Reasons to Decant Wine: when the wine is Very Old or Very Young. When the wine is old, you want to decant it gently. When the wine is new you want to decant it vigorously.
For very old wine: decanting is used to catch settlement that is natural to aging wine. Settlement can start occurring as early as 3 years after bottling. Have you ever seen a sommelier open a bottle of wine? Check this out —>
The sommelier has a candle that is used so that he or she can see when to stop pouring the wine so that fewer settlements end up in a glass of wine.
I don’t open that many very old wines… if any. The reason I decant is to get a better experience of the value wines I drink.
Types of decanter:
- Decanter:
- Keeping your decanters clean is key. I would recommend buying a decanter that you don’t mind cleaning. Having a dirty decanter can ruin a wine-drinking experience. A clear decanter allows you to look out for any settlement that may be in your wine. If drinking older wine is important for you, find one that you can see through.
- Price and storage were important for me since I live in a small apartment in New York City. I went for this IKEA one that was just $12! It is perfect and has gotten so much use out of it.
- We live in an age where we can get everything online but a decanter is not something I would recommend getting shipped. Not only do you run the risk of damage or not being able to know the size/ shape or scale of the piece, but the add-on for shipping a delicate item is simply not worth the headache. I would recommend going to IKEA, Target, or even an antique store!
- Aerator:
- If you live alone, this is something to consider.
- Let the air hit the wine:
- You don’t need a fancy aerator or decanter to enjoy your wine. There is something in your household that you can use to transfer the wine to and from the bottle. Use a water jug or something with a spout. Transfer the wine from the bottle of wine to the jug. After letting it sit for a few minutes (depending on how long you wish to aerate it), transfer it back to the bottle that it came from.
Best Practices on How long to decant based on grape variety:
Are all grapes created equal? Should all types of grape varieties be decanted? Not according to sommelier Madeline Puckette.
See the list below for grape wine variety types and their suggested decanting time.
One can over aerate the wine by exposing it to too much air There are rumors that people have put wine in a blender to aerate it faster, it kills the wine according to science. So maybe try it with a wine that you don’t mind waiting for? But maybe don’t try it all.
Can you decant something for too long?
Probably. The wine starts to age and deteriorates as soon as it gets exposed to open air. It is suggested that you pour the wine back into the bottle if you’re not finishing the bottle. Red wine Is usually not good after 2 or 3 days.
If you’re still learning about wine- like we all are- taste the wine every step of the way. Have a sip when you first open it and then when you first decanter it. Taste it and see how the wine develops as it opens. Soon you will be able to tell how you enjoy your wine the best.
