System developed in the USA by inventor Greg Lambrecht to remove small quantities of wine from a sealed bottle without pulling the cork. This solves the problem of usually having to finish a bottle after opening it, as the wine can then lose its quality in a relatively short time, even after being resealed. The large amount of air or oxygen in the bottle leads to oxidative changes or, in the worst case, spoilage. Coravin is ideal for natural corks or agglomerated corks, but is only partially or poorly suited for plastic corks. With regard to wine types, it should be noted that Coravin is suitable for all still wines, but not for sparkling wines(champagne, sparkling wine). However, these should not be stored after opening anyway, as they become stale relatively quickly.
Application
The device is positioned on the cork and fixed to the side of the bottle neck with collars. A hollow stainless steel needle is then pushed through the cork without force. There are different needle sizes with diameters of 0.96, 1.2 and 1.36 - the thicker the needle, the faster the wine is extracted. The thinnest needle is particularly recommended for old, brittle corks to avoid clogging the cavity with cork residue. No hole is punched in the process. A few seconds after removing the needle, the cork expands again sufficiently at the punctured point so that no wine can penetrate to the outside and no air (oxygen) can penetrate to the inside, thus protecting the wine from oxidation.
After inserting the needle, argon is pumped through the needle from a cartridge by activating a lever. The tasteless, colourless noble gas is the third most common component in the atmosphere after nitrogen and oxygen and does not react with wine. Up to fifteen glasses of wine (150 ml each) can be dispensed with each cartridge, enough for at least three 0.75 litre bottles of wine. The empty space created by pouring is replaced by the argon. The resulting overpressure forces the wine out through the thin cannula, whereby the system allows a maximum overpressure of 1.52 bar. The manufacturer refers to numerous blind tastings in Europe and America as well as chemical analyses. These have shown that there is no recognisable difference in the wine even after several weeks.
The Coravin system costs 250 to 300 euros, one capsule 8 to 10 euros. It therefore seems quite expensive for private use. However, if you have a large wine collection or wine cellar, this can be an advantage. You can then check the development of a long-lasting wine by taking very small quantities from time to time and then enjoy the bottle at the best possible time. In any case, Coravin is very suitable for use in restaurants. This is because it also allows expensive wines to be served by the glass, which is otherwise rarely offered in restaurants.
Screw cap
There is also a Coravin screw cap in two sizes. These can be pierced up to 50 times with the Coravin system. Based on an average of 150 ml per glass, you can pour around 10 bottles. The use of the Coravin system is clearly explained in this video (click to view). A less expensive but far less effective system is the wine condom.
Vinitas system
The company launched a new system called "Vinitas" in 2023. This allows a standard 0.75-litre bottle to be divided into seven miniature bottles. See also under closures and wine enjoyment.
Picture: © CORAVIN
