DECANT! Yes You Can

How and Why to Decant a Bottle of Wine

Two years ago, The Editor bought me a beautiful decanter with a rippled glass design that looks like an optical illusion as the the wine swirls from the bottle and hits the glass. It's a pretty nifty piece, and as my grandmother told me when she bestowed a lovely heirloom ring upon me in recent years, "It's the kind of gift you give someone when they're ready to be responsible." That ring and I have been through a lot together, but the wine decanter and I, not so much. Despite my near daily glass of the red stuff, I tucked the decanter away in a cupboard, and saved it for "special occasions." I thought of it as something to break out over dining room tables with fancy linens and custom stemware, not the 12' x 12' walls of our "quaint" one bedroom apartment. Or that I had to wait for a $100 bottle of wine or an '82 Bordeaux for the timing to be just right.

Then came the heckles from The Editor.

You don't like my gift. 
You say you like wine, but you never use the decanter I got you.
I spent a lot of time looking for that decanter.
That thing just sits up there...collecting dust.


He was right. Though I had a serious affinity with wine, I wasn't one for "wine gadgets"...extras, that took away from my experience, or simply held them up. Charms and expensive tool kits weren't my bag. I liked a good ol' sniff test, a strong swirl and swig--down the hatch, instant gratification. But, my wines weren't always instantly gratifying...even the $15 "drink it now" types. Heavy Cabernets were filling my tongue with bitter tannins while bodacious Zinfandels were overwhelming my mouth with fruit and spice. They needed air, they needed room, they needed--to breathe!

And that, my friends, is where decanting comes into play. Not only did I feel guilty about the thoughtful gift The Editor bought me, but my taste buds were crying out for help. I had all but given up on Zinfandel and I was getting tired of chewing on Aussie Shiraz sediment. Does decanting wine make it taste better, softer and more elegant? Yes, yes and yes. For more reasons why to decant, read on...

3 Reasons to Decant Wine

1. It looks fancy. For the same reason a wine glass looks better than a red Solo cup (save those for beer pong), it simply elevates the experience instantly.

2. Decanting helps deepen the aromas and soften the tannins (those bitter feelings on your tongue from heavy red wines). As oxygen mixes with the wine the aromas and flavors are able to fully develop on the large, open surface area (as opposed to the small opening of a wine bottle).

Pouring decanted wine at the Steamboat Springs Wine Festival

3. Older wines (usually 10 years or older) collect sediment--grainy residue that builds up during the aging process. It won't make you sick, but it's about as unpleasant as chewing a pile of dirt. With proper decanting (see steps below), the sediment will remain in the bottle and out of your glass.

Steps to Decanting Wine

1. Pull the cork. Now that you know which wines you'll want to open up, get that bottle open!

2. Fast or Slow? How fast you pour wine into the decanter will depend on the age of the wine. If you've got an older (10+ years), you'll want to be more gentle by tilting the decanter at a 45 degree angle and pouring slowly into the neck. If you've got a younger wine (3 years or less), you can leave the decanter on the table and basically pour the bottle upside-down with the wine flowing at a quick pace. This gets the wine to open up faster (think of swirling your glass).

3. Pour...but only half! I like to pour just half of my regular size glass to allow the wine to continue aerating in the decanter.

Decanters Under $30


Decanters also make great gifts for engagements, weddings and milestone birthdays. Even if you're shopping for yourself, you don't have to spend a lot to find a great one. I've found the following online stores have some beautiful, affordable selections.

Luigi BormilioCrescendo Thumb Decanter ($29.99) - A steal from BevMo! and one that we use on the road for wine events, this decanter features a easy-to-pour spout and bottom "punt" for ergonomic pours!

2-Piece Chilling Carafe ($29.99) - Decanting isn't just for reds! While the majority of white wines need no decanting, some French Chablis and white Burgundy could benefit from the aeration. Perfect for a lazy afternoon on the patio, this decanter from Wine Enthusiast's online store will keep any of your whites chilled and refreshing all afternoon with its slender, internal ice chamber.

Ona Small & Large Pitchers ($16.95 & $26.95) - Crate and Barrel has quite a few under $30 decanters, but I chose these for their abstract yet functional design. Made from handblown crystal, the kitschy decanters feature an eye-catching, off-center handle. A decanter that will let your wine breathe while impressing your artsy friends!

If there is a lesson to be learned from this article, it's to decant wherever, whenever and whatever wine you want. Oh, and use those gifts your loved ones bought you. Everybody wins.