Entertaining Essentials
The right tools—and a few clever techniques—can take your hosting skills from basic to breathtaking. These are Stephanie’s favorite essentials for setting the tone, opening bottles with ease, and adding flair to your table. Explore the items below to learn how to use them and where to find them.
My Favorite Decanter
Learn how to use the reverse decanter technique to open up flavors and aromas in your wine. It’s quick, effective, and always impressive.
My Favorite Corkscrew
The waiter's corkscrew is a timeless tool that works every time when used correctly. Learn Stephanie’s go-to method and upgrade your wine game.
Bubbly 101
Opening sparkling wine without spills or fizz explosions is easier than you think. Watch this quick demonstration to show up like a pro at your next celebration.
Cocktail Corner
Ready to shake things up? Whether you're mixing a classic cocktail or experimenting with something new, having the right tools and ingredients makes all the difference. Here, Stephanie shares her favorite essentials for crafting drinks that impress—plus simple video guides to get you started.
Tools of the Trade
Great cocktails start with great tools. Many of the essentials may already be in your kitchen, but a few upgrades can transform your setup. In this quick video, Stephanie walks through the basic tools every home mixologist should have on hand.
YOUR SHOPPING LIST
Cocktail Shaker, Shot Glass, Zester, Juicer
The Basics of Flavor
Cordials, bitters, and mixers are the foundation of any cocktail experience. In this video, learn which key ingredients to keep stocked for effortless entertaining. Discover how layering flavors can take your cocktails from simple to show-stopping.
YOUR SHOPPING LIST
Simple Syrup, Rose's Lime, Grenadine, Bitters, Fruit
Wine Buying Tips
The Art of Collecting for Consuming
Not all wines age well. Collect wines that have at least 5 to 10 years aging potential. The real fun in collecting is seeing how these wines develop over time.
Proper storage is critical. Do not keep good wine in an over-heated apartment, and especially not in your kitchen. Invest in a temperature controlled wine fridge if you do not have a cool, dark room that stays a consistent temperature all year, 55 degrees is ideal for white and reds.
Mix it up. Collect a balance of styles and colors—red, white, dry, sparkling, and sweet.
Take advantage of local wineries, tasting rooms, and social events to open your palate before narrowing down your preferences.
Best regions to collect: Bordeaux, Napa, Burgundy (if you have money to burn). Try other regions for great buys and good wine like Loire Valley, Rhône, Sonoma, and Oregon.
Know the best grape growing years. Use the Wine Enthusiast vintage chart.
Try to buy at least six of each wine so that you can open one bottle when you buy it, one maybe 9-12 months later, and so on.
Keep an up-to-date inventory. As your collection grows, you may want to invest in a cellar management system.
Join or form a wine club with your friends. After all, wine is about sharing and exchanging opinions.
And remember to drink your inventory—so you can buy more!
Best Red Wines To Collect
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Cabernet Sauvignon
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Pinot Noir
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Bordeaux Blends
Best White Wines To Collect
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Champagne
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Riesling
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Sauternes
Online Wine Buying Tips
We buy everything else online, so why not wine?
Before you click “add to cart,” keep these tips in mind:
🍷 Make sure the store can ship wine to your state.
🍷 Validate that they have a customer service number where you can talk to a live person.
🍷 Ensure your credit card transactions are processed by one of the approved secure transaction companies.
Most online wine and liquor stores have wine clubs, sales, and free shipping offers—perfect for saving money and expanding your options. Check for gift baskets, beautifully packed with hard-to-find items or curated combinations that would take hours to assemble on your own.
You can even buy futures online. Futures, or en primeur, are wines that haven’t been bottled yet. Wineries allow customers to pay up front to help fund production, and these buyers usually save significantly on wines that may later hit the market at double or triple the price. Online futures have opened up this once-exclusive market to a wider audience.
Grapes to Glass
How Much Wine Comes from One Acre?
Ever wonder how much wine one acre of vineyard produces? Here’s a quick breakdown from grape to glass:
1 Acre =
13.5 barrels =
797 gallons =
15,940 glasses
1 Barrel =
59 gallons =
24 cases =
1,180 glasses
1 Case =
307 oz =
12 bottles =
48 glasses
1 Bottle =
25.5 oz =
4 glasses (6 oz servings)
Download Our Wine Calorie Cheat Sheet
Know What’s in Your Glass
Did you know that the calories in wine can vary significantly depending on the type and alcohol content? From light, dry whites to rich, sweet reds, making informed choices can help you enjoy every sip without the guesswork.
What You'll Get:
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A breakdown of calories per serving for red, white, and sparkling wines
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The sugar content of different wines and how it impacts calorie intake
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A quick-reference guide to portion sizes and the best lower-calorie wine options
Whether you’re planning a dinner party or just curious about how your favorite wine stacks up, this cheat sheet is your go-to guide for mindful sipping.
Join the Sipping Sense Community
Becoming part of the Sipping Sense community means more than just enjoying a good glass of wine—it’s about belonging to a growing circle of curious, creative, and conscious hosts. From monthly wine tips and seasonal pairings to behind-the-scenes videos and Stephanie’s personal favorites, our community content is designed to inspire and elevate your lifestyle with every sip.