Protect That Investment! by John Ney

The wines portrayed in Arvid's art are unequivocally among the premier brands of wine in the world.  Experiencing these wines is not something the average person does frequently.  However making the decision to purchase any of these wines is a “no-brainer.”  Properly stored, these wines become an investment, just waiting for you to seize the moment to enjoy them.  You don't have to wait for that perfect moment or a special occasion to enjoy these wines, as the simple act of sharing these wines with friends makes it a special occasion.  None of these products are inexpensive by any stretch of the imagination.Among these, Silver Oak's Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is probably the least expensive with an average retail price of $100 a bottle depending on your locale.  As you browse the labels, the price of these wines continue to escalate through Insignia, to Opus One, on to the Great Bordeauxs of France such as Chateau Haut-Brion, all similarly priced at about $200 a bottle, on up, depending on the vintage and retailer.

I'm a believer that these wines are to be shared, and several people could easily consume multiple bottles.  However, if you choose to enjoy these wines with one special friend or even by yourself, you may choose to save the remainder of an opened bottle for another day.

Once that cork is pulled, the clock starts ticking, time and oxygen are not the wine's friends.  Replacing the cork and refrigerating the wine will slow down the inevitable demise of your investment, but don't plan on leaving town for that business trip or vacation and expect the wine to live up to your memory of a few days before.  More than likely, you will be adding a little extra-virgin olive oil in the bottle and using it as a salad dressing.

For many years, winery tasting rooms, wine bars and upscale restaurants like Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar have long been using preservation systems to ensure that the last drop out of the bottle is as incredible as the moment you pulled the cork.  However, not many of us are going to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars into a commercial inert gas preservation system.  I would rather invest in the wines themselves.

There are many new preservation systems available to consumers, from vacuum pumps to canned aerosol preservative.  Over the last three months, I have tested two of the aerosol systems: “Private Preserve,” which debuted in 1986; and a newcomer to the industry, “Vineyard Fresh.”  Both products are nearly identical, slim aluminum aerosol type canisters that when full, feel like they are completely empty but contain an odorless, tasteless, harmless combination of inert gasses, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and argon to lay a protective blanket between the precious wine and the “evil” oxygen trapped inside the bottle.  The technology behind the products is fairly simple as the inert gasses in the preservation systems are heavier than air.  Whether you store the previously opened bottles upright or on their sides, the inert gasses will come to rest like a blanket spread out between the wine and the air above it.  Due to the economics of mass, the manufacturers of these products recommend that you store the wines upright as there is less of the wine surface facing the potential of exposure, thus requiring less of the preservative to protect it.

The bottom line is that these aerosol canisters of wine preservative work!  The amazing part is that even after over three weeks, which would have sent any unprotected wine down the kitchen sink, the protected wines reflected no noticeable deterioration.  I tested these two products on over two dozen bottles of wine ranging in price from $8.99 to $170.00 a bottle, with excellent results.  If you are like many individuals who enjoy a nightly glass of wine, it is necessary to reapply the product each time you re-cork the bottle for the evening.

Which of these products are better?  It is my personal opinion that the product inside the cans is a commodity and that there is no difference between the brands, they certainly performed identically.  The aerosol cans should maintain their integrity for several years or until you've used the contents.  Private Preserve uses a more conventional aerosol type can and has a long track record spanning nearly 20 years.  Vineyard Fresh is a fairly new brand on the market using a more unique dispensing system.  Whichever of these products you choose, you will be glad you did.

Private Preserve of Napa Valley, California is the larger of the two canisters with net contents of .60 oz, which will be sufficient to protect approximately 120 times, assuming that you are protecting standard 750ml bottles. Private Preserve is widely available at most wine accessories retailers or www.wineracks.com for $9.95 a can, or www.winepreserve.com for $9.00 a can plus, $3.95 S&H or by the case (12) for $60.00 and $7.95 S&H.

Vineyard Fresh of Bath, Ohio has a sleeker and more upscale appearance, however, net contents are only .25 oz, which is sufficient for approximately 50 uses on the standard 750ml bottle. Vineyard Fresh is available through www.vineyardfresh.com, the company's website, in a two-pack for $24.95 plus $5.95 S&H.