A Question For Y'all...

 
What are your favorite travel essentials?

I'm heading to Temecula Valley soon for a wine club pickup, and earlier today I put together a handful of "must haves" that I pack in my carry on rolling suitcase. I'll try my best to narrate what each object is and its purpose.

That black thing at the top of the image is a Callaway stemless wine glass within a pair of "no show" athletic socks. I inserted the glass base first into the hole of one sock and then stuffed the rest of the sock inside the glass. I then repeated the process with the second sock to ensure it's double layered. The glass itself is quite thick and is likely to survive transportation in the luggage. I'll know for sure upon my return.

The sandwich bag on the left contains vital tools to enjoy a bottle of wine over multiple days while traveling. There's a waiter's corkscrew, a Vacu Vin wine saver set, and an aerator to properly pour red wine. As a general rule when using the Vacu Vin system, a red will last three days after opening before the wine degrades, while a white can go five to seven days.

The other sandwich bag beside it contains packets of del Taco's Del Inferno hot sauce. I consider them necessary to spice up the otherwise pallid offerings from Rosa's Cafe and Tortilla Factory. The packets not only add heat to tacos and burritos, but they make the dishes a good match for a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Gris. I may visit a winery prior to check in to see if there's any other favorable pairings.

So tell me in the comments... what are your favorite travel essentials?