Üllo - Wine Purifier - Black

Just to clarify for everyone- this is not a wine aerator, but is primarily designed to chemically remove sulfates from wine for those people who are sensitive to them. For those who find that red wine is a migraine trigger (like my wife, for example), the sulfites are a potential culprit. You do need to add a packet with the binding agent to the ullo for every bottle you wish to filter. These are about $20 for a six pack through their website, so figure it's going to cost you an extra $3.50 per bottle to use this thing. If it saves you a bad reaction, or allows you to enjoy a bottle of wine when you otherwise might have been afraid, that isn't too bad. We used this on four bottles of wine (reds only, they are primarily what I drink, and those are the ones that seem to be problematic for my wife, so that is what we used. It can be used on whites and rose's, as well- but isn't recommended for sparkling wines) over the course of a week. (No, I don't normally drink four bottles of wine in a week... in case my mother is reading this). The wines ranged from a $7 bottle of Yellowtail shiraz to a $30 french cab franc. In addition to drinking the wine and waiting for side effects (the only way to determine if the ullo is providing benefit for you), I did make a point to do a test of filtered vs. unfiltered wine to determine if the process affected the taste/experience of the wine itself. Both glasses in this case were aerated with the ullo, with the latter being run through before the addition of the sulfite binding agent. From the first bottle, the products flaw (to me) became apparent as it clearly altered the experience of the wine. I say experience, because it was more nuanced than just flavor (thought I found it did have some effect on flavor, as well, but in a very subtle way). It tended to smooth out the wine, rounding off tannins on those wines heavy with those, and altered the mouth feel to a different degree, as well. Everything that had been filtered seemed to lose complexity, but became more fruit forward in a way that may people may find pleasing. I personally don't want to do anything to my wine that alters its flavor in any way, at least for anything that I spent more than $10 on. I actually think it positively enhanced that $7 bottle of Yellowtail, however. So- did it help? Well, after the first bottle, my wife got her migraine that night, per her routine. But we realized she was taste testing with both filtered and unfiltered wines, which exposed her to some sulfites, even if a much lower amount than usual. After that, she stuck to the filtered wines only, and had no headache whatsoever after all three of the remaining bottles. The epidemiologist in me is quick to admit that this sample is far to small to make any firm conclusions- but it gave us enough faith to order six more filters to use for those times in the future when my wife wants to indulge. We will just make sure to use it on those bottles where we (I) wouldn't be sad to see the nuances lost.

I don't react well to wines with added sulfites - even a single glass of it can give me a stuffy nose and three glasses gives me a headache that lasts from the time I drink the wine through most of the next day. My own solution to this problem has been to simply avoid wines with added sulfites. But this device is an innovative technological solution to the problem I have with sulfite-heavy wines - but it's a pricey solution. The good news is that, at least for me, the Üllo Wine Purifier works as advertised. I bought a bottle of wine that I had liked in the past - one that had given me a terrible headache. I did a "before" taste to make sure I wasn't able to detect changes in taste (there were none that I could detect) and enjoyed three glasses without any reaction whatsoever. So I'll buy-in to the concept. But I also have some criticisms of some things that should have been remedied by now (this is not the initial rollout of this device). The device uses filter packs filled with a substance that binds with the sulfites and nothing else in the wine - effectively removing the preservative from the liquid. Each filter is only good for treating a single bottle of wine and replacement filters are kinda expensive. The filters, which look like round raviolis, have a top and a bottom that should be marked - as they are, you have to look at each filter from the side to determine by a subtle shape difference which side goes "up" and which side goes "down". Also, the filters are loosely packed which means that the filtering material can collect in one side, thereby preventing the other side from doing its work - especially after the filter has been on its side while you're removing it from it's sealed foil packaging. So the filter alone appears to have two potential problems that could limit its effectiveness. The device also has a aeration feature that I don't think does anything to aerate the wine - it twirls the wine through concentric spiraling tubes but if there's no air in those tubes then they aren't aerating. Maybe it's trying to compete with the wine aeration gimmicks on the market but I'm not convinced that the aeration feature is even a feature. Finally, aside from losing a little bit of wine to the filter pack, which is to be expected, the shape of the device itself seems to hold more than a few drops of wine back and I couldn't figure out a simple way to swirl that wine down through the filter. Surely there could be a better design of the top chamber? I would probably have given the Üllo Wine Purifier two stars on design and performance overall if it weren't for the excellence in design of the chemical filter that is central to the device. But the company needs to fix some serious flaws in the surrounding hardware!

What I liked: - Unique aerator - Device fits nicely into the mouth of my wine glass - Easy to store - Easy to clean What I don’t like: - The slow poor required to fill a single glass of wine - The taste of my wine The Üllo Wine Purifier is a rather unique product. It proports to aerate my wine, filter out those nasty, hangover heavy, sulfites that foul my wine. And restore my wine to its natural taste. I generally drink the cheap wine that you find at places like Walmart, Sam’s club, and my local supermarket. For this challenge, I chose Member’s Mark’s Black Point red wine blend. An obviously superior wine from Le Chateau Sams Club. The $10 vintage. The blend is good as far as cheap wine goes. I opened the bottle, took out four wine glasses, and started my taste tests. The first glass was my control glass. The wine was simply poured without filters or aerators. The second glass I used just the aerator portion of the Üllo. The aerator didn’t hinder the dispensing of the wine and it was fun watching the wine swirl through the aerator’s channels. The third glass I used one of the three special Sulfites filter provided in the box. The filter has an appearance like round ravioli which is right sized for the aerator. The outside layers appear to be material similar to a coffee filter. The inner core of the filter appears to be filled with a crystal-like substance. The pour this time was sleepy slow as the wine needed time to penetrate the filter. For the fourth glass, I chose to use a combination, generic aerator with a super market cheap coffee filter. And why not? The first glass tasted as expected; cheap but consistent in taste in line with prior experiences. The second glass had a slight more acidic taste to it. Not uncomfortable but noticeable. The third glass with the filter and aerator combination tasted just awful. And the fourth glass with the generic aerator and cheap coffee filter was…. Let’s just say there was no value to this combination. Now, to be fair, this product does proport to return a wine to its natural state. This includes freshly opened bottles and wine that has been exposed to the air for a while. In this case, it is entirely possible that my choice in wine was so bad that the natural state of the wine is worse than whatever Member’s Mark’s vineyard added to their blend to make it palatable. Now, to be completely fair, my experience is limited to a single bottle. Maybe it does work with more expensive wines that naturally taste better than the swill that has overtaken the American budget. Regardless, I do have two issues with this product. First, is there is no disclosure to the substance inside the filter that is supposedly the magic juju of this product. Second, the filters are not re-usable. Meaning, you must use a new filter after every 750ml bottle or four hours after first use; whichever comes first. This can add up quickly for a product that didn’t offer me much in return. I do like the aerator. Other aerators require me to hold them in mid-air over my glass. This one sits nicely in the glass allowing me to poor with greater control with both hands. I did have to wash out the aerator on my first use due to some foreign objects in the different aerator tunnels. This may be a quality control issue that needs to be addressed. Either way, be sure to rinse your aerator out before first use. The device does come with a holder so I don’t have to lay it on my counter. It also comes with a nice storage bag. The presentation of the product is nice as well. The box the product comes in looks fantastic. Just be careful when you remove the band holding the two sides of the box together. Gravity is enough to separate the bottom of the box from the top. Once you get into the box, you must hazard the finger sacrificial packing material before it will let up its prize. I believe the internal packing could use a revisit by the manufacture. Over all, my experience with this product was amusing but nothing that I’m taking seriously. At least not at my wine budget level. Hopefully, there are some reviews here form folks who used this product with quality wines and will offer a different experience.

I went to my local bevmo to pick up some 2014 St. Clement Vitner's Collection Merlot's. It was recommended by the clerk and it was on the $5 cent sale. Anyway.. I poured some before and after. I also had 3 other friends do the taste test. The wine i used has a strong liquor taste that overwhelms at first but soothes with a soft bitter taste. With the Uiio Wine Purifier, the wine had a different taste. It was notably from the first sip. The wine wasn't bitter or have the strong liquor taste it once had. It actually didn't taste like wine anymore! It was smooth and enjoyable. It tasted so smooth, even if you don't like wine, this purifier make's wine drinkable. Everyone of my friends agreed on this. I later continue drinking the purified wine at room temperature and i notice an after taste. I later continue to notice it more. I don't know how to explain it but it didn't taste like wine anymore it tasted like purifier took too much of the original taste of the wine. It tasted a little bit like a sand like texture in the after taste. The bevmo clerk gave me some feedback on the wine purifier, he said it mostly works to remove sulfite from wine that have been stored for a while and it helps the wine age faster too at the same time. I'm not sure, I'm not knowledgable in wine or its process but i guess i should include it in this review. I'm not a wine guy, but i do have wine here and there. I have been to vineyards and wine tasting rooms. I didn't like how after a while the after taste made the wine taste funny. I guess i do like the bitter taste. I have't tried it with other wines. I am planning on buying some more wines soon. The wine purifier comes with 4 filters and its really easy to use! It's stylish and small. Easy to store. You can buy the filters but i think they are like $30.00 bucks for 5 filters? You'll have to look it up.

This product is designed to purify wine. It also slightly alters the taste of wine to make it smoother per both my wife and myself who also tested it. I did read technical reviews of this device and since I am an engineer I understood the basis for why it works. The inventor did a great job in finding a way to filter out sulfites and the filters are integral to the device as they provide the reaction that cleans the wine. It is important to say that via my own research I did read that no chemicals are added to the wine, just the sulfite removal. I did not find it a problem to take the few seconds it took to pour through the filter into an individual wine glass. The product comes with a base which is handy so you can set the filter part onto it and enjoy the wine and clean it later. It did seem that using the setting to aerate the wine made the wine taster better, but that is probably a personal thing and so some people may want to pour without adding air which is the other setting. The device is very solid and well designed so that I do think it will provide years of service. The item is a little pricey but I would rather have them make a solid unit like this one versus some TV special item which people know are flimsy usually; so I do think it is worth the price. It did occur to me that this item might make a good gift for people who you can't think of what to give them. Item is boxed very plush so it looks good and the packaging no doubt protects it from damage in shipment. I think this product is a winner especially for someone like me who likes the wine taste better when I used it.

I wouldn't say I'm a heavy wine drinker but I do enjoy wine with certain meals or when entertaining. However, an issue has always been with the sulfites in certain wines that my girlfriend can't tolerate. I also notice that whenever I drink a few glasses of wine I wake up with a headache the next day, which is something I don't experience with high ABV beers or liquor. So I was excited to try out this product. I tried this with a red blend from Cupcake Vineyards and a Diamond from Goose Watch in the Finger Lakes. One thing I noticed is that when dealing with the red wine, the aeration definitely improves the taste/texture because it opens up the wine and lets air in as it filters. On the white, this wasn't as important so we turned off the air feature. Overall, there wasn't a major difference in taste, which is something that the inventors point out. The purpose is not to change the taste of the wine, it's to remove the sulfites which are the preservative in the wine. To that end, this product most likely worked because the next morning, no headache and no adverse reactions from the girlfriend. The packaging and quality of the product are top notch. The unit is easy to put together and take apart for cleaning or changing filters. This is a well built and designed wine filter that even comes with a display stand. I can see why it's $79 but my 1 star reduction is due to the filters. You essentially need a new filter for every bottle, or no more than 3 hours after last use which I presume is based on having the same exact wine. The filters are not cheap and if you buy the biggest pack option I think it comes out to around $3 per filter. That's an ongoing expense that might make some people think twice, but if this product allows you to enjoy wines that you've never been able to before, then maybe it's worth it and you just include it in the cost of the bottle. I would recommend it to a friend if they are a wine lover or if they are restricted to certain wines because of the sulfites but want to have access to more varieties. Having a carafe or 2 would be ideal if you are entertaining so you could filter multiple bottles into the carafes and not have to wait for each glass to filter through (it does take a minute). Interesting invention for wine lovers and hopefully as it continues to be refined and evolve they will find a way to eliminate the need for filter replacements or make them cheaper.

The Ullo filtration/aerator system is diminutive and simple in construct. This review will be short and sweet. The Review: This product is interesting but we found it mediocre at best. The rotating head is stiff & cumbersome and not what we would consider having a 'premium' feel. Installing the filter is pretty simple. Your presented with two options once you are ready to use the Ullo, with aeration and without. I personally suffer from wine induced headaches. There are many reviews out there from similar sufferers and you'll have to decide how valid those claims are. For me, the removal of sulfites from typical heavy red's that we drink didn't result in any positive outcome. Nor is there a perceived improvement in the taste of the wine - via the aeration or filtration process. I own aerators that work to 'open up' a bottle of dormant wine and this Ullo performs no better and in some respects performs worse than other designs - so that functionality is in no way a bonus. Lastly, we've demo'd this with friends & family and no one can pin down any improvement in the resulting taste of the filtered vint. Too subjective and variance based. The last comments I'll make to the suitability of this product for it's intended purpose is the egregious price of admission for the filters and the mere fact that you will be using a lot of them if you drink with any regularity. This 'arrangement' is very similar to the shaver blade business model. If the filters were at or below 50% of the current price schedule, this business model would be more successful by way of opening the door to potentially higher volumes - regardless of the actual gains or benefits of the filtration process. This is a 'feel good' product for the purchaser and offers more in the way of having 'conversation piece' value. Plain and simple. Another indication of the 'mind set' of this offering is the price for carafes and decanters offered by Ullo. Go to their website and research that. Nothing special here - just outrageous pricing. In a nutshell, this gizmo doesn't perform up to expectations - it is way over priced for the unit and the filters and therefore I can not recommend this device as something worth purchasing ... unless you want to impress your friends.

I was rather skeptical going into using this product. I saw a few youtube videos but my first question is “how can filtering sulfates make that big of a difference?” Surprisingly, it works! The product comes in a nice box that feels rather premium. It comes with the unit itself, some directions, a cloth carrying case and four filters. Each filter can filter out one bottle of wine so for me this would last me about four months as I don’t drink that many bottles a year. The unit itself has a plastic base and a rubber top portion but feels high quality overall. It is easy to clean as you simply press the bottom part out with your thumbs and it pops out. I first used it with guests over a they thought it was rather cool and fancy looking. When filtering wine it comes through in a spiral through the unit which also aerates the wine. My first bottle was a cheaper bottle of Pinot Noir which I felt would be a good test case since you can very much taste each individual flavor in that wine. I am by no means a wine expert but it is a wine that is also pretty easy to taste the quality in. We did a test sip with unfiltered wine and we all made some silly faces upon drinking it. Next, we tried it with the filter and each person agreed it tasted better overall. The fruit flavor was more apparent and the wine did not have so much of a bitter taste to it. It also felt a little smoother. Overall it improved the wine, but you could still tell it was cheap. We also tried a more expensive bottle of the same type of wine. The before and after experiences were both much more enjoyable but the filtered version had more rich flavors and again, a smoother texture. I did not drink enough to warrant a hangover but supposedly this product can reduce the likelihood of getting one since people can have allergies to sulfates which can be a cause of the hangover. I am not a huge wine drinker but this product seems to actually work and it can improve all types of wines. I recommend it if you are a casual or avid drinker of wines. Keep in mind that you will need to buy filter packets down the road but this is not a big deal if you only drink 1-2 bottles a month.