Uncorked: Can Screw Caps Remove Corks From Top Spot?

By KURT LOFT kloft@tampatrib.com

Published: Mar 29, 2006

TAMPA - A Quick Chill

Let's say that a friend brings over a nice Chardonnay or Sauvignon blanc - unchilled. You want to pop it right away but have to wait a half-hour for it to cool in the fridge.

Here's a quick solution: the [Cooper Cooler] One-Minute Drink Chiller, which chills drinks 90 times faster than a refrigerator and 40 times faster than a freezer. The $100 device from Hammacher Schlemmer cools a bottle of white wine to 50 degrees in less than four minutes.

For information, call 1-800-543-3366 or go to www.hammacher.com.

Consumer Question

During an interview with a winemaker last week, we asked how he felt about his wines being sold at 300 percent above retail in restaurants. He grumbled that restaurants are giving wine a bad name, making it an elitist luxury item instead of an affordable part of the meal.

What do you think?

Is wine too expensive in your favorite eatery? Are restaurants justified in the markup?

Let us know what you think - including all you fine restaurant folks - and we'll compile a column based on your response. Send your comments to kloft@tampatrib.com.