Now, anyone who knows Z&M knows that we’re anything but snobby. Our philosophy is all about knowing what you like and having fun.
Check out Z&M’s Leavenworth winery or Lawrence vineyard, and discover all the cool Twists, hacks, and concoctions we’ve got for you. Some of them are even named by our customers, like our Twisted Mix of Hellfire Jalapeno wine over slush for a Fire & Ice wine slushie (trust us on this one)!
Because we’re all about shaking things up and getting Twisted, we thought we’d share some of our favorite wine hacks and tricks to optimize your wine-drinking experience. Get ready to wow your friends–you can thank us later.
Store Your Wine Smartly!
This one is less of a “trick” than sound advice.
Where you store your wine matters, and you don’t have to be a wine snob to care about the quality of your wine (and keeping it safe). That means don’t store wine on top of your fridge, but instead store it if possible on a wine rack.
The combination of heat radiating upward from the refrigerator and the constantly swinging door can ruin your wine or even cause it to fall off! While a wine rack out of the way of direct sunlight is usually the best option, but a cool, dark place is often a good alternative.
Chill Wine Fast
Oh no! You’ve got company coming over and you forgot to put your white wine in the fridge. Don’t worry, we’ll tell you how to chill it ASAP.
- Wrap a wet paper towel around the bottle and stick it in the freezer. Leave it for about 15 minutes.
- Put frozen grapes or cold wine stones in your wine.
- Fill a bucket with ice water and add salt. Submerge your bottle for around 10 minutes and be amazed!
- Use a chilled spout or cork to cool your wine as it pours, or to cool it as it’s stored, respectively.
Get on a Mailing List
Join a winery mailing list (ahem…) and find out about new offers, different kinds of wines, and tasting opportunities to expand your knowledge and network of wine lovers.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
No Corkscrew? No Problem!
If you need to open a bottle and you don’t have a corkscrew, we’ll tell you how to open a wine bottle without one.
Simply stick a key in your cork, taking care to insert it at an angle. Twist it clockwise, going around the entire bottle before pulling out the key (and the cork with it).
You can also use a screw, screwdriver and hammer. The screwdriver will help you insert the screw into the cork (leave about a ¼ inch sticking out), then use the hammer claw to pull the cork out.
And if these unusual processes get some cork in your wine, don’t freak out. Simply place a coffee filter over your wine glass before you pour.
How to Get Red Wine Stains Out with Salt
No, we’re not witches. You really can get red wine stains out with salt.
First, remove excess wine from the spill with a dry washcloth or paper towel. Then, add salt to the stain and let sit for about an hour before returning to dab with hot water to remove the stain.
Revolutionize Your Life with Red Wine Grilled Cheese
And never look back.
Whether you’re a vegetarian, going meatless, or just enjoy a good grilled cheese (you’re only human, right?), you need this grilled cheese recipe in your life if you’re a wine lover.
We all know wine and cheese belong together. Next time you’re fixing up a grilled cheese, use Gruyere and add some Merlot…you won’t be sorry.
Recycle Your Leftover Wine
We recycle our wine ingredients with our Twisted Jellies and our Bella Vino self care line: soaps, scrubs, candles, and lip care made from leftover Twisted Wine ingredients.
If you’re a fan of cooking with wine, you can repurpose your leftover wine by freezing it in an ice cube tray, using it later to deglaze pans, enhance sauces, and more!
You can also use leftover wines later in a cocktail, where other flavors will hide its flaws if it’s gotten a little stale or flat.
Give Your Wine a Shake!
Flat wines sometimes just need a little help. If you don’t have an aerator, stick that wine in a blender at the highest setting for no more than 30 seconds and bring that wine back to life!
You can also make wines last a little longer in the first place by helping them retain their freshness and flavor. Do this by storing it in smaller containers that will reduce its exposure to oxygen, which is what causes the flavor to lessen.
Make Your Own Giant Ice Cube
A homemade frozen wine holder can be a creative way to keep your chilled wines cold.
Freezing water inside a bucket with a wine-glass shaped hole can create an attractive centerpiece that your guests will love!
Try Out Our Wine Slushies
Stop by our Leavenworth winery or our vineyard in Lawrence to see all of the innovative things Z&M is doing with wine!
We believe that if you love something, you should never get tired of finding new ways to enjoy it. That’s why we love experimenting with the local produce we use to make our Twisted Wines and with our own leftovers to bring you something truly one-of-a-kind!
If you can’t join us in person, order Z&M wines online and have them shipped do your door so you can experience the Twisted innovation for yourself. wine hackscool wine trickscorkscrewchill wine fastlife hackwine loverwinery near meKansas winerywineries near me