The Coravin is a total game-changer for serious wine drinkers.
When I speak to wine pros and writers about tools and tech, they all mention one piece of equipment. Coravin systems allow for at-home wine preservation of open bottles — yes, open. While there are a few models, the tool essentially clamps on to wine bottles, puncturing the cork with a needle and allowing you to pour wine and taste without pesky and ruinous oxygen getting in.
But the advanced equipment goes even further to protect your precious pinots and sangioveses. Before you pour, the device shoots argon, an inert gas, inside the bottle to pressurize it and prevent even the slightest oxidation of what remains. When used properly, the Coravin system can preserve wines — reds, whites and those in between — for months or even years.
For those who love tasting, this means unlimited access to your collection and the ability to drink bottles at a pace you choose without any risk of them turning. If you buy good wines 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 shelf for later. It’s also a great buy for someone who cooks with wine since you can add a cup or two to a recipe and save the rest for later — much later.
In this guide, we’ll outline the three Coravin wine preservation systems, how they work and how much they cost so you can choose the best one for you.
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The original concept allows you to pour wine from an unlimited number of bottles without popping the cork.
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The original concept allows you to pour wine from an unlimited number of bottles without popping the cork.
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This is the original and most versatile Coravin model of the three. 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 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.
For my money, this is the best Coravin. The starter package includes the Coravin, one argon bottle and a needle cleaning tool and normally retails for $250 (currently on sale for $187). 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.
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The Coravin Pivot only preserves one bottle at a time for up to four weeks.
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The Coravin Pivot only preserves one bottle at a time for up to four weeks.
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The Coravin Pivot only preserves one bottle at a time for up to four weeks.
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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.
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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 $400. 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.
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