In last week’s Wine Tool Treasure Chest, we geeked out a bit over the Coravin and how it completely changes the game for long-term wine preservation…but it’s a bit of overkill if you just want to keep the wine fresh for a day or two. That is when the Vacu Vin steps in.
Most of the time, our wine goals are relatively ordinary. It’s a Tuesday night, you open a beautiful, structured red to pair with dinner, and you only want two glasses. You know you’re going to finish the rest of the bottle tomorrow evening or the night after. You don’t need to preserve it for six months; you just want to press pause for 48 hours so it tastes just as fresh on Wednesday as it did on Tuesday.
For that exact scenario, our absolute go-to is an under-$20 classic that has been in our kitchen drawer for years: the Vacu Vin Wine Saver.
Years of Service and Still Going Strong
The Vacu Vin is the unsung hero of our weekly wine routine. We’ve owned our current pump for years, we use it multiple times a week, and it is still in absolutely perfect shape. In a world full of fragile, over-engineered wine gadgets, there is something incredibly satisfying about a durable, manual tool that just works every single time.
If you aren’t familiar with how it works, it is beautifully simple. It uses a small, hand-operated vacuum pump paired with reusable rubber stoppers.
When wine is exposed to air, it begins to oxidize. For the first hour or two, oxygen is a wine’s best friend—it opens up the aromatics and softens the tannins. But leave that open bottle sitting on the counter overnight, and by the next day, that vibrant fruit flavor will start to taste flat, dull, and uninspired.
The Vacu Vin solves this by manually extracting the oxygen from the empty headspace of the bottle, slowing the oxidation process down to a crawl.
How We Use It (The Famous “Click Click Click”)
Using it couldn’t be easier, and it takes all of five seconds.
1.Insert the Stopper:
Step 1. Pop one of the reusable gray rubber stoppers directly into the neck of your unfinished wine bottle.
2.Place the Pump:
Step 2. Place the plastic vacuum pump squarely over the top of the rubber stopper.
3.Pump to Remove Air:
Step 3. Pull the handle up and down a few times. As you pump, you’ll feel the resistance grow as the air is drawn out of the bottle.
4.Listen for the Click:
Step 4. Keep pumping until you hear the signature “click” sound. Vacu Vin cleverly engineered the pump to make a distinct clicking noise the exact moment a perfect vacuum seal is achieved. Once you hear it, you’re done!
Once sealed, we just stand the bottle upright in our wine fridge or on the kitchen counter. When you’re ready for that next glass the following evening, you simply pinch the little valve on top of the rubber stopper to release the vacuum (you’ll hear a satisfying whoosh of air), pull the stopper out, and pour. 🍷
The Verdict: the Perfect Everyday Wine Tool from our Wine Tool Treasure Chest
While the Coravin is our choice for the cellar treasures we want to sample over time, the Vacu Vin is the practical workhorse of our everyday wine life. It’s affordable, virtually indestructible, and ensures that the second half of your favorite bottle is just as delicious as the first.
All you need for a bottle of wine to last multiple days! The Vacu Vin is a regular treasure from our wine tool treasure chest!
If you don’t have one in your wine drawer yet, it’s the easiest upgrade you can make to your mid-week wine enjoyment.
🌴 Looking for curated wine spots in the Venice or Englewood areas? Check out our comprehensive Local Guide to Wine Spots and stay up-to-date on the latest tastings with our Monthly Wine Events Calendar and Happy Hour Guide.