San Francisco - December 08, 2008

Air Supply

Rouge O2 Electronic Wine Breather

As a hostess, you’ve been known to savor your vino while cutting the cheese. But your party preparation doesn’t generally include the literal passing of gas.

Unless, that is, you’ve gotten wind of the Rouge 02 electronic wine breather.

The spiffy new gadget serves one ulilitarian purpose: shorten the time wine needs to breathe from 60 minutes to a mere 60 seconds.

How does it work? Insert the stainless steel stick into your bottle and allow it to aerate the wine with miniscule bubbles. The oxygen capsules accelerate breathing time, improving flavor and aroma.

The doohickey can aerate 230 bottles with one set of batteries and works for all varietals.

Making regular decanters seem, well, ass backward.

Available at Sur la Table, 77 Maiden Lane, between Grant and Kearny Streets (415-732-7900 or surlatable.com).