Have Wine, Will Travel

Ever try packing a special bottle of wine by wrapping it in your clothes, zipping up the suitcase, and crossing your fingers that the bottle won’t break in transit? If so, you’ll appreciate the WineHug. This clever gadget inflates to create a protective cushion around a bottle of wine (olive oil and other similarly sized bottles fit, too). It’s ideal for travelers of all kinds — bikers, backpackers, sailors, kayakers and anyone else who wants to protect a glass bottle and its contents.

The WineHug is made of tough Cordura® nylon (in orange) or microfiber (in black), and it has a high-density foam core. It takes up minimal space when it’s folded. When you’re ready to use it, simply unfold the WineHug, open the valve and watch it self-inflate before your eyes. Wrap your bottle in the inflated material, attach the Velcro straps, and you’re good to go.

Company founders Mourad Chaouch (top) and Ricardo Salinas came up with the idea for the WineHug when they and a friend were talking one day about the difficulty of traveling with liquids. Mourad fine-tuned the design for two years before launching WineHug last year. It caught the eye of Jules’ husband, Des Pieri (on the right), who shared his travel-ready find with us. Whether you’re on the road, in the air or at sea, the WineHug makes it easy to bring along your favorite spirits. Cheers!

— Cara