The Winewizard Aerator, £49.95, Vin Alchemy
Not got a cellar to age your wine? This clever device replicates the ageing and decanting process of wine in just two seconds
No less an authority than Masters of Wine, sommeliers and the UK’s leading wine institution, Plumpton College, Winewizard endorse it. It’s fully recyclable and will do a boozy 80 bottles or around 500 glasses of wine before needing a refill cartridge.
It’s the first device to be scientifically proven to successfully replicate the effects of bottle ageing – bringing wines to their optimal potential in just seconds. This in turn enhances the complexity of the wine, accentuating qualities like fruit, nuanced flavour notes and minerality – as well as improving the nose – while also softening the harsher tannin and acids that can make wine taste cheap.
We gave a sample a test, and it was fun and rather impressive. You put the micro-diffuser at the base of the glass or bottle (two different lengths of tube are supplied in a velvet bag), squeeze the trigger for a second or two depending on the wine/glass/bottle and watch millions of micro-bubbles emerge. Be gentle though, our first attempt was a bit of a mess, it’s got a real hair trigger on it. You need to let the wine bubble up gently then subside before drinking. We did the suggested two glass test – one treated one not, and the treated easily came out ahead in blind tests.
We were a bit nervous of using too good a wine at first, so we used a red from a well known German retailer and it definitely improved it, lowering the acidity and replicating the decanting process and ageing process.
It’s best to treat a whole bottle not glass by glass, as it uses less gas and obviously means less hassle at the dinner table. You will have to drink off a glassfull first to allow room for the bubbling though, or simply use a decanter for the extra ‘head’ room.
It apparently also can knock back the sulphite additives that can cause the headache of a hangover! That has to be good at Christmas. So it’s the perfect gift for wine aficionados and novices alike.
vinalchemy.com
Hokan Bowls. Beautiful In Every Way
These Hokan innovative, sustainable, stylish, stoneware bowls and lids are oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe.
The oven-safe bowls warm evenly and retain heat very well. When you cook or bake with the lid on you keep precious moisture in, and the temperature doesn’t fluctuate. Taking the lid off towards the end gives a nice crust or browning and you can take the bowl straight to table. In fact you’ll really want to. You can also use the lids as a side plate.
Whatever you might cook in a casserole – stews, curries, pasta, gratins, soups, risotto and individual pies – you can cook in a Hokan. Hokan, by the way, is the Japanese word for safekeeping.
Another great feature is that they are supremely stackable, the lids are all the same size no matter the individual volume, which makes them safe to store in a column or to keep leftover pre-prepped food fresh in the fridge.
As they’re stoneware there are no nasty plasticky odours to contaminate your flavours. And despite their beauty, they are super tough and durable.
Hokan Bowls RRP £80 for a set of three or individually:
- Small: 400ml, RRP £24
- Medium: 600ml, RRP £27
- Large: 1000ml, RRP £30
Available from hokanbowls.com
Happy Hampers At Xmas
Not sure what gifts to get friends and relations that live nowhere near you? A great British Hamper can send your best wishes as far away as Australia.
What might lucky recipients find in their hampers, which come in all sizes from bijou to whopping? Well a £55 Xmas hamper has Sweet & Salty Popcorn, Caramel Sea Salt Fudge Gifting Tin, Bean to Bar Milk Chocolate, Jalapeno & Lime Mixed Nuts, Festive Spiced Cookies, Sea Salt & Black Pepper Corn Crunch, All Butter Cheddar Biscuits and Bean to Bar White Chocolate. The options are almost infinite and all very tasty.
Prices include packaging and carriage to your chosen destination. And with a hub in the Netherlands, hampers and gourmet produce can be shipped across Europe with fast and reliable delivery and no additional customs fees.
You’ve still got time to order a gift hamper for someone special for Xmas, although the last dates for abroad are fast approaching.
Make your choice at www.britishhamper.com
Organic Italian Oil & Wine Delivered to Your Door
As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to find those perfect gifts that will make your loved ones feel truly special.
These curated gift boxes from Terre Di San Vito featuring the finest organic extra virgin olive oil and handpicked wines, are just what you need to spread joy and flavour this Christmas.
Most gift boxes include organic extra virgin olive oil, bottled in hand-painted terracotta jars—perfect for adding a rustic Italian touch to any kitchen. You can change the colour of the jar when you get to the checkout
From small-batch vineyards, comes rich, full-bodied wines that are perfect for toasting during festive celebrations
Every gift box is wrapped with care, making it a ready-to-give, show-stopping present that’s bound to impress.
Please note, to guarantee your gift arrives in time for Christmas, be sure to place your order by December 18th.
Sushi Masterclass. A great catch for Christmas
If you’re looking to Xmas gift a luxury experience to someone special, then raw fish could be the answer.
Go on a on a sushi journey at Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat in Mayfair
This masterclass is great. Like so many non-Japanese people you might find sushi and sashimi both fascinating and mysterious, a whole different culinary world beyond you ken. As this class goes on though you’ll feel empowered, able to casually say Shari, instead of rice, when you next eat Japanese.
Try your hand at Maki rolls, both normal and inside out, learn about the fish, about tradition and also about knives. Eat a lot of superb sushi.
It’s a communal fun time sitting around the chef’s table watching, learning, trying and eating. You’ll leave with a luxurious booklet that contains lots of information about sushi as well as some recipes. And a gift, we won’t spoil the surprise on that.
The Sushi Masterclass experience at Lucky Cat is available to book here. A great gift idea.
Gift the gin lover in your life a personalised bottle of Caorunn this Christmas
Personalise your own bottle of Caorunn Gin this festive season – the perfect Xmas gift for any gin fan!
Finding a meaningful Christmas present can be a challenge, but the handcrafted small batch gin Caorunn has made it that much easier this festive season.
Caorunn, hailing from the Scottish Highlands, have launched a new bottle personalisation service available ahead of Christmas. Whether it’s for close friends or distant relatives, a personalised bottle of Caorunn is sure to delight and at no extra cost.
Simply visit Caorunn’s online shop and add a bottle of the award-winning Caorunn Classic Gin to your basket.
You’ll be prompted to add the name of the person you are gifting along with a personalised message, insert their address and soon their very own personalised bottle of Caorunn will be on its way to them.
Caorunn Gin is handcrafted at Balmenach Distillery in the Speyside region of the Scottish Highlands. Drawing on Scotland’s natural pantry and avoiding the use of any artificial flavourings or colourings, Caorunn Gin is infused with five handpicked Celtic botanicals and six traditional gin botanicals in the world’s only working Copper Berry Chamber to achieve its iconic, perfectly balanced flavour.
www.caorunngin.com / @CaorunnGin
Main Image Annie Spratt