Metrokane Rabbit Corkscrew with Foilcutter, Black
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $49.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Comes with a handy foilcutter; 10-year warranty
• Uncorks any bottle effortlessly, in approximately 3 seconds
• Made of sturdy polycarbonate and reinforced nylon
• Ergonomic grip pads for easier operation
• Works on all sizes and types of wine bottles

Reviews (87)

Ridiculous product
I bought this corkscrew for my mom after I read some reviews of how revolutionary it was. She opened it and loved it right off the bat. Then, after less than a month, it stopped working. What happens is the little cap that covers the top of metal screw itself pops off as soon as you push down on the handle so the corkscrew just pops out of the top instead of going into the cork. It happens with all types of corks and with any pressure. So this ridiculous $50 corkscrew (at the time i bought it) is completely useless! (unless you want to pay an additional $10 for a replacement. Thanks but no thanks!)

Excellent product design
I received the 'Rabbit' wine bottle opener as a gift from my sister. Its the best bottle opener I have ever used! We had tried many different openers but none performed like the 'Rabbit', which is a pleasure to use. I have arthritis in my hands & prior to using the 'Rabbit' opening a bottle of wine had been challenging. I highly recommend this product to all.

Extremely Easy to Use
I got one of these for Christmas and used it for the first time on New Year's Eve. It works exactly as described. I was surprised at how easy it was to use. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SQ0K
Sales Rank: 55
Subjects:  1. (Corkpullers)    2. Bartending    3. Wine Products    4. Wine Openers    5. Wine Lovers Gift Sets    6. Corkscrews    7. Openers    8. (Cork Screws)    9. Wine Tools    10. Barware    11. (Bar Ware)    12. (Cork Pullers)   

Sanyo SR-2404 Wine Cooler
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $349.99
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Editorial Review

A good match for the wine enthusiast with limited space, this Sanyo wine cooler protects your bottles while preserving their contents with steady, cool temperatures. Sturdy if simple, the wine cooler’s cabinet is made of steel with a tempered-glass door. There’s room enough inside for 24 bottles of wine stored on coated wire racks that slide out for easy access. The unit comes with three settings--minimum, normal, and maximum--controlled by a dial on the outside of the machine. These are not as exact as a thermostatic control or a temperature dial, but cover the most common requirements of wine storage. If you seek exacting controls and complex feedback systems, this cooler’s probably not for you. But if you simply hope to improve the taste and prolong the life of your favorite vintages, it’s more than adequate. Measuring 18-5/8 by 25-1/4 by 19-3/8 inches, the cooler uses 30 watts of power. --Emily Bedard ... Read more

Features

• Measures 18-5/8 by 25-1/4 by 19-3/8 inches
• 24-bottle wine cooler protects bottles while preserving contents
• Thermostat control allows temperature to be selected for different wines
• Simple and sturdy steel cabinet with tempered-glass door
• Coated wire racks slide out for easy access; uses 30 watts of power

Reviews (6)

Great little cooler!
This wine cooler is certainly not top-of-the-line, but it is perfect for the average wine drinker (like myself).It is nice looking, and holds a consistent temperature.One small drawback is that it does not have a temperature gauge built in-- I had to buy one.

Definitely would purchase this again... the wine does taste better!

Very good wine cooler at reasonable price
The Sanyo 24 bottle wine cooler is about the best on the market for this size. Construction quality is quite good. I managed to fit 27 bottles of cabernet (7 on bottom shelf). The temperature control was perfect with the normal setting measured by my thermometer at 55 degrees, ideal for long term storage of fine wines. I got tired of my wine spoiling after a few months, even in the basement, and the good stuff is getting outrageously expensive. I now feel much more confident in storing. Big thumbs up.

SANYO WINE COOLER
Functions as advertised.Instructions were complete.Could be upgraded by having Sanyo install a thermometer.

The unit visually is the equal of other hardware in the kitchen annex where it sits on a counter.

I am going to install some exterior side wall insulation blocks covered with thin veneer hardwood to reduce cold loss.To the hand, the box insulation must not be quite thick enough to retain more cold.

Bottom line:I would do it again. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SACU
Subjects:  1. (Bar Ware)    2. Bar Accessories    3. Bar Tools    4. Bartending    5. Barware    6. Compact Refrigerators    7. Electrics    8. Mini Fridges    9. Small Appliances    10. Wine Products   

You know those greatest-hits music compilations advertised on late-night TV? Well, Riedel--the Austrian glassmaker that has become an industry leader in the crafting of stemware for the serious oenophile--has come out with a deluxe box set of its own. The Riedel Vinum series tasting set includes four of the company's most popular and versatile crystal wineglasses, each manufactured to enhance specific wines and specific grape types. The elongated bowl for the Cabernet and Merlot of Bordeaux blends; the squat, rounded shape for Burgundy's Pinot Noir grape; the sloping tapered side to accentuate the flavors of Chardonnay-based wine; and the narrowed mouth directing Sauvignon Blanc to a specific point on the tongue--these four glasses exemplify the Riedel philosophy: that changing the size and shape of the glass to match the characteristics of different wine grapes will enhance the wine. Attractively and securely boxed with printed tabs that list appropriate wines for each glass, the Riedel tasting set should top the charts of wine lovers everywhere. --Tony Mason ... Read more

Features

• Contains one Bordeaux, Burgundy, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc glass
• Machine-made of 24% lead crystal
• Affordable second-tier from a prestigious name in wine-friendly stemware
• Made in Austria by reowned wine-glass maker
• The perfect gift for budding Riedel enthusiasts

Asin: B00004SZ88
Subjects:  1. Wine    2. Stemware    3. Glasses    4. (Stem Ware)    5. Barware    6. (Bar Ware)    7. Glassware    8. (Glass Ware)    9. Bartending    10. Tableware    11. (Table Ware)    12. Wine Glasses    13. Red Wine    14. White Wine   

Wine aficionados will do whatever is necessary to achieve greatness from their prized collections. You have the right corkscrew, the right glasses, some good vintages--now add the decanting step to your evening ritual. While it won't turn vinegar sweet, this decanter really does help deepen the flavors of even your blandest red. By providing a broad surface area for the wine, the decanter allows controlled exposure to air, affecting all the little flavor nuances that make wine so enjoyable. The sloped spout makes pouring a breeze, and the construction material--looks like glass, sounds like glass, but is as lightweight as plastic--makes it easy to handle. Because of the unusual shape, it is best to hand wash using a long-handled brush to get the decanter really clean. --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Features

• Hand wash
• Wine decanter allows red wine to breathe for improved flavor
• Clear glass with decorative swirl on neck
• Broad, flat base with narrow neck
• Holds one bottle of wine

Asin: B00004S4V5
Subjects:  1. Wine    2. Bar Tools    3. Bar Accessories    4. Barware    5. (Bar Ware)    6. Bartending    7. Wine Products    8. Wine Decanters   

Labour of Love
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (11 March, 1997)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

UB40 are not great innovators, but they are great imitators, and, in a sense, Labour of Love made them the Pat Boone of reggae. Featuring a handsome and clean-cut (by reggae standards) white singer, Ali Campbell, UB40 covered Jamaican standards and turned millions of Americans and Europeans on to another form of black music. Interestingly enough, the album's smash hit, "Red Red Wine," was a cover of a rocksteady cover of a Neil Diamond track. Being that UB40 had the pick of the reggae litter, Labour of Love is chock full of stellar material. From Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross" to the Melodians' "Sweet Sensation" to Johnny Clarke's "Keep On Moving," Labour of Love still serves as an excellent reggae starter kit. --Bill Crandall ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Excellent Reggae
I've heard volume II long before this album, except for "Red Red Wine".I'd have to say that both are equally brilliant.Whether cruising down the road on a sunny day or frustrated with the same-old, same-old on the radio, this disc hits the spot!I was told that I wouldn't like this volume because it was more reggae than Labour of Love II, but that turned out to be incredibly wrong.There's tracks every bit as enjoyable as "The way you do the things you do"."She caught the train"and "Version girl" are a couple of my favorites.Ali Campbell is a talented singer and the group has wonderful chemistry.I'm a little disappointed with Labour of Love III, though.It's no where near the same level as the first two.

Brings back many memories
I received this album on CD as a gift way, way back in 1992. Ever since I received it, I have had trouble not listening to it. Every track is unique in their own ways. I have special liking for "Cherry oh baby," "Sweet sensation," "Johnny too bad," "Guilty" and "She caught the train." I strongly encourage you buy this album, you will not regret it.

Essential vacation CD
Since I first bought this and took it to a fraternity weekend way back in 85, I have never taken a vacation and not taken this with me. I saw them live in London in 82 and was a fan of Present Arms and their original stuff before this album which was much more political and heavier. They lightened it up with this one and the magic was with their labor of love. They have yet to repeat this alchemy since being taken over by the "lighter side".

Speaking of light, at only 39 minutes, it's a short one. For my latest road trip I've burned it to another CD with their Greatest Hits Vol. II (everything fits except for the last track of GHII).

Did I mention Labour of Love is catchy as all get out? ... Read more

Asin: B000000WIW
Subjects:  1. Contemporary Reggae    2. England    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. Reggae    6. Reggae-Pop   

Wine Spectator's Ultimate Guide to Buying Wine (7th Edition)
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (10 October, 2000)
list price: $30.00
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Editorial Review

No more excuses for buying wine based on label design! The popular Wine Spectator magazine's massive guide covers common recent vintages as well as rare collectibles. More than 40,000 individual wine ratings--organized first by country, then by producer--are based on blind tastings by the magazine's editors. Each entry includes a rating on a 100-point scale, price information, and often a description of the wine--for example, "Wild and exotic, bursting at the seams with tons of round fruit flavors, loads of wild berry characteristics, hints of violets, earth and blueberries and well-integrated tannins to boot." The editors smartly contextualize this mass of data with an introduction to each country's wine industry, emphasizing the country's major growing regions, common grape varietals, significant geographic and climatic influences, labeling conventions, and stylistic traditions and trends.

This guide's most useful features are tables organizing the wines by overall quality or value. For example, the connoisseur will enjoy the table listing only the finest wines from the greatest vintages of the past 10 years. Any wine enthusiast will do well with the table featuring "value wines" rated 85 points or higher but costing less than $12. Another table of top-rated current releases is a veritable shopping list. With that list, no one needs to rely on pretty labels anymore. --Brendan Finucane ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Don't waste your money on 8th edition
I had great hopes for the 8th edition as I have used previous editions a lot.What a letdown this new edition is.A total diversion from previous editions, it only list one vintage year (the most recent one) for each wine!!!This book is a compiled list of all wines reviewed by the Wine Spectator in the last year ONLY.If that is of interest to you, go right ahead, spend your money and be happy.I would rather try to obtain an older edition if you want a reference to use as comparisons.Or/and by Parker's Wine buying guide which is far, far superior.

Rubbish
In this eighth edition:
1. Review is for one vintage only for each wine.
2. The covered vintage is not the newest nor the best nor the typical one, eg. Penfolds Bin 128 has review on vintage 2001 in WS's web site but only year 2000 was covered in the book. Even Chateau Latour, only 2001 was in the book. I just can't see any real use of it.
3. The only "good" thing is the "big" font which should be good for short-sighters.

Pay attention to the Edition, and read the reviews
The 8th Edition is 1-star (or less, if I could rate it less) compared to the 4- or 5-star 7th Edition.Unfortunately, this website combines ratings over editions. I really do not have much to add to the other reviews; read them, and look at the dates they were written.At this point in time (Decem 04), this website does not separate reviews by edition.(To their credit, this site changes procedures frequently, so maybe when you read this they will do a better job, and clearly identify reviews with the specific book editions to which they apply.)

The 8th Edition is OK -- it reviews 11,000 wines that "are available currently".That's probably true, but what is relevant is the fact that of the 300 or so different wines I drank (or tasted) this year, I have a hit rate of maybe 10% (that is, only about 30 of them were in the 8th Edition of the Ultimate Buying Guide).During the period from mid 00 to mid 04, I used the 7th Edition, and had a hit rate of around 70%.(The 7th Edition had prices/ratings for about 4 times as many wines as the 8th Edition, but for many people, those extra wines constitute far more than 3/4 of the consumed rated wines. --- Work the numbers in what I just wrote.)

The most important thing about the Ultimate Buying Guide is not the editors' rating/review (I guess they're smart, but it is not very useful to be told "84 -- Enjoyable but slightly volatile, with rhubarb and ripe fruit character etc. etc.", page 435), but rather, the useful thing is the price.The major difference in this edition and the previous editions is the amount of space given to each wine.I want about one line of text per wine versus the 1 inch of column space given to each wine in the current edition.The prices at my local merchants vary considerably, but I don't want to go chasing prices.If I like the wine, and the price charged is close to the Ultimate Buying Guide price, I'd buy it.I took the 7th Edition of the Guide with me when I went shopping.That was the real value of the Ultimate Buying Guide. I doubt if I'll ever take the 8th Edition anywhere. ... Read more

Isbn: 1881659623
Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Wine and wine making   

Jancis Robinson's Wine Course - Introduction and Chardonnay
by Janice Wine Course Robinson Janice Robinson
Average Customer Review:
DVD (08 May, 2001)
list price: $19.98
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Editorial Review

In the introduction to her wine course, Jancis Robinson instantly makes viewers feel comfortable with their level of wine understanding. She points out that even among the experts, people frequently disagree about what is a quality wine, taking us to a wine tasting in which participants vehemently differ in their opinions. Then she acquaints us with the basics of how wine is made. One caveat to this video: be prepared for much spitting; wine tasters don't swallow their wine (a hazard of the job). The second half of this tape covers Chardonnays and their quest to take over the world. Also explained is the importance of the oak barrels used to store the wine. --Jenny Brown ... Read more

Features

• Color

Reviews (1)

I recommend Jancis Robinson for anything wine!
Great video, every video she's ever made on wine is fabulous. ... Read more

Asin: B00005AAAC
Subjects:  1. Documentary   

Vacu Vin Wine Saver Gift Pack, White
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $14.99 -- our price: $12.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Wine should breathe a little, but not overnight. Putting an end to the oxidation process, which turns a favorite Merlot into vinegar, is easy with the Vacu Vin Wine Saver. Made from high-quality rubber, which will not affect the taste of the wine, the Wine Saver uses a vacuum-style pump to release air to keep a wine fresh. And it's easy to use--just place a stopper in a bottle's neck, place the pump over the stopper, and pump air out until some resistance is felt. This process is suitable for preserving all but sparkling wines, and will save Chiantis, Syrahs, and others for up to two weeks. --Madeleine Miller ... Read more

Features

• Reusable vacuum wine storage set ideal for all wine lovers
• Keeps open wine fresh for two weeks
• Correct usage puts an end to the oxidation process
• Includes 1 sturdy plastic pump and 2 high-quality rubber stoppers
• Hand washable; one-year warranty

Reviews (99)

Great concept - but low quality - will jam permanently
I wish another company would make the same product with better quality. Although the concept is spot on, there's a problem with the rubber o-ring inside the pump - it will slide out of place and jam up the pump so that it becomes unusable. My first one lasted about 9 months before that happened, so I was willing to try again. The second one, however, lasted less than a month before the o-ring slipped and the pump jammed. There is no way to open it up to fix it. So until they fix this problem, this product is hit or miss. Caveat emptor!

It works!
We use our vacu vin wine saver all of the time since purchasing it about six months ago.It enables us to put partially full bottles back into our wine cooler, which we were unable to do before. We had tried unsuccessfully to do this with other wine corks.

Extend that bottle's life!
I recently bought this, and am happy with it. It "clicks" after 4 or 5 quick pumps for a 3/4 full bottle, and 7-8 clicks for a 1/4 filled bottle, to indicate vacuuum has been established, and the vacuum holds well, as does the wine!

Theprevious model did not click, however it certainly attained vacuum after about the same number of pumps..hearing the clicks is more reassuring!

As I recently bought it, I can't assess its long term durability as others have.

It does extend the wine's good taste for at least a few days in addition to the usual 2-3 days before the wine tastes "funny".

I've no reason to try it for more than a week of"corking up" a previously opened tasty bottle, so for these reasons i've got my money's worth, and it gets 5 stars. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SAF4
Subjects:  1. Wine    2. Bar Tools    3. Barware    4. (Bar Ware)    5. Bartending    6. Wine Products   

WMF Manhattan Stainless Steel Wine Cooler
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $22.49
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

The sleek cylindrical design of the Manhattan wine cooler from WMF adds a sophisticated touch to any dining room table. Keep a bottle of Pinot Gris or Vouvray in this cooler and the wine will remain chilled at an even temperature throughout a meal. Its brushed steel complements a variety of table settings and even looks at home out on the patio for barbecued pork steaks, mesclun greens, and a nice California Chardonnay. Bring it in the picnic basket when heading out for a romantic picnic for two. --Dana Van Nest ... Read more

Features

• Transportable
• Simple, classic design
• Fits standard 1-liter bottles
• Covers a bottle up to the neck
• Brushed stainless steel

Reviews (2)

Simply devine
At just over $20 bucks this wine cooler is amazing. Good looking, yes, but so easy too! Don't bother doing what we did at first, trying to pre-chill it with ice or keep it in the freezer. Doesn't work, doesn't help. Simply stick your chilled bottle in this cooler and it will keep your wine at an ideal temperature throughout your meal. No ice, no fuss. Perfect.

A nice cooler
We like to entertain and to drink wine, and the one thing we were missing was a wine cooler. This is just the piece we needed. It is very simple, yet classy. A great way to add that special touch for a quite dinner for two or four. Handy enough to be used on a daily basis. ... Read more

Asin: B00004S4V2
Subjects:  1. Wine    2. Bar Tools    3. Bar Accessories    4. Barware    5. (Bar Ware)    6. Bartending   

Wine & War: The French, the Nazis & the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (15 May, 2001)
list price: $24.00
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Editorial Review

Liberty, equality, and fraternity are all well and good, a champion of French culture once remarked. But, he continued, what made France truly superior to its neighbors was the French passion for wine, which "contributed to the French race by giving it wit, gaiety, and good taste, qualities which set it profoundly apart from people who drink a lot of beer."

The commentator may have had a point; after all, write Don and Petie Kladstrup, it was a well-known fact that Adolf Hitler did not like wine. Still, their leader's teetotalism notwithstanding, the Germans showed no distaste for French wine when they invaded France in 1940. Indeed, among the first acts of the occupying army was to seize great stores of wine, sending tens of thousands of barrels to the Third Reich and ordering the conversion of thousands of hectares of vineyards into war production.

Some French vintners, the Kladstrups write in this enjoyable study, went along with orders. Many others, however, including the heads of distinguished houses like Moët et Chandon, engaged in daring and dangerous acts of resistance wherever they could. Some lied about their yields; others built false walls to hide precious vintages; and still others concocted elaborate ruses, such as sprinkling carpet dust into inferior grades of new wine to give it a musty, distinguished flavor. Not every German was fooled, and some partisans of the grape died for their troubles. But some Germans, at considerable risk to themselves, also looked the other way. The Kladstrups fill their pages with memories of the wine war from both sides of the struggle, stories sometimes somber, sometimes amusing, that commemorate those "whose love of the grape and devotion to a way of life helped them survive and triumph over one of the darkest and most difficult chapters in French history." --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Interesting view of the effort to preserve what mattered
I originally picked up this book because I was amused that a positive book could be written about France's efforts in World War II.When France couldn't hold out for longer than two weeks against Germany's invasion, this book makes clear the effort that the winegrowers and the resgions they lived in went through to preserve something central to France's national identity- wine.

Whether discussing the longing of French prisoners in German hands for wine, or the determined efforts of long-established houses to preseve their stocks and traditions in the face of mounting challenges posed by the German and pro-German Grench authorities intent on looting what they could for their own interests.Some discussion of a moderate amount is paid to the efforts of the heroic French Resistance, whose exploits were truly remarkable and dangerous, and one is able to feel the tension and anxiety that the people in the book felt as times grew worse.

While not a wine afficionado, or a fan of France's official efforts during the Second World War, this book was hard to put down, and the shorter length of this book came far too quickly.I learned a lot, came away with greater respect for France and its culture, and hope that the authors continue their writing efforts, as long as it's not another wine book.

Interesting idea
This book tells the story of French wine makers and wine during the Second World War.In the introduction, the authors point how important wine is to France. "It is not just a beverage or commercial product to be poured from a bottle.It is much more than that.Like the flag,...it goes to the country's heart and soul."That said, the history of World War Two in France cannot be considered complete without the tales of what happened to the wine and the winemakers.

The book is organized in chronological fashion, starting in 1939, the last pre-war grape harvest.Each subsequent year of the war is represented in one or more chapters of details and war stories.We read about wine makers who are sent to POW camps, the "weinfuhrers", Germans whose job it was to manage the wine industry in occupied France, and families of wine makers whose men-folk are away fighting or imprisoned.The authors point out how useful it could be to keep tabs on wine, such as when the Resistance was able to notify British intelligence about an imminent invasion in North Africa based on their tracking of wine shipments by the Germans.

At the beginning of each chapter is a picture of a wine scene related to the war.Unfortunately, the pictures are printed in extremely light shades of gray and white and virtually uninterpretable as a result.Captions for the pictures appear only in the List of Illustrations at the beginning of the book.The book includes an index, but no bibliography.(Much of the material for the book came from extensive personal interviews.)

For the most part, the book is informative, but it doesn't quite live up to the lofty promises of the introduction.Part of the problem is that a number of the stories from the wine makers that the authors uncovered aren't all that remarkable.In other cases, war histories of individual wine makers are chopped up to fit in the chronological organization of the chapters, which detracts from the overall coherence.Nonetheless, historians of the Second World War may find substantial material of interest in this book.

Explore a lesser-known facet of World War II
Wine & War is a socially-focused historical account of predominantly five families of prominent wine-producing regions in France (Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Alsace, and the Loire Valley) during the German occupation of France in World War II. This book profiles the courage of the French to not only survive during this time but to protect their national treasure from the glutony of the Third Reich. Through their cleverness and ability to outwit the Germans, the French are ultimately able to preserve much of their prized wine. This book takes you on an inspiring journey through that time via accounts of those who lived through it as well as their relatives. Fascinating and insightful, I highly recommend this book for wine aficionados, francophiles, and those planning to visit the remnants of Berchtesgaden or Kehlsteinhaus. ... Read more

Isbn: 0767904478
Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    3. Europe - France    4. France    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Military - World War II    9. Underground movements    10. Viticulture    11. Wine and wine making    12. World War II - Europe    13. World War, 1939-1945    14. History / France