Coravin : The Wine Gadget That Lets You Pour Without Pulling the Cork
For anyone who enjoys a good bottle of wine, Coravin has changed the way wine can be enjoyed at home. There is a particular kind of heartbreak reserved for wine lovers: the half-finished bottle. You open something special, pour one glass, and by the time you come back to it two nights later, the wine has turned. Oxygen got in the moment the cork came out, and there is no putting that back.
Coravin exists to solve exactly that problem, and it has quietly become one of the most-gifted, most-recommended tools in serious wine circles. Unlike a standard corkscrew, a Coravin wine opener never actually opens the bottle. Instead, it uses a fine needle to access the wine through the cork, replacing the volume you pour with inert gas so the rest of the bottle never meets oxygen at all. The cork reseals itself. The wine ages on, untouched, for years if you want it to.
If you drink wine by the glass rather than the bottle, or you keep anything worth savouring in the rack, a Coravin wine preservation system is the single upgrade that changes how you drink at home. Here is exactly how Coravin wine technology works, which wine preservation system is right for you, and where to buy each one.
What’s In This Article?
How the Coravin wine preservation system actually works
Traditional wine preservation starts the moment you pull the cork. Oxygen enters the bottle, gradually changing the wine’s aromas and flavour. Every Coravin wine preservation system runs on the same core idea, replace the wine you pour with gas, not air, so oxidation never happens.
For still wine, the Coravin Timeless system uses a precision needle that passes through the cork rather than removing it. Tilt the bottle, press the trigger briefly to release a burst of 100% pure Argon, and the wine flows out under gentle pressure. Argon is inert, so it does not react with the wine or alter its taste. Release the trigger to stop the pour, return the bottle upright, and lift the system away. The cork’s natural elasticity closes the tiny puncture behind it, and the bottle can go straight back in the rack.
For sparkling wine, the mechanics are different because you cannot re-cork a bottle of Champagne the same way. The Coravin Sparkling system pairs a locking stopper with a CO2 charger, the same gas that naturally produces the bubbles. Once the stopper is sealed and charged, a pressure indicator confirms the bottle is ready to store, keeping both flavour and fizz intact for weeks.
There is also a third route, the Pivot+, which swaps any bottle’s original closure, cork or screwcap, for a reusable stopper and keeps the remaining wine fresh for up to four weeks. It is Coravin’s most flexible system, built for wines you plan to work through steadily rather than preserve indefinitely.
Which Coravin Wine Preservation System Should You Buy?
Coravin offers several models, each designed for different drinking habits. Whether you enjoy the occasional glass or have a cellar full of collectible bottles, there’s a Coravin wine preservation system to suit.
Best for Champagne and sparkling wine lovers : Coravin Sparkling Wine Preservation System
Designed specifically for Champagne and sparkling wines, the Coravin Sparkling Wine Preservation System uses a secure locking stopper and Pure CO₂ capsules to re-pressurise the bottle after opening, helping to preserve its effervescence and delicate aromas. Whether it’s vintage Champagne, Prosecco or English sparkling wine, it lets you savour one glass today and return to the bottle another day.
Also Available At : Selfridges | Perfect Cellar
Best for collectors and fine wine : Coravin Timeless Model Six Wine Preservation System
The Coravin Timeless Six+ is the brand’s premium wine preservation system, allowing you to pour still wine without removing the cork. Using Pure Argon gas to protect the remaining wine from oxygen, it’s ideal for collectors, special occasion bottles and anyone who enjoys fine wine by the glass. Available in a selection of elegant colours, the premium finish, carry case and expanded accessory bundle complete Coravin’s flagship system, making it a worthwhile investment for serious wine enthusiasts.
Also Available At : Selfridges | Perfect Cellar
Best for everyday drinkers on a budget : Coravin Pivot+
Designed for everyday drinking, the Coravin Pivot+ works with any still wine and any type of bottle closure, including natural cork, synthetic cork and screw caps. By replacing the original closure with a reusable Pivot Stopper, it helps keep the remaining wine fresh for up to four weeks. Complete with a Pivot Aerator for instant aeration, it’s the perfect choice for enjoying wine by the glass without the pressure of finishing the bottle.
Which Coravin should you buy?
You collect or cellar wine: Go straight for the Timeless. This is the system that lets you taste a bottle tonight and again in five years, which is the entire reason serious collectors buy Coravin in the first place.
You host often and pour Champagne by the glass: The Sparkling system pays for itself the first time you avoid pouring an entire bottle of vintage Champagne down the sink because only two people wanted a glass.
You want one system that does everything: The Pivot+ is the most forgiving option day to day, since it works with any closure and keeps wine fresh for a solid month, though it is not designed for the years-long preservation the Timeless offers.
Whichever you choose, the principle is the same, stop treating an opened bottle as a ticking clock. With a Coravin wine opener in the cupboard, every bottle in your collection becomes pourable by the glass, whenever you actually want it.
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