Beautiful to behold, but are they worth it? Throughout the history of wine, decanters have played a significant role in the serving of wine. Below we discuss some facts and information on decanters to help you make the best decision when it comes to purchasing.
It’s a common misconception that decanting is used only for removing sediment from older wines, but decanting young wines is like speeding up the aging process. A decanted wine will show more character and depth. A simple comparison of a decanted wine to a non-decanted wine will show you the difference a little oxygen can make!”
Wine contains Sulfur Dioxide, which protects the wine as it ages. Sulfur Dioxide is the most common chemical compound used in winemaking in addition to Carbon Dioxide. Its preservative and anti-bacterial qualities were discovered thousands of years ago, and because it is non-toxic it has been used in foods and wine for ages. Therefore, it is added periodically throughout the winemaking process and plays a critical role in quality winemaking.
The protection these chemicals give to the wine can also hide the fruit profiles in young wines with higher alcohol, which is why they can sometimes be described as “tight”. Exposing the wine to oxygen burns off the Sulfur Dioxide and Carbon Dioxide, revealing more fruit and therefore more flavor {and we all want more flavor, right?!}. This is where the decanter shines.
In older wines (5+ years old) decanting is recommended to “wake up” the primary and secondary flavors in the bottle. Decanting an older wine for 30-45 minutes prior to consumption will enhance your enjoyment of fine wine. Also, red wine doesn’t have to be the only wine you decant. Most wine that ages well can improve from the decanting process. Certain vintage Champagne, Chardonnay, & Semillon are just a few of the white wine varietals that can benefit from a bit of aeration.
Decanting is a hugely important part of wine enjoyment, for both old and young wines. Decanting also adds ceremony and theater for you and your guests. At TGS, we carry several varieties of stunning and elaborate decanters for every budget, which turn wine service into a performance. It’s all about having fun with it!