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I love decanting wine. Red, white, sparkling, fortified. I decant everything. I love the look of a decanter. I love the feel of a decanter. Actually, I collect decanters. To me, they are art meets function. But why decant a wine too begin with?

Well, there are two main practical reasons why we decant a wine. First, it’s a way of removing the sediment often present in older wines and some high quality younger red wines. And second, it’s way of aerating, or exposing the wine to oxygen, which brings out the full flavor and aroma of the wine, essentially aging it in a very short period of time. To those two, I would add a third, less functional reason to decant: wine just looks it’s best in a beautiful decanter!

Now, there’s a lot of discussion, none of which has really been proven one way or other, about which wines should be decanted, with some people arguing that certain types of wine can be harmed by the decanting process. From my experience, the only danger is with some older, more delicate wines, whose flavors can break down quickly when exposed to air. In those cases, if you’re going to decant, it’s best to do so right before drinking the wine, and sometimes best to skip decanting all together. Otherwise, I say decant anything and everything!

How do you decant a wine? Well, if you’re trying to reduce sediment, generally the answer is, carefully. You’ll want to pour slowly and watch for the sediment as you pour, to avoid transferring it to the decanter. This can be difficult if the wine has been stored on its side for an extended period of time – a wine cradle can help in this situation to keep you from stirring up sediment while you decant. With younger wines, and wines free of sediment, where the main purpose is aeration, there’s less need to pour carefully, although a nice slow pour will keep the wine from completely blending, which some would say adds to its character. Plus it’s always fun to put on a show and keep your friends in suspense…

So, what kind of decanter should you use? Well, decanter technology hasn’t changed much in the last 300 years, and pretty much any one will do the job you need, so for the most part it comes down to looks! If you’re really looking for a true piece of functional art, Riedel is the way to go. Riedel has a full line of truly gorgeous decanters that are a conversation piece even when they’re not bringing your wine to life. If you’re looking to decant on a budget, you can find affordable decanters online and at most department stores. Whatever your choice, you can’t go wrong with having a decanter (or a collection…) in your home.

Sip Tip! If I’m going to someone’s house who is a real wine lover, I don’t bring a bottle of wine. I bring them a decanter. They will think of you with every bottle they open that is brought to life through decanting, and gives them an experience to savor long after you leave!

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