All wines need to breath but left overnight the wine will over-oxidise and your beloved merlot will be reduced to a disgusting vinegar. These stoppers are made with pewter which will totally protect the bottle without affecting the taste. <br><br>The history of Irish Pewter can be traced back to more than 800 years ago. Today this ancient craft is still being performed in Mullingar by a team of Irish men and women that are highly trained in the skills of delicate hand finishing meticulous assembly and old casting methods.<br><br>Mullingar Pewter products have a distinctive medieval appearance and the owner will feel they are ancient mythical and a precious gift from the past. The Shamrock is the unofficial symbol of Ireland and they have expertly incorporated this into their collection of wine bottle stoppers.<br><br>Mullingar Pewter is easy to store clean and is so expertly crafted they can be used as display pieces.