Honestly, shipping wine is a pain.

The laws regarding shipment of wine are complex and vary substantially from one state to another. This is due to the fact that, at the end of Prohibition, the federal government left it up to each state to determine their own liquor laws. First, it is illegal for individuals to ship wine anywhere in the country. Neither the U.S. Post Office nor the parcel companies, such as Fed Ex and UPS, will knowingly ship alcohol for an individual.

Wine is not perishable in the same sense as, say, mayonnaise. However, it does need to be cared for properly or it will lose some of its better qualities. And, yes, if really cared for badly, good wine can become completely unpleasant.

That said, caring for wine isn’t difficult and you don’t need a fancy wine cellar.

Actually visiting wineries is one of the most enjoyable parts of being a wine enthusiast. Whether you are on your own, with friends, or part of a larger group, you will always remember the look and feel of your favorite wineries. And you will meet a lot of great people.

All you really need to serve wine is a glass, an opener, and a smile. Sometimes, you don’t even need the opener. But, there are a few niceties and, yes, gadgets that can make things a bit more special or help with particular issues.

We’ll cover a range of topics in this article: preparing the wine, proper stemware, opening the bottle, and pouring.