I resisted buying a Coravin for two years. Then a friend poured me a glass of a fourteen-year-old Barolo from an open bottle that had been sitting on his counter for six weeks, and the wine was perfect. I bought one the following week.
How It Works
The Coravin system uses a thin hollow needle inserted through the cork without removing it. As you pour, pressurised argon gas flows in to replace the wine you’re drawing out. Because argon is chemically inert, the wine remaining in the bottle is surrounded by argon rather than air. When you withdraw the needle, the cork’s natural elasticity reseals the puncture. In practice, the system works exactly as claimed. I’ve returned to bottles two to three months after first pouring and found the wine in excellent condition.
Which Model to Buy
The Model Two is the right starting point for most home users — handles all standard cork-sealed bottles, costs around $130. The Timeless Six adds a built-in aerator useful for tannic young reds, at around $200. Worth the upgrade if you use it frequently on serious red wines.
The Running Cost
Each argon capsule covers approximately fifteen pours. Capsules cost around $12 for two. Factor this in when evaluating the total cost of ownership. The Coravin doesn’t work with sparkling wine or synthetic corks.
Verdict
Worth buying if you regularly open bottles in the $25–50 range and above and frequently find yourself not finishing them. Not worth buying if most of your wine is under $20 and you usually finish the bottle at the occasion. For sourcing bottles worth preserving, see our best wine clubs comparison.
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