The best time to enjoy a bottle of wine is on the day you open it, but we understand it’s not always practical to finish a whole bottle, especially if you live alone.
What can you do if you need to save some wine, then?
Well, trying to jam the original cork back inside the bottle seldom ends well. With the seal breached, too much oxygen will penetrate the wine.
For short-term storage, then, you can use one of the best wine stoppers to create a strong seal for your wine bottles. Wines with at least 10% ABV can be stored for a week or so.
Wine preservation systems offer a more robust solution and will keep your wine fresher for even longer.
While the concept of wine stoppers is simple, then, we understand you may not be clear on the differences between these devices. Consider the following elements on the buying trail to streamline your decision:
OK, with that framework in place, you should be clear on what you’re looking for in the best wine stoppers. All that remains now is to explore the finest models on the market so you don’t need to waste wine ever again.
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The 12 Best Wine Stoppers
1. Our #1 Pick: Rabbit Wine and Beverage Stoppers
When you’re comparing the best wine stoppers, sometimes the very simplest devices are the most effective. Rabbit’s pack of 4 universal wine and beverage stoppers give you everything you need and nothing you don’t.
The bumper pack gives you several stoppers up your sleeve, and they’ll fit almost any wine bottle. They also work well if you need to seal opened bottles of soda, oil, or vinegar.
Made from food-grade silicone, you’ll get no contaminants and the ability to slide these stoppers into the top of any bottle with a clear conscience.
Once you’re done, there’s no tedious clean-up. Throw these stoppers in the dishwasher instead for hands-free upkeep.
The majority of user reviews are glowingly positive, but a few consumers complain about the stoppers not making the tightest fit inside bottles, especially when stored horizontally.
You won’t find these stoppers cracking or degrading over time, and the colors won’t fade either. Considering the value pack and the bargain pricing, we can’t recommend these Rabbit wine stoppers strongly enough.
2. Also Great Vacu Vin Wine Saver Pump
If you fancy a wine saver pump that makes use of a vacuum seal to ensure your opened wine stays fresher for longer, Vacu Vin is a brand you can trust. How does this pump differentiate itself from the pack?
Using this pump couldn’t be easier. Slide the stopper into the top of your opened wine bottle. It’s designed to fit in almost all bottles. You then pump until you hear the trademark clicking sound. This indicates an air tight seal has been created.
Once you’ve removed all the air from your wine bottle, you can keep red or white wine fresh for up to a week without the oxidation process impairing the flavor or aroma.
If you decide to treat yourself or a wine lover in your life to this pump, you’ll be joining 35 million satisfied customers. Vacu Vin was the first brand to bring this device to market, spawning legions of imitators. Keep both red and white wines fresh for a week or so and kiss goodbye to wasting wine.
3. Wine Preservation System Pick: Coravin Model Three Wine Preservation System
Coravin has a range of wine preservation systems that elevate the art of the wine stopper to new levels.
With this system, you don’t remove the cork from your wine bottle in the first place. Instead, you insert the thin needle into the existing cork. This Teflon-coated needle pierces through and allows for the introduction of argon gas. Argon is an inert gas that safeguards the remaining wine from the oxidation process.
Where even the most effective wine pumps and stoppers typically extend the drinkable lifespan of your wine by a week or so, the wine in your bottles you open with the Coravin Model Three will remain unimpaired on an ongoing basis.
Pouring couldn’t be much simpler. All you do is release the trigger you’ve been pressing to introduce the argon and then slowly pour your vino.
As long as you have a more fluid budget and you don’t mind digging a little deeper, the Coravin Model Three is one of the most efficient and user-friendly methods of keeping wine fresh, and there’s no time limit to how long you can leave it in reserve.
4. Kloveo Champagne Stoppers
If you’re a champagne fan and you often fail to finish the bottle, you’ll need something that not only stops oxidation but also serves to protect the fizz. Kloveo delivers a partial success with these dedicated champagne stoppers.
You pop this stopper over your opened bottle of bubbly and the nodule will expand as pressure starts to build inside the champagne bottle. The airtight seal created works wonders for arresting the oxidation process notorious for spoiling wine once opened.
If you were hoping to keep your champagne fizzy for a week, though, you’ll end up disappointed here. Several dissatisfied customers report champagne tasting flat after a couple of days. All that counts here is making sure these stoppers fit your requirements. If you typically finish a bottle the following day, you’ll have no issues. You’ll have perhaps three or four days grace with this device, so it’s well worth popping on your shortlist.
As an added kicker, the stopper does all the hard work for you, so you’ll find these a cinch to use even if you struggle with mobility in your hands or you suffer from arthritis.
5. OXO Steel Expanding Wine Stoppers
OXO produce a deep bench of kitchenware and accessories, all priced keenly, and all built to an exacting standard. These expanding wine stoppers continue that tradition wonderfully, so what do you get for your money here?
Well, the expandable nature of these stoppers ensures an almost universal fit. Whether you’re looking to keep red or white wine fresher for longer, these stoppers will give you the snuggest fit every time.
All you need to do is pop the stopper into the top of your wine bottle and it will automatically expand. It will then contract when you pull the top, allowing you to uncork your wine like a sommelier even if you’re a complete novice.
The security of the seal means you should experience little by the way of leakage or slippage when you’re using these stoppers. We encountered a handful of gripes from consumers about slight leakage when storing wine bottles horizontally in the refrigerator. While this is not necessarily a deal-breaker, the manufacturer advertises storing bottles flat as a key benefit, so you might be disappointed here.
The flat profile of the stoppers is a bonus if you want to store wine bottles on the top shelf of the refrigerator, and this makes a smarter choice than trying to lay the bottles flat.
The silicone stoppers are accented with a flash of stainless steel, completing a strong look that is fortunately not a case of style over substance.
6. Aipker Reusable Wine Bottle Stoppers
Aipker serves up some brightly colored wine stoppers allowing you to keep any type of wine fresher for as long as possible. You get two blue stoppers, a purple stopper, and a red stopper included. All are resuable.
Stoppers come in especially handy if you often fail to finish a whole bottle of wine and you don’t want to keep wasting the leftovers. If you have tried reintroducing the original corks into wine bottles, how did that pan out? Instead, these reusable stoppers will create a much more robust seal while slashing wastage at the same time.
Inside, the food-grade stainless steel gives you a safe and durable solution, while the silicone used for the exterior is also classified as food-grade, so you can sup your wine with no niggling safety concerns.
The conical shape of the stoppers lets you slide them easily inside almost any bottle of wine.
Handwashing these stoppers is quite tough due to the way they hold in the water. Luckily, you can pop them in the dishwasher instead for hands-free cleanup.
Whether you’re looking to use these stoppers for a special occasion, every day with dinner, or to gift a wine lover in your life, you can do your part for the environment while keeping your wine fresher for longer.7. Sunwuun Wine Bottle Stoppers
Sunwuun might not be the first name that trips off your tongue when looking for wine stoppers, but they happen to produce one of the best models in this crowded space.
If you are storing leftover wine, the process of oxidation can rapidly impair both the flavor and the aroma. By creating a vacuum seal with this stopper, on the other hand, you will protect your wine from the elements, and you’ll also enjoy superior results that if you try to reinsert the wine’s original cork.
Inside the stopper, food-grade silicone gives you the confidence to drink your wine without any concerns about toxins or contaminants. Outside, you get a BPA-free BPS material, also non-toxic and remarkably hardwearing. Overall build quality is impressive, especially when you consider the cutthroat price of these stoppers.
You can use these stoppers on most wine and champagne stoppers. You’ll run into problems if the bottle has a screw-on top, though. If you try using these stoppers on much larger bottles with non-standard mouths, you are likely to encounter some leakage.
As an added kicker, this is also one of the cheapest wine stoppers out there, as well as one of the very finest. Let us know how you get on if you add this stopper to your arsenal. We always love to hear from our readers!8. OXO Steel Wine Stopper and Pourer
Next up we have a stopper that serves double duty as wine pourer from kitchenware specialist OXO. This brand specialized in producing well-built and intelligently-designed products priced very keenly.
Made from stainless steel, you should find this device returns years of faithful service.
Using the stopper is a piece of cake. Slip it into your opened wine bottle and then push down on the lever. This is enough to create a strong and tight vacuum seal. By preventing air from entering the wine bottle – something that will happen if you try reinserting the original cork – you’ll prevent oxidation from spoiling your vino.
You’ll also be able to pour your wine without it dripping all over the kitchen counter.
Although these stoppers will effectively preserve red and white wines short-term, you’ll need something else if you primarily drink carbonated beverages. Fortunately, we have many examples of these on our shortlist today.
As a crowning bonus, OXO donates a percentage of annual sales to eco-conscious nonprofits, so you’ll be doing your part for the environment as well as preserving the flavor and aroma of your opened wine.
9. Cuisinart Champagne Stopper
Cuisinart is another kitchenware heavyweight bringing their expertise to bear on this strong contender for the best champagne stoppers on the market.
If you’ve been off wine preservation systems or bottle stoppers for fear they are too complex to use, Cuisinart goes back to basics with this device.
You can use these stoppers to perfectly preserve any champagne or sparkling wine. Sized to fit into just about all bottles, you can use them one-handed even if you’re a complete beginner.
The vacuum seal created will keep the bubbles intact for several days. You should always peg your expectations when you’re looking to preserve carbonated drinks with this type of stopper. If you imagine you’ll revisit the bottle weeks later, this is not the best option. If you typically polish off the remnants of your champagne within a day or two, though, you’ll be delighted with the investment.
Backed by a lifetime warranty, you can’t ask for much more at this price point.
10. Miicol Wine and Beverage Bottle Stopper
Miicol serves up a highly effective and innovative approach to wine stoppers with these monogrammed bottle stoppers in the form of a large letter of your choice. Whether you want a custom stopper for yourself or you’d like to give someone special a thoughtful gift, you’re in luck here.
You’re getting more than just a gimmick here, though. Pop the stopper inside just about any wine or beverage bottle with a gentle push and you should find your wine stays drinkable for a day or two. Twist to remove.
The seal created is airtight and you should experience no leaking even if you invert your wine bottle.
Most user reviews concerning this stopper are positive, but we found several references to quality control issues, including one customer who reported receiving a completely empty package. Check the contents of your delivery closely.
Overall, you’re getting a simple but remarkably effective stopper here, and the zinc alloy chassis should return plenty of service while saving you from wasting wine.
11. Outset Silicone Wine Bottle Stopper
Next up we have another basic set of stoppers, this time a value-packed set of four in a variety of colors.
Unlike many of the stoppers on our list today, these are built entirely from silicone.
If you fail to finish a bottle of wine, attempting to cram the existing cork back inside is a recipe for disaster. Instead, slide in one of these Outsets and you’ll stop air from getting through the seal created, keeping the flavor and aroma of your vino intact.
Removing the stoppers is pretty easy, too, so you won’t be struggling even though the seal is tight.
Once you’ve finished your wine to the last drop, you can throw these stoppers in the dishwasher for fuss-free cleanup.
As with all vacuum seal stoppers, you should make sure you’re realistic with your expectations. If you feel you’re likely to leave unfinished wine for a week or more, you’ll likely be underwhelmed with the results. If, on the other hand, you plan to polish off the remnants within a day or two, you’ll be overjoyed with the freshness.
12. North Mountain Supply Natural Corks with Plastic Tops
As we near the end of our hunt for the best wine stoppers, we have some natural corks here that replicate the original in your bottle, but help you to impart an airtight seal, something you won’t achieve by cramming the cork back inside.
Sized a standard 27 x 19.55mm, you should find they go inside almost any wine bottle. Topped with plastic, you simply slide them in just like you would if you were replacing the original cork. You’ll get no breakage, though, and you’ll also keep the oxygen from penetrating and mixing with your remaining wine.
Several users reported issues with the contents of the package they received, with one customer receiving synthetic corks rather than natural corks. Aside from some slip-ups with quality control, you’re getting some highly effective stoppers here at a very reasonable price-point.
Conclusion
If you arrived here at PascucciRestaurant today with no idea how to preserve opened wine bottles, you should now have a variety of suitable solutions.
Whether you’re looking to keep champagne fizzy or red and white wine perfectly preserved, we tried to include something for everyone today. If you stick with any of the devices we review today, you should find the right stopper quickly and easily. Perhaps you encounter a wine stopper that’s not on our shortlist, though. If so, we hope our brief buying guide makes your decision easier.
Most of the basic vacuum style stoppers will only keep your unfinished wine fresh for a few days at most, so you should always keep realistic expectations in mind. If you need something that keeps wine fresh indefinitely, though, you’re in safe hands with the Coravin complete wine preservation system.
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