Where Angels Tread . . .

As wine ages in barrels, most vintners expect to lose a certain amount to evaporation. It’s called the angels’ share. And although we don’t begrudge these heavenly visitors their portion, once the wine is in the bottle, neither cherubim nor seraphim are welcome to it. The image of the cursed spirit on these ghostly bottle caps wards off the greedy celestial ones and keeps your wine safe. Sure, a regular cork will do a lot to keep your reds and whites from harm, but you can never have too much insurance, even in the face of superstition. The best insurance: Finish the bottle.

Available at Jordano’s in Santa Barbara.