A general belief when hosting guests is that a perfect host or hostess is one who stores lots of ice and makes it available at any given point of time. On similar lines, ever wondered what are the must must have accessories when hosting an evening of wine and dine? 

Listed here is a quick reference to the six must-have wine accessories that come in handy for a perfect host to be able to serve wine with panache and style!

• Wine Glasses: You can’t have wine night without wine glasses, now can you? The question here is, which wine glasses should you always have on hand? A wine glass plays an important role as it enhances the aroma of the wine, which in turn has a significant impact on the taste of the liquid on your palate. A glass with a steady and broad base and a long stem for your fingers to hold comfortably, is a perfect choice. Wine glasses are abundantly available in the market, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as in a variety of styles for the reds, whites, and sparkling wines. It is wonderful to have a mix in your bar, but even if not, just having a few basic wine glasses does the job just as well.

• Corkscrew or cork openers: Having a good corkscrew can make your life a lot easier. Called the waiter’s friend, one of the most professional and popular equipment available in the market is the Wine Key and Waiter’s Corkscrew. Used by many sommeliers, a Wine Key and Waiter’s is good enough for an evening to entertain yoursself or guests. A favourite one is the Le Creuset corkscrew that smoothly pulls the cork from your bottle. If using a Le Creuset, then it would be good to have a foil cutter also handy to open the foil at the neck of the bottle, before uncorking. And if you want to invest in something fancy, then there is a host of corkscrews and cork openers, such as the 2-in-1 Winged one, the Lever as well as the Twist and Pull varieties, which are also commonly used.

• Wine Decanter: The original purpose of a wine decanter is to be able to separate the wine from its sediment, in particular with very old wines. A decanter is a great piece of equipment to have for all varieties of wines, including the younger or fresh ones. Be it a red or white or a rosé, pouring the wine into a decanter helps quickly aerate and contact with oxygen, bringing the fruitiness of the wine to the fore. So, include a decanter in your home collection. There are so many brands available in the market, so many fancy shapes ranging from shapes of ducks and swans and snakes but at the very least, a basic one with a broad bottom and a flared lip serves the purpose just as effectively.

• Ice Bucket: If you do not want the fizz from your party to run out, an ice bucket is a must so as to keep all your wines, and specifically your sparkling wines chilled throughout the evening. An ice bucket is very, very handy because unless there is one, you will find yourself constantly running to the refrigerator, taking out the wine bottle, serving the guests and then running back to refrigerate it. Highly unavoidable! If there is an ice bucket close by, all one has to do is reach out for the bottle and put it back without too much hassle.  A tip when shopping for an ice bucket – a good one will be deep enough to hold the entire length of the bottle to ensure that it is fully immersed in water and ice. Avoid going for ice buckets that are shallow, because then the entire bottle will not be immersed, resulting in the wine not being chilled enough. So, a long and deep ice bucket is always useful to have at home. 

• Wine Stopper: As the term explains in itself, a wine stopper is one that is used to store the left-over wine in the wine bottle. A wine stopper keeps the wine fresh and drink worthy for the next couple of days. So, in the case of a sparkling wine, like a Champagne or Prosecco, a wine stopper works very effectively. All you need to do is place it on top of your wine bottle, press it down a bit and the two little wings that a wine stopper has clasps the edge of the bottle and seals it. In case of still wines, a glass stopper would be good to use. But a wine stopper is very handy especially for those who enjoy an occasional glass of wine, but do not fancy finishing the whole bottle. So, wine stopper is your must-have accessory number five.

• Wine Preservation System or Wine Chiller: This is most convenient for a wine enthusiast who loves to store a variety of wines and buys a collection during every trip. A wine preservation system is a must for such wine collectors, because it is perfect for keeping wines in a cool dark place at a constant temperature between 12 to 14 degrees Celsius and at a humidity level that is needed by the wine to keep fresh throughout its lifespan, so that you are able to enjoy wines at their best. However, if you are someone who owns a small collection that you maintain as a just-in-time inventory, then you probably get away with storing your wines under the bed or in a place that is cool. 

So the next time you have a wine night, you know these are the accessories you need!