Spring Wino

A total self proclaimed Wino, I often love nothing more than opening a bottle and relaxing by the fire. However, with this warm weather creeping in—it seems I will have to start un-corking what my family calls “Porch Wines”. I look for a wine that reflects this time of year: crisp breezes, green lawns, budding flowers, and sunny days as well as the rainy ones. By this time, you’ve probably guessed that I don’t share T.S. Eliot’s view that "April [Erm, February] is the cruelest month…”

Chono Sauvignon Blanc, 09 Chile $11 Celler on Greene

Juicy aromas of grapefruit and lemon-lime flood the nose; flavors are mouth-watering, with just a touch of the exotic (think guava) with great acidic balance and concentration.

Reidel Stemless Glasses $18-$22 in Sets of Two

Wine tastings are great fun. Meeting other vino lovers is always an enjoyable experience, and depending on how many bottles we’re talking about, it can get messy. Wine glasses by definition are unstable, so to cut down on the “Cabernet-all-over-the-white-carpet” problem, Riedel has introduced the O Series Wine Tumblers. Available in four different styles for different wines, these are a great call when you have clumsy house guests and you’re worried about spilling that glass of Opus One you just poured.

Wine Save $39.99 per Can

Each container of Winesave relies on argon, an odorless, food-safe gas that's two and a half times heavier than air. Spray the argon into a bottle of open wine, then seal the bottle with a cork, cap or wine stopper. Due to its weight, the gas drops to the surface level of the remaining wine, where it acts as a protective shield, keeping the wine's nuances in--and oxidation and decay out. Every can contains enough gas for at least 50 uses and works equally well to preserve white, red and sparkling wines.