The Amateur Gastronomer

In search of the best wine, food and culture

Keep Your Wine Chilled with the Corkcicle

There’s a new way to keep your white or rosé wine chilled between pouring glasses. Introducing the Corkcicle, a reusable icicle that you stick inside the wine bottle. Visually appealing and much smaller than an ice bucket (and less hassle than sticking the bottle back in the refrigerator between pours), the Corkcicle maintains the wine’s [...]

Why Decant Wine?

The holidays are the time of year when you break out the good wine — and that often leads to questions about if and when you should decant a wine. Decanters, while not essential to enjoying wine, are pretty handy tools to have. They can be used for both old and young wines. So why [...]

Win a Tapena Party Pack

Let the sunshine of Spain brighten your winter! With the wines of Tapeña you can add a festive feel to any holiday get together. The name says it all. Tapeña is a fusion of “tapas,” the beloved Spanish dishes and dining experience, and “peña,” a gathering of close friends. Together, Tapeña wine with food and [...]

A Map for the World Traveler

Looking for a gift for the world traveler? Get him or her the Scratch Map. Unique and innovative, this map helps you keep track of where you’ve visited in a fun way. Just scratch off the places where you’ve traveled to reveal a splash of color and local facts. No passport is required — just [...]

Wine Holders For Your Outdoor Picnic

A day at the beach or an afternoon picnic can be the perfect setting for enjoying wine. But sand or grass are less than ideal surfaces for balancing a bottle and glasses. With Steady Sticks wine bottle and glass holders you don’t have to worry about spilling your wine. Just push the stick into the [...]

Vinturi Aerator Availble in Travel Size

A great gadget for enhancing red wine is now even better — the Vinturi Aerator is available in a travel-friendly size. Narrower than the original Vinturi Aerator but still incorporating the same aeration technique, the Vinturi Travel allows you to enjoy better wine when you’re away from home.  Measuring 5 ½ inches and weighing 4 [...]

Find Girl Scout Cookies with the Cookie Locator App

If you love Girl Scout Cookies but don’t know any Girl Scouts, there’s an app to help you find those tasty Thin Mints, Tagalongs and more. Announcing the Cookie Locator, a free app for iPhone and Android. The Cookie Locator lets you find Girl Scout cookies on sale near you, using your phone’s GPS location [...]

Last Minute Gifts for Wine Fans

There are just a few shopping days remaining until Christmas.  Have you covered everyone on your list?  Here are some great last minute gift ideas for the wine fan — or treat yourself to a present! Recycled Wine Glasses Used glass gets a new life in these stemless wine glasses.  They’re handmade in Colombia of [...]

Need to Open a Bottle? There’s an App for That

Checking the weather, reading a book, looking up directions, even wasting time by killing pigs with some very angry birds — there’s an app for that.  And the next time you want to open up a bottle of beer, there’s an app for that too. Introducing the iBottle Opener, an iPhone case that has a [...]

Rocks for Your "On the Rocks" Drink

Scotch, Whisky and even soda fans take note –  the next time you want a drink “on the rocks” you can actually enjoy it on the rocks. This set of granite drink chillers is a great gift for anyone who enjoys fine spirits.  Beyond their visual appeal, the stones are an excellent alternative to ice [...]

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