With high-quality wines from multiple continents now widely available at reasonable prices, the early years of the twenty-first century might possibly be the best of times for wine lovers. The La Crosse TT001 Electronic Wine Tester and Thermometer has made it possible to help you maximize your enjoyment of a variety of popular wines. You simply select your wine type, insert the probe into the wine bottle, and in a matter of seconds you'll see the current temperature reading. If you've had your wine in a controlled environment and the wine needs to be warmed or chilled, you can leave the probe inserted while the wine temperature changes. The tester will beep to let you know when your wine has reached to its optimal temperature zone and is ready to be tasted.

Setting up and using the Electronic Wine Tester couldn't be easier. Before first use of the tester, you insert two AA batteries and select °F or °C for the digital temperature displays by means of a button in the battery compartment. After replacing the battery compartment cover, you remove the protective sheath to expose the probe and then press the ON/OFF button on the base of the handle to power up the tester. Next, you repeatedly press SELECT (the other button on the base of the handle) to select your wine type from the 19 that are available (see below). The wine types appear in alphabetical order from ALSA for Alsace to ZINFN for zinfandel.

When your wine type is displayed, insert the probe into the wine bottle so that the tapered rubber seal at the base of the probe is in the neck of the bottle. In just 6 to 10 seconds, the actual temperature of the wine is displayed along with the optimum temperature. If the wine needs to warm or chill to reach the optimum, you can leave the probe in the wine and the tester beeps when the wine is ready to taste. While the wine is warming or chilling, a temperature bar graph below the digital temperatures indicates rising or falling temperature by means of flashing arrow segments above and below the bar segments that represent the optimal temperature zone.

Both sections of the wine tester's display (wine type with temperatures, and kinetic bar graph) are backlit. Pressing either the SELECT button or the LIGHT button on the back of the handle lights the displays for about 3 seconds.

We know that you're curious about which wine types are available on the tester, so here's a table that tells you. You'll see this same information in the tester instructions as well.

About the only item in the table that I question is the optimum temperature for zinfandel, which seems quite cold for a red zinfandel but okay for a white zinfandel. For a dry red zinfandel, I'd use the burgundy or cabernet setting on the tester. And if you have a wine whose type is not available as a selection on the tester (for some reason, Chateau Ripple immediately comes to mind here), you can still use the tester to check its temperature, but you'll have to know the optimal temperature for tasting it.

The length of the Electronic Wine Tester's probe is 4 inches (102 mm), including the rubber seal that fits into the bottle's neck. Overall length from handle base to probe end is 9-3/8 inches (238 mm). Please be aware that the wine tester is not dishwasher-safe and not submersible. All you need to do after using it is wipe it clean with a damp cloth, dry it off, and put the protective sheath back in place over the probe.

As mentioned above, the tester is powered from two AA batteries, and these are included. We recommend standard alkaline cells when replacement becomes necessary. To extend battery life, the tester shuts off automatically after 30 minutes if you don't turn it off manually before then.

If you enjoy wine, especially with food, the Electronic Wine Tester can help you and your guests obtain maximum enjoyment from the wine (or wines) you serve because you'll know the wine is at the temperature where its bouquet and flavor are best.

Perfect for virtually any bottled wine from "Two-Buck Chuck" to Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, the Electronic Wine Tester is an inexpensive, practical, and fun-to-use instrument that totally eliminates guesswork as to proper wine temperature. You're probably thinking that it would make a terrific gift item, and you're right. But don't forget to be good to yourself and order one for your own use, too.

Features:

• Easy pushbutton operation.
• 19 selectable wine types.
• Rapid response time, with temperature readings in only 6 to 10 seconds.
• Current and optimal temperatures for wine types are displayed digitally in °F or °C with resolution of 0.1°.
• Kinetic bar graph display indicates rising or falling temperature and optimal  temperature zone.
• Backlit display with auto-off after about 3 seconds.
• Automatic power-off after 30 minutes if tester is not manually turned off earlier.
• The two required AA (1.5V) batteries and a protective sheath that fits over the probe are included.