Gadgets vs. Gimmicks: Electric Cork Screws...

Continuing with the series that reviews various wine gadgets, I thought it fun to talk about my second favorite gadget of all times: the electric corkscrew.

Emerson corkscrew & stand

I first encountered an electric corkscrew at a cousin's house, I was curious.  Anything to do with making the wine experience more pleasurable, I'm usually for it.  Not totally convinced of its ease and utility, I didn't run out and buy one right away.  My second encounter caused me to just that.  I bought 3.  I was on the plane with the a flight attendant suffering from Fibromyalgia.  She pulled out the identical corkscrew I'd seen at my cousin's.  "I can't use the traditional corkscrew, I don't have enough strength in my hands."  She explained.

Although morning, (it was 5 o'clock somewhere) a passenger asked for a glass of wine.  My co-worker pulled out her gadget, locked it on the cork and depressed the button.  It didn't work because the bottle continued to spin.  I made the same mistake the first time I used it  that was until my cousin showed me how.  I obliged my co-worker.  You have to lock it on the neck, hold the bottle, depressed the down button and keep it pressed until the unit stops, not when you feel it has.  The unit should slide off the bottle with ease.  You release the cork by pressing the top of the button, again continue to press until the cork falls into your hand.

Why an electric corkscrew? 

Product Review Series: Gadgets vs. Gimmicks

I love the experience of wine.  When I enter a wine store or a bar I expect to spend countless dollars and time perusing wine and whatever else there is to offer. 

There is another side to wine that also tickles my fancy.  Things that surround the experience of wine are just as delightful.  I love glasses.  One might call me a glass aficionado, that’s because I get how a great glass can make or break the wine—pun intended—and an inappropriate glass can alter the experience dramatically.

Wine Gadget
bottle thermometer

Glasses aren’t the only accoutrements to wine.  The industry has supplied more than enough gadgets, to fill a hoarder’s closet.  So I thought it would be fun to interject a mini-series every now and again where I will discuss gadgets and rate them as gadgets or gimmicks.  Because there are so many, I will speak of two or three at a time.  I welcome comments about your experience with gadgets; it is always great to exchange information.

Before we get started on our first contenders in the series, I want to talk about gadgets in a general sense.  Most wine gadgets work and serve a viable purpose.  More than if a gadget works or not, satisfaction heavily depends on whether that gadget works for you.  Again, most work and yes some are absolute gimmicks, but gadgets are like wine, very subjective.

First up in the series is a staple in my wine room.  It is an “Aerator”. 

Some wine snobs label aerators as inorganic, trendy, lazy & disruptive....