Decanting Wine: What You Need to Know

What is decanting?

Decanting is the process of allowing a wine to breathe. When the wine is poured into a decanter and allowed to sit, it mixes with air and the molecule structure changes. Doing this stimulates the aromas and flavors of the wine.

Why is decanting a bottle of wine important?

The wine tastes better, especially those that have been aged for a considerable time.

While white wines can benefit from decanting, it’s really the red wines that need it the most because they have a tendency to be bottled longer than white wine.

How long does it take to decant a bottle of wine?

If you ask 10 different wine enthusiasts, the answers will probably vary.

Here’s our personal rule of thumb:

• House wines: 10-20 minutes (or use a Vinturi)

• Aged wines: 1-4 hours (we’d decant a Brunello di Montalcino for about an hour whereas a Chateau Chalon needs at least 4 hours)

• The older the wine, the longer it needs to breathe

• Full-bodied wines: 45 minutes

• Don’t decant if you’re only going to have a glass. Either use a Vinturi, let it breathe in your glass, or save that bottle for another night!

Do you need to purchase an official decanter?

Absolutely not. Before purchasing a decanter, we used a glass pitcher and it worked just fine. We didn’t buy a decanter until this year… and guess where it’s from? Ikea! It works for us.

However, if you’re into brand names, prestige, and quality you should consider a Riedel Decanter.

* Photo by Tomas Er