The process: Savino is an elegant and easy-to-use wine preservation system that keeps your open bottle of wine fresh for days after it was first uncorked. Simply open a bottle of your favorite wine, enjoy a glass, pour the remainder of the bottle into your Savino wine preservation system, and insert the float to create a physical barrier between the wine and the oxygen. Place the top on the carafe to prevent accidental spills and – voila! You have successfully preserved your wine for days to come.

Eve’s Observations

First of all the Savino plastic version I was sent to review was pretty glamorous looking IMO, though they offer one in fancy glass too. But when I poured my leftover wine (yes, there is such a thing) into it and dropped in the little plastic Dreidel looking thing (the “float”) the gizmo just, you know, floated on top. The top lid clipped in and I put it in the door of my fridge to see what was going to change in the wine’s aroma and flavor when I tasted it again.

However, I simply didn’t see how the float and the lid would do the same as the vacuum seal I usually use. But it sure looked much nicer than the plastic cork sealer ever did.

These are my original tasting notes on the wine I was going to retry: Noceto NV Rosso Tuscan Style Red Blend, Amador County, 13.8% alcohol (SRP $18.00) – Diced black cherries, blackberry brandy, earth after a rainstorm; wholly appealing with dark juicy fruit, some tobacco, just enough pepper and spice to linger in for a medium finish. This one doesn’t need food or aeration either. 91 Eve pts. (As it was just a tasting I had most of the bottle left to pour into the Savino.)

I refrigerated the wine, as instructed, but was afraid the cold temperature would close off the aromas and/or flavors. So the next day I removed the Savino from the fridge thirty minutes before I tried the wine, but left the lid on.

Later, when I was ready to sample the wine I was worried that the float would slip out, or cause the wine to slosh and spill around it, so I was a wee bit more tentative than I am when pouring from a bottle. I needn’t have worried, It seemed to all work just fine. Just like pouring from a decanter.

Results

After one day: I got the same aromas, and on the mouth I still tasted the same flavor components I had found before. There was no sourness, loss of fruit or spice. Remarkable as I figured that since the seal wasn’t tight the wine would be compromised.

After two days: The aromas were the same. While tasting I got a tiny bit more tannin and cigar, like some welcome aging.

After three days: Aromas the same, color a little darker but the flavor was a bit more dry and musty.

Conclusion: I think the Savino is great for one to two days after opening a bottle, which is just fine! Because, heck, I can’t imagine it taking more than three days to finish a bottle of wine. I was just sampling, others would be, you know, drinking.

About Savino

Pour guests a glass of wine from the polished Savino decanter opposed to a half empty bottle.

Keep your presentation and quality of wine to the highest elevation and impress your guests.

Savino has both plastic (Enthusiast) and glass (Connoisseur) preservation systems, so there’s no need to worry about any accidental breakage if you choose to cool down poolside with a nice glass of wine.

Available online and at Brookstone stores nationwide (MSRP $29.95-59.95) http://savinowine.com/.

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years.  She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com