A wine expert shares the 5 things every wine drinker should have

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Wine is great. We drink it to celebrate, to pair with a fine meal, or simply to unwind while watching Netflix. There are few things as satisfying as popping a cork and pouring a glass, knowing the hard part of the day is done.

Wine is also unique among alcohols in that there are a ton of accessories that are also a part of wine culture.

There are decanters, openers, stoppers, and tons of glasses to choose from while filling out the wine section of your kitchen.

We recently spoke with Birk O'Halloran, lead curator for the subscription service Wine Awesomeness. The company focuses on making wine accessible to everyone and eliminating some of the high-mindedness and intimidation that is sometimes associated with it.

Thus, we thought O'Halloran would be the perfect person to guide us through some of the essential wine accessories that you need in your cupboards. You can check out his picks below.

A quality set of wine glasses

Target

Hopefully most of us are past the days of drinking red wine from a coffee mug or red Solo cap, and even if you’re not, this is a great place to start. Everyone needs a set of wine glasses, and this set is simple, reliable, and available at a great price.

Riedel Vivant Red Wine Glasses Set of 4, $39.99, available at Target.

A corkscrew

Amazon

This tool is familiar to everyone who has ever bartended or waited tables at a restaurant with wine service, and probably most everyone else as well. It is the gold standard of bottle openers. Back in my days as a waiter, I used this corkscrew on bottles ranging from $40 (incredibly easy) to $800 (absolutely terrifying). It’s a great tool that belongs in every kitchen.

Pulltap's Corkscrew, $10.17, available at Amazon.

A decanter

Amazon

Decanters help aerate your wine, letting it "breath," as they say. They also end up being some of the most beautiful pieces of glassware in your kitchen, with tons of different gorgeous designs available. This particular decanter is one such piece, with a shape that easily fits the entirety of a standard bottle and a wide base that provides maximum aeration.

Le Chateau Wine Decanter, $44.99, available at Amazon.

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