Wine dispensing taps provide a way for wine drinkers to preserve and dispense their favorite wines. There are several systems at a variety of price points available for keeping wine on tap at home.
Wine Dispensing Taps for Your Home
Some wine drinkers find that it is easier for them to control the flow of wine as they pour if they use a tap mechanism that can turn on and off the flow of the wine from the bottle. Restaurants and bars have been using these types of dispensing taps for many years because they provide an easy, dripless way to serve wine. Now these dispensing tap systems are also available for the home wine drinker.
Types of Tap Systems
Dispensing tap systems come in a wide variety of styles and price points. Some are very utilitarian in design with others designed for display in the kitchen or home bar area. You can purchase a tap system for a single bottle or several bottles of wine or as a way to serve wine in large volumes. Most dispensing tap systems include a method to minimize any oxygen getting into the wine causing the wine to change taste and appearance. Some systems even provide temperature control for your wine. The style you choose really depends on your wine serving needs and the price you want to pay.
Bag-in-Box
The bag-in-box concept is one of the least expensive options on the market for a dispensing tap. Most of these "bag" concepts involve pouring the wine into a bag which is then stored in a container in the refrigerator. The full configuration has a tight seal that protects the wine against any contact with oxygen much the same way that box packaging protects wine that is sold in a box.
Each manufacturer of this type of bag-in-box dispensing tap uses a slightly different design. Some hold a few bottles of wine or some, like the Fermtech Wine on Tap can keep up to nine bottles of wine fresh for up to six months. These are relatively inexpensive systems usually running around $20 to $25.
Dispensing Barrel
For those who want to dispense larger quantities of wine, a dispensing barrel might be just what they are looking for as a way to serve wine at a party. Manufacturers usually make the casks from oak and typically hold up to twenty gallons. They also line the cask with a plastic liner; however, there is no protection against oxygen contact. The cost of a dispensing cask generally starts at about $250 and increases based on the volume and construction of the cask.
Inert Gas Replacement
Inert Gas replacement systems provide a way to protect the wine against contact with oxygen. As the volume of wine decreases in the bottle, 100 percent nitrogen or argon replaces the oxygen. Nitrogen and argon do not have any odor or taste so they don't negatively affect the wine. The color and taste of the wine remains true as the volume of wine in the bottle decreases. With an inert gas replacement system, you can expect wines to last anywhere from one to three weeks, depending on the age, type and temperature of the wine.
Inert Gas Replacement Wine Taps to Consider
There are several inert gas replacement systems on the market.
The Keeper
One of the best-known brands is from WineKeeper, a company with a long history of making these nitrogen replacement systems for bars and restaurants. WineKeeper offers both single and multi-bottle systems through many online and in-store wine retailers. The Keeper system is designed to preserve one bottle at a time. The bottle receives a stopper dispensing cap which is attached with tubing to a nitrogen cylinder. After serving, you can remove the cylinder and connecting tubing in order to store the wine bottle with the dispensing cap for future use. Each disposable nitrogen cylinder can preserve up to 25 bottles of wine. The full system starts at $120.
Noir 1-Bottle Wine Preservation & Dispensing System
If you are looking for a dispensing system that hides the nitrogen cylinder and tubing when serving or displaying your wines, the WineKeeper Noir system hides the nitrogen cylinder and tubing from view. An eight inch cylinder can hold smaller .75 liter bottles as well as large, six liter bottles. The sides of the cylinder are tall so you can place ice around the bottle of wine to keep it chilled. The single bottle style starts at around $250. There are also styles available which hold two and three bottles at a time.
The Napa
Some nitrogen replacement systems can also keep wines at the proper serving temperature. The Napa wine preservation unit is made by WineKeeper, and it comes in 3-, 4-, 6-, and 8-bottle sizes starting at around $1,500. Though restaurants and bars frequently use this product, it is equally useful in a home setting. This system hides the nitrogen gas preservation system within a custom built wooden cabinet. The cabinet is not a wine refrigerator but it can be built to maintain the proper serving temperature of any combination of reds and whites.
Plum Wine Dispenser
This sleek looking high-tech unit keeps your wine at the perfect temperature, preserves the bottle for up to 90 days, and dispenses with a single touch. It also detects the type of wine and automatically sets the perfect temperature for it. It works with two standard 750 mL bottles, and you don't need to remove the cork or screw cap. It uses argon as a replacement gas, which is integrated into the unit. It also has a touchscreen for easy use and to display the labels so you don't forget what's in the dispenser, and it cools each bottle independently so you can have a red and a white on tap. And while all of it is super cool and easy to use, it does come at a price. Plan to spend around $2,500 for the dispenser, which is available on Amazon.
Save Your Wine
Wine dispensing taps are very convenient for serving wine. If you find that you are not finishing the full bottle of wine, you may want to also consider looking at a wine dispensing tap system that also protects the integrity of your wine with an inert gas replacement system. They can be expensive; however, the price you pay for the system can more than pay for itself in the value of the wine you can save and enjoy later.
