Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Wine Decanters Make A Difference

By Shari Swanson


Decanting a wine is simply pouring it from the wine bottle into another container before serving. There are reasons why wine lovers are convinced that it is necessary to use wine decanters. Detractors regard using one as pretentious nonsense, saying that it actually makes no difference to the taste.

Most red wines, particularly young red wines, need to have contact with the oxygen in the air to develop their bouquet. Usually they are opened some hours before they are served. Letting the wine 'breathe' softens the harsh tannins. Simply uncorking a bottle does not let in enough air. A decanter has a much larger surface area to enable this to happen.

Aerating the wine or allowing it to 'breathe' triggers the release of the aroma. It also helps to benefit the wine by smoothing some of its harsher aspects. This is true of young red wines. However, older wines have had plenty of time to age and simply need to be decanted just before serving. In fact, too much exposure to oxygen can ruin them.

It is unpleasant to find bits of sediment in your wine. Sediment can be really bitter, spoiling the taste. If you decant slowly and carefully the sediment stays behind in the bottle and you will be spared finding it in your wine.

The best decanter is one that allows the maximum mixing of wine and oxygen. People are drawn to different ones for different reasons. A large bellied one is most functional, while a crystal one will allow you to see the wine at its best.

wine decanters can add considerably to the experience of wine drinking. They make your wine taste better but they are also good to look at. They can be a wonderful gift for a wine loving friend.




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