Sommeliers Recommend These Wine Tools for Holiday Hosting

It’s the most wonderful time of year: when holiday cheer flows, and so does the wine. If you’re planning to serve a crowd at a holiday gathering or New Year’s Eve party, you’ll want to be prepared with not only the right wine, but the right products to serve it with. Who wants to run into hiccups like getting the cork stuck in the bottle or forgetting to chill your wine when you could be eating, drinking, and being merry? 

To get you on your way, we asked three sommeliers to recommend their top products for a seamless wine experience during the holidays. Their handy picks range from surprisingly effective wine remover sprays to non-toxic chilling wands. So, if you’re currently making your holiday party checklist and checking it twice, read on for a full rundown of their suggestions, from $13.

Sommelier-Recommended Wine Tools for Holiday Parties

• Cuisinart One-Step Waiters Corkscrew, $17
• Cuisinart Stainless Steel Commercial Wine Opener, $100
• Wine Away Red Stain Remover, $17, originally $20
• Final Touch Beverage Chilling Wands, Set of 2, $42
• Godinger Wine Decanter Carafe, $25, originally $35
• Coravin Pivot Plus Wine Preservation System, $179
• The Durand Device for Aged Corks, $145
• Norpro 242 Stainless Steel Funnel with Strainer, originally $13 

Cuisinart One-Step Waiters Corkscrew

This Cuisinart stainless steel double-hinged corkscrew offers great, sturdy leverage to open wine bottles. It also features a serrated foil cutter and bottle cap opener. Lydia Richards, wine expert and cofounder of Hispanics in Wine, calls this tool her reliable companion at any event. “The traditional ‘waiter’s corkscrews’ are my good and faithful, No. 1 tool to have handy and ready to go at any holiday party. They are long-lasting and resilient, don’t destroy corks, and are compact, perfect for your pocket. Their only enemy is the TSA,” says Richards. 

Cuisinart Stainless Steel Commercial Wine Opener

If you’re planning to serve a number of bottles to guests over the holidays, consider a time-saving electric option over the traditional corkscrew. This pick from Cuisinart fits any wine bottle size and opens up to 120 bottles on a single charge. Best of all, it comes with a rechargeable battery pack, charging storage stand, and foil cutter. “An electric corkscrew is a great holiday party tool for those not that well-versed in traditional corkscrews, and a time-efficient tool when you need to open multiple bottles effortlessly,” says Richards. 

Wine Away Red Stain Remover 

Filled glasses and lively conversation are sure to create a few “whoopsie” moments during any festive holiday gathering, but no one ever wants to be the cause of a splash on someone’s favorite shirt or rug. That’s why Larry Miller, co-owner and wine director of BABs in New Orleans, likes to be proactive with any mishaps. “They say I’m clumsy in other peoples’ homes, so I would bring some Wine Away Stain Remover. [It’s] available in various sizes; the smaller bottle fits in your jacket pocket and can be discreetly deployed if a couple of drops should land on your buddy’s new sofa. The larger bottle can be kept in the trunk if you hear that the guest list looks rowdy,” says Miller. 

Final Touch Beverage Chilling Wands, Set of 2

We’ve all been there: The charcuterie boards and wine glasses are all laid out, guests have started to arrive and ask for a pour, and then, it hits you: — you forgot to chill the wine. Fortunately, with these non-toxic, gel-filled wands, you’ll be on your way to chilled glasses in no time. “This is the type of product you never knew you always needed — perfect for when you’re in a pinch and need to chill your favorite wine for guests quickly,” says Richards. 

Godinger Wine Decanter Carafe 

Ready to pull out your decade-old Cabernet or Barolo? Help them reach their fullest capability by letting them breathe. “For special occasions and larger reds, it’s always nice to have a decanter around. The Godinger Wine Decanter Carafe is affordable and adds a lovely touch to the experience,” says Jesse Carr, Director of Food & Beverage at Virgin Hotels New Orleans.  “You can also bring a microfiber towel. With glassware, you must be able to polish, and a polished wine glass is essential!” 

Coravin Pivot Plus Wine Preservation System

There’s no need to let your favorite wine bottles go to waste when you have a good wine preservation system. “Coravins are a nice investment if you collect wine, so you don’t have to commit to a whole bottle, as it starts to die once you open it,” says Carr. The Pivot Plus is a 7-piece kit that includes one Pivot system, two argon gas capsules, one wine aerator attachment, two Pivot wine bottle stoppers, and one bottle sleeve. 

A Coravin allows you to pour wine without removing the cork and replaces lost wine with argon gas to prevent oxygen from entering the bottle. The system will preserve the flavor, color, and aroma of the remaining wine for up to four weeks and has an aerator that can achieve a 60- to 90-minute decant in seconds.

The Durand Device for Aged Cords

If you’re a collector of aged wines, listen up. The Durand’s two-part design features a standard corkscrew and a piece with two metal prongs to smoothly remove even the oldest corks without them crumbling. “The ultimate lifesaver for wine lovers with a penchant for treasured vintages, this nifty, patented tool rescues those fragile, delicate corks without a hitch, keeping them intact and saving your bottle from any corky mishaps,” says Regine Rousseau, Founder of Shall We Wine.

Norpro 242 Stainless Steel Funnel with Strainer 

Prevent wine splashes with this stainless steel funnel from Norpro. The tool makes it easy to keep your pouring contained, particularly in lively environments like holiday parties. “This tool is specifically designed to ensure a clean, sediment-free pour. It’s the go-to choice for those who want to decant with ease and elegance, especially when dealing with aged wines. It’s perfect for preserving both the clarity and quality of your pour,” Rousseau says.