At times, wines may require a little help to open up their aromas and flavors. Decanting wine is a simple yet effective way to do this and enhance your drinking experience. It involves transferring wine from its bottle into a separate container called a decanter. But why bother? Well, decanting serves two main purposes: to separate wine from any sediment that may have formed in the bottle or allow the wine to aerate, or "breathe."
When you pour wine into a decanter, any sediment that has settled in the bottle stays behind, ensuring a clearer and more visually appealing pour. As for aeration, it's all about giving the wine exposure to oxygen, which can help soften harsh tannins in red wines and allow the wine's aromas and flavors to fully develop. When a wine lacks this, it is considered “closed.”
To decant wine, simply pour it slowly and steadily into the decanter, taking care to leave any sediment in the bottle. (No worries if you don’t have a decanter, a wine glass or other glass vessel will work too.) Once in the decanter, let the wine sit and breathe; the wine's age and structure will determine the duration.
While decanting isn't necessary for every wine, it can particularly benefit young, tannic red wines by mellowing them out and making them more approachable. However, even older wines can benefit from a bit of aeration to help them "open up" and reveal their full complexity.
Ultimately, whether or not to decant comes down to personal preference. However, if you choose to do so, there are some general guidelines you can follow:
RED - 20 to 60 minutes
WHITE/ROSÉ - 0 to 30 minutes
SPARKLING/CHAMPAGNE - 0 to 30 minutes
SPARKLING/PROSECCO - Don’t decant this one
Consider these points as well when decanting:
Most reds only last 12-18 hours after being decanted.
For younger wines, if they still seem inexpressive after decanting, you can let them sit for another 2-3 hours.
Old red wines will need decanting; however, they are delicate and decay rapidly upon opening. Decant for 30 minutes or so before drinking.
If you have any questions, reach out to your local sommelier.
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