Marketing Facts
If you haven’t heard the word ‘niche’ being batted around by Internet Marketers then you haven’t been listening. Finding a niche has become the antidote to competing in overly saturated online markets.
http://nichemarketingfacts.weebly.com/

Niche Ideas / Find a Niche
Want a home based business? Find a niche market & start your own small internet business. We have the niche ideas & research you need to get started
http://nicheinitiation.com/

Outdoor Home Security
When it comes to home security, our first thoughts may be of cameras, surveillance and alarms but there are inexpensive tips and tricks you can make use of too.
http://outdoorhomesecurity.net/

Women’s Perfumes
In essence, perfume is emotion in a bottle. Choose your perfume wisely and use it to convey a limitless array of moods and feelings. Learn how to communicate who you are with the power of fragrance.
http://womens-perfumes.net/

Hand Held Vacuum Cleaners
In a lot of cases cordless appliances, such as a hand held vacuum cleaner, lack enough power to do tougher jobs, but this Hoover hand vac delivers a whopping 18 volts of power!
http://handheld-vacuumcleaners.info/

Best Rice Cookers
Looking for the best rice cooker? Maybe a Zojirushi or Aroma? We’ve reviewed the bestselling models to help you make your choice.
http://bestricecookers.info/

The Home Furnace l Furnace Maintenance l Furnace Filters
Looking for tips on how to maintain your current furnace? Or do you need some insight into buying a new furnace? Confused by all the furnace filters and wondering what filter you need? This is the place to be.
http://winterheat.info/

Home Insulation Info. Board, Batt, Spray, Foam, Fiberglass, Cellulose
Home Insulation Info offers all the info you need on most types of insulation and their applications
http://homeinsulationinfo.com/

Indebted Student Loans l Federal Student Loans l Consolidate or Forgive Student Loans
Student loans research is daunting. No sales pitch here, just unbiased info on federal or private student loans, student loan consolidation and debt forgiveness. If you are a student looking for financial aid, this is the place to be.
http://indebtedstudentloans.com/

The Financial Aid Site l Student Grants l College Scholarships l College Loans
Find information on many financial aids. Return to school grants, scholarships, single moms or dads grants and more.
http://thefinancialaidsite.com/

eMiscellany l Articles l General Information
eMiscellany is an article repository with articles covering a wide range of topics. We just may have the answers you are looking for in one of our articles.
http://emiscellany.com/

DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3500 l Magnifica 3500
Love espresso? Lattes? Get the DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3500.N. Read reviews, pros, cons and find out who has the BEST PRICE on the Magnifica 3500 Espresso Maker!
http://esam3500n.info/

BB-HAC10 Zojirushi Home Bakery l BB-HAC10 Breadmaker
The BB-HAC10 Zojirushi Breadmaker is the best mini breadmaker available. Read features, pros and cons, reviews and find out who has the BEST PRICE!
http://bb-hac10homebakery.info

Zojirushi NP-HBC10 Rice Cooker l Pros & Cons l Best Price
Zojirushi NP-HBC10 is an outstanding rice cooker. Read or reviews, learn features, pros & cons and find out who has the BEST PRICE
http://nphbc10.info/

Breville BOV800XL Toaster Oven
Find all the info you need to make a purchase decision. Features, specifications, reviews, pros and cons. Oh, and where to find the best price as well!
http://bov800xl.info

Sharp R820JS Convection Micrwave l A Great Find!
Learn the versatility of the Sharp R820JS Convection Microwave. Bakes, broils & roasts! Reviews, pros & cons. Find the BEST PRICE for the Sharp R-820JS!
http://r-820js.info

Waring MX1000R Professional Blender l MX1000R Pros, Cons, Best Price!
Looking for the Waring MX1000R Blender? We’ll share the feature, specs, pros/cons and tell you where to find the BEST PRICE on the Waring MX1000R Blender!
http://mx1000r.info/

DeLonghi DCP707 Stainless Steel Slow Cooker l All the Info You Need
Info of the DeLonghi DCP707 Stainless Steel Slow Cooker including features, reviews, pros/cons and where to find the BEST PRICE on DeLonghi 5 Quart Slow Cooker.

http://dcp707.info/

CVR-1000 l Countertop Rotisserie l CVR-1000 Cuisinart Rotisserie
Need info on the CVR-1000 Vertical Rotisserie? Read features, reviews, pros/cons & find the BEST PRICE on the Countertop CVR-1000 Cuisinart Rotisserie.
http://cvr1000.info/

Found a New Inexpensive Wine!

Elle — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:35:54 +0000

I was introduced to a great new inexpensive wine the other night. There are several in my circle of friends and family who have been on the hunt for good, inexpensive wines, and someone served this at dinner the other night.

It’s an Agentinian red wine called Fuzion.

Now, since I hate pepper, I’m not much of a Shiraz drinker. However, this wine is 80% shiraz and 20% malbec grapes. And let me tell you, that 20% makes a huge difference. I love this wine!

The best part? I costs just over $7 a bottle here in Ontario. So, if pricing on wine runs true to form, that means it will be even cheaper in the US.

I did a little research on this, and in the spring of ‘09, this wine was the number 4 seller in terms of dollar sales at the LCBO.(Liquor Control Board of Ontario) And this wine came in first at an event here in Toronto last spring called Recession Reds. This was a blind taste test done by a handful of wine critics as well as regular joe wine enthusiasts. 24 new world (non-European) reds were tested and Fuzion came in first.

So, if you are a wine bargain hunter, go try Fuzion Shiraz Malbec 2008.

And if you’d like to fill your wine rack with a wide selection of good, inexpensive wines, buy yourself a copy of Foolproof Wine Values.

How to Find Great Wine Values

Elle — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:33:27 +0000

So you’ve grabbed the cheapest bottle you could find on the shelf, and you’re heading for the checkout. Does this mean you’ve found a great wine value?

No. Finding wine values involves a lot more than that. Of course, picking the most expensive bottle on the shelf doesn’t mean you’ve chosen a quality wine either.

So what does that mean for people like you and I who are just trying to get the best quality for the least amount of money? How can you get the most bang for your buck?

First of all, avoid the extremes. Ignore the bargain basement brands, because these cheap wines will likely taste less than palatable. And if you don’t have the money, don’t be tempted to buy any of the overpriced snob wines either. Stick to the middle ground, where you are bound to find some great deals.

Experimentation is always a good idea when it comes to your wine selections. But do yourself a favor and only try wines for the first time when you’re home alone. Trying out a new wine on company, or taking it to a party, could be a disaster!

You can also choose varietal wines that are traditionally less expensive. For example, a bottle of Pinot Blanc will often be less expensive than a bottle of Chardonnay. So don’t always be too quick to look at the more popular varietal wines. They can cost you more. Most of the less popular varieties are still great wine values.

And don’t be stuck on just buying American wines. Check out the wines from Australia, Chili, Canada and beyond. Or if you have some small local wineries, why not see if they have something to offer? Choosing from a larger selection will just increase your chances of finding great wine values.

However, there is an easier way! Someone has already done all the experimentation and come up with a list of great, inexpensive wines.

Foolproof Wine Values provides a list of 147 wines in the $10 range. They just taste more expensive!

Inexpensive Wine

Elle — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:09:54 +0000

I like good wine. I like good, inexpensive wine even better!

My family are wine drinkers. A bottle of wine with dinner is common place. So when a lot of us began tightening our financial belts lately, the amount of money we regularly spent on wine came under scrutiny.

While we decided wine was a necessity, we did decide that we needed to cut down on what we were spending. So we embarked on a course of buying less expensive wine. Well, that turned out to be a hit and miss project. Sometimes, we’d luck out and find a great buy, and sometimes that less expensive bottle of wine went down the drain—which makes that bottle of wine a complete WASTE of money, when the objective was to save money!

Since starting this site, I’m always on the lookout for interesting wine related resources to let my readers know about.

I stumbled upon a gem! The ebook Foolproof Wine Values provides a list of 147 wines in the $10 range—most between $6 and $10, and a few that are $11 or $12!

And that’s not all. While I would imagine most people would buy this book just for the invaluable list of good inexpensive wines, there is a ton of other info. Info that includes teaching you how to pick good wine on your own. You’ll learn what to look for in a good wine, and all about the quality to price ratio.

One thing I should point out. The sales info page for this book talks about being able to find the wines in any U.S. liquor store. If you’re not an America, don’t be put off by this. I’m in Canada, and I went through the list of 147 wines, and I could find most of them here in my local liquor store. Of course the prices were a bit different as well, because pretty much everything is more expensive here. Having said that, the book still paid for itself.

So, if you’re a wine lover, and would love to be able to spend $10 for a bottle of wine that tastes like a $50 bottle of wine, you need to buy yourself a copy of this book!

Hostess Gifts: How to Express Your Gratitude

Elle — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:52:26 +0000

If you’re heading out to a friend’s place for the evening, and you’re just thinking of taking a bottle of wine as a hostess gift, why not give that a little more thought?

I’m not saying that a bottle of wine isn’t an acceptable gift for the occasion, because it is, but it’s also been done to death, and it probably isn’t something you put a lot of thought into. After all, you likely just grabbed a bottle from your own wine rack on the way out the door, right?

Show your host/hostess how much you really appreciate his/her hospitality by adding a little thoughtfulness to your gift.

So, how can you do that? Well, first the bottle of wine itself. Wine comes in a myriad of different bottle types; from the plain old ordinary bottle, to bottles that can be downright funky. When choosing a bottle of wine as a gift, don’t just consider the contents. Try to find a bottle that also matches the style and personality of your host/hostess. See how thrilled they’ll be to get such a thoughtful gift.

And since you’re giving a bottle of wine, why not include a bottle opener as well? For about twenty dollars, you can buy an awesome electric opener. In fact, if you know that others will be taking wine to the event, why not be a bit different? Instead of showing up with yet another bottle of wine, why not present your host/hostess with an easier way of opening those numerous bottles?

Let’s take this a little farther. Depending on how much you want to spend, you could also consider a wine gift basket. A basket with wine and a variety of gourmet foods, cheeses, and perhaps some wine glasses, would certainly be a step away from that plain old bottle of wine you were thinking of taking.

Another suggestion is all the small accessories you could add to the bottle. You may want to add drip stoppers, wine charms, decorative corks or wine stoppers.

How to Store Wine

Elle — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:19:38 +0000

How to store wine is an important consideration whether you favour red, white or sparkling. Storing it correctly is essential. If you have the notion that simply letting your bottle sit on a shelf, or storing in on a rack for an extended period of time is acceptable, read on. Doing so could have a drastic affect on the flavour or bouquet of your wine.

It’s true that wines are perishable; however, properly storing it can actually improve the wine over time. This aging process – done properly – can add to the aroma, flavour, texture and complexity of the wine.

So, what are the correct steps? First of all, you need to determine how long you plan to store the wine for. Not all wines can last for a long period of storage, so keep you less expensive wines for no longer than three to six months. On the other hand, more expensive, quality wines, can be stored for years, even decades.

Regardless of the length of time you plan to store your wine, there are some conditions that need to be met. The first, and the most crucial, is that the bottle must be stored horizontally, never in an upright position. The reason for this is so that the cork never gets a chance to dry out. The wine that rests against it will keep the cork moist.

Another condition to be aware of is the stability of the environment in which you store your wine. Any kind of vibration or movement will have an adverse impact on your wine, so storing it on top of appliances, or on the side of the house that shakes when a train goes by is not a good idea. Keep the wine still.

The room temperature at which you store your wine is also an important factor. The ideal storage temperature is 12 degrees C (55 degrees F). Bottles should be stored away from any drafts and temperature changes should be gradual.

Light can also have a negative impact on your wine, which is why most wine bottles are made of coloured glass. Keep your wine out of direct sunlight, as too much light can react with the protein in the wine, polluting it’s’ flavour by forming a haze and a bad aroma.

If you are thinking of long term storage for you wines, you need to go high tech as the correct atmospheric conditions are required. A high humidity of approximately 70% or so must be maintained. This reduces the chances of the cork drying despite the bottle being horizontal and also reduces the chances of your wine evaporating. Another interesting fact, but often overlooked, is what else we store beside our wine. Any food or liquid that has a strong odour – think vinegar – that could be released into the air, may be absorbed by the cork, and then impact your wine!

So, the time has come to open your wine and enjoy it. What if you don’t finish the bottle in one sitting? Can you store it a little longer once it’s been opened? Yes, but no more than a few days. Once your wine has been exposed to the air and mixes with oxygen, it begins to oxidize, and this process alters the essence of your wine.

Drink up, but drink responsibly!

What Really is a Good Bottle of Wine?

Elle — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:30:18 +0000

So, you’ve bought that bottle of “good wine.” But you know, that title is kind of misleading. Why? Well, one person’s good wine might not be another person’s. After all, we all don’t share the same taste buds, right?

Personally, I think the term “quality wine,” while perhaps just as potentially misleading, should be used. When I say something is a good wine, I’m talking about the fact that I enjoyed it. It could be a cheap plonk, but if it went down easy and my taste buds didn’t want to curl up and die as it passed by, then I’d feel okay about casually labeling it as a “good wine.” When something is a “quality wine” all it means is that it lives up to some standard. It passes a list of tests set by a body of professionals or experts in its field.

Here is Canada, we have VQA wines. If a wine has a VQA label on it, it means that it has passed the tests set by the Vintners Quality Alliance Act. It truly is a “quality wine.”

But let’s get back to our original point. Does that fact that I’m buying a quality wine assure me that I’ll take a sip and be able to categorize it as a “good wine?” Or at least what makes a good wine by my definition? No. Absolutely not. Why? Because we are missing a very important part of the equation. And that is, we all have our own likes and dislikes. One person’s good wine will not be a good wine to everybody else on the planet.

So, what to do? Well, there isn’t really any magic secret. And trust me, you’ll waste some money in your endeavors to find what constitutes a good wine, because there will be a little bit of trial and error going on too. Find your likes and dislikes. Read the labels on wine bottles. There’s a lot to learn there. Every bottle of wine clearly states what tones and flavours it has. Personally, I hate peppery wines, so you’ll never catch me buying a bottle of Shiraz. You see, I know that Shiraz tends to be peppery, but other wines can be as well, and the label will give me that info.

Trying out something new? I’ve learned to only take tried and tested wines with me when going to some sort of dinner party. If it’s going to be a taste test bottle, it stays at home or goes with me to friends and/or families homes. You know, the kind of people that won’t be appalled when you say excuse me, but I need to spit this out, and the kind of people you won’t be deeply embarrassed in front of when they say, “Blech. What is this crap you brought tonight?”

So, the point of all of this? Don’t get so caught up on other people’s labels of what’s a good wine or a quality wine. The only thing that matters is what your taste buds think, so make them happy! Get to know what you like. Do you like a wine that’s heavy on the berry flavours? Or that hint of oak? Do you hate pepper? Read the label before you buy. It’s the only label that really matters.