In this section, we turn for a brief moment to aesthetics, which for many can enhance the wine as well as the table. Handcrafted wine stoppers are a beautiful addition to a wine service area. They do not, of course, carry with them the advantage of replacing or vacuuming oxygen out of a bottle, but they can be decorative and, in their own right, they are as pretty as any crystal stemware. Besides, their design prevents oxygen from being introduced into the bottle and that’s an important function. The Millefiori Italian wine stoppers are among the nicest of the bunch. They have a funneled tip made of stainless steel with rubber “o” rings to seal a bottle and their tops are crafted porcelain and glass. These look great on an open bottle. Just don’t keep it open too long.
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