You have to admit that one of the things beer drinkers have over wine drinkers is the portability of the product. But, even then, how many of us - whether drinking wine, beer, or (gasp) soda - have wished for a third hand while at a party or outdoor event when trying to eat and drink and enjoy ourselves at the same time?

This is exactly the thought that went through the mind of Al Kirkendall's mind one day while at a music festival with his wife, Sheryl. And this brought on the invention of WineStems. From The News Review:

The couple faithfully attend Music on the Half Shell in Roseburg and Riverbend Live! in Winston. They like to pack a nice bottle of wine for a show.

They were drinking out of plastic cups. Allan Kirkendall said that's a "terrible" way to drink wine.

"Then we went to stemware, and we were spilling it," he said.

Kirkendall, a psychologist at the Roseburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center, developed WineStems to solve the problem.

The invention, an outdoor wine glass holder, was created so the couple could enjoy a glass of wine in the park, even if they're sitting on a hill.

It turns out they weren't the only people interested in such a concoction.




WineStems are available on the couples web site at www.winestemcompany.com and cost $9.50 each, not including shipping.