Wine pros consistently tell me this is their favorite gadget for tasting bottles.
Whenever I grill winemakers, sommeliers and writers about tools and technology, one piece of equipment comes up again and again. Coravin systems make it possible to preserve opened wine bottles at home, allowing you to drink as much or as little as you want without the risk of spoilage if you don't finish it in time.
The device works by clamping onto a wine bottle and inserting a needle through the cork, letting you pour and taste without exposing the wine to oxygen, which would otherwise ruin it.
The sophisticated technology goes beyond simple preservation for your prized Pinot Noirs and Sangioveses. As you pour, the system injects argon -- an inert gas -- into the bottle to maintain pressure and prevent even minimal oxidation of the remaining wine. When used correctly, Coravin can keep wines fresh -- whether red, white or anything in between -- for months or even years.
If you regularly buy good bottles of wine but don't care to drink them in one sitting, you're free to pour a single glass of that special Châteauneuf-du-Pape whenever you darn well please and then pop it back on the rack for later. It's also an excellent gift for someone who cooks with wine, since you can add a cup or two to a recipe and save the rest for another night.
In this guide, we'll outline the three primary Coravin wine preservation systems, explain how they work and discuss their costs so you can choose the best one for your needs.
The Coravin Six shares the identical core preservation technology -- the needle-and-Argon gas system -- as the Timeless Three. The newest model keeps wine protected without removing the cork. What sets the Six apart from, its predecessor is its premium package and refined design.
This model is positioned as the most stylish option, boasting sophisticated colors, glossy finishes and metallic accents. Furthermore, the "Six" bundle typically includes a richer set of accessories right out of the box, including more argon capsules for extended use, a carry case and extra screw caps.
This bundle also includes the Coravin Aerator, a tool that instantly enhances the wine's aroma and smoothness as you pour, effectively mimicking an hour of decanting in seconds.
Much like the six, this system will puncture the cork so you can pour wine while also pressurizing the bottle to keep the remaining liquid safe from harmful oxygen. When used properly, the Timeless Three system allows you to pour from and preserve an unlimited number of bottles. You can also safely access and pour from a single bottle about 25 times, which is far more than you should ever need to.
The starter package includes the Coravin, one argon bottle and a needle cleaning tool and normally retails for $250 to $280, depending on the retailer. Replacement argon canisters are about $8 and each one should be good for about 10-15 bottles of wine depending on how much gas you need per bottle. (You'll hear a hiss when argon is being emitted and when that sound stops, it's time to replenish).
You can also add screw caps, aerators and more argon canisters at a cost.
The Pivot was launched only a few years and also repressurizes wine with argon to keep it fresh after opening. The key difference between this model and the original Timeless is that the cork is removed for preservation with this system and a special topper is put in its place to pour from. There is no needle involved.
That means the integrity of the seal is damaged and you can really only keep wine at optimal freshness for about three or four weeks. You must also purchase extra Pivot stoppers or a bundle with a few stoppers to repressurize and "recork" multiple bottles of wine at one time.
If you're not someone who likes to taste lots of wines simultaneously but are looking for a way to drink the bottle or two you've just opened at a slightly slower pace, this is may be the best option. The Pivot starts at $99 and includes two stoppers. Extra stoppers cost $30 for six.
This is the latest addition to the Coravin lineup and one that founder Greg Lambrecht wasn't sure they'd be able to pull off. This model doesn't spike the cork, nor does it use argon to prevent oxidation. Instead, it repressurizes the bottle with good old-fashioned CO2 and a patented locking stopper to keep things bubbly and fresh for up to four weeks.
The Coravin Sparkling even has a pressure Indicator that glows green when a Coravin Pure Sparkling CO2 Capsule has done its job and the bottle is ready to be placed back in the fridge for later.
It's not cheap, clocking in at $300. But for the fine sparkling wine drinker, this opens up a world of possibilities for tasting the good stuff at a pace of their choosing.