Decanting Wine

Decanting Wine: When and Why

Putting a decanter of wine on the table for your guests is sure to raise their expectations. It shows them that you have thought about and planned their evening’s enjoyment down to the last detail, though they may not know why you’ve decanted the wine.

Why Decant Wine?

There are two main reasons why we decant wine:

1. To Separate Sediment
   The first reason is to separate the wine from any sediment that may have built up in the bottle (inevitable in older wines). Removing the sediment results in a fresher taste than if it were still in contact with the bitter tartrate sediment.

2. To Aerate the Wine
   Secondly, we decant wine to give it some air after all that time in the bottle. This enables the wine to breathe and will almost certainly enhance its aroma and flavor.

General Guidelines for Decanting

There are no hard and fast rules for wine decanting, as every wine is different and has specific needs. However, there are a few guidelines to ensure you are decanting the right wine for the right amount of time.

Decanting Young Red Wines

The most common occasion to use a decanter is when you have a young red wine. A young red wine is essentially still fresh from production, as it hasn’t enjoyed the benefits of bottle aging. Red wines typically have high tannin or high acidity levels, which mellow with bottle aging. Just because the wine is ready to drink doesn’t mean the tannins and acidity have softened enough.

Give these wines at least 30 minutes (for medium-bodied wines) to an hour (for full-bodied wines) in a decanter. You’ll find that the tannins or acidity will have balanced out with the fruitiness, leaving you with a well-rounded wine with a fresh aroma and balanced fruit-to-tannin/acidity ratio.

Tip: Taste the wine when you first open the bottle, pour it into the decanter, and periodically taste it to see how it’s developing.

Decanting Older Red Wines

If you’re thinking of opening a bottle of red that you’ve been saving for a long time, you want to make the most of it and give yourself every opportunity to enjoy the wine as much as you had hoped.

Older red wines will have sediment at the bottom of the bottle, which can affect the wine’s taste. To maximize enjoyment, you need to separate the sediment from the wine. However, an older wine will oxidize much quicker than you might expect, so here’s the tip:

• Double Decanting: Decant your older red wine into your preferred decanter, leaving about an inch or so of wine in the bottle. Wash the bottle out, removing all sediment, and then carefully re-can the wine back into the bottle (using a funnel). This method aerates the wine, removes the sediment, and allows you to show off the label and vintage again.

Older or more delicate wines should not sit in a decanter for long, as they will oxidize rapidly. For these wines, the double decanting method works great. Just before you wish to start enjoying the wine, use the double decanting method and leave the wine on the table without a stopper, then enjoy!

Decanting Non-Red Wines

It isn’t just red wine that benefits from decanting. You can decant any wine you wish, though I personally see no point in decanting sparkling wines unless you have an issue with all the bubbles, as decanting sparkling wine will make it go a bit flat.

• White Wines: Oak-aged varieties like Chardonnay, especially from Burgundy, benefit from decanting. The traditional methods used in winemaking, coupled with oak aging, can leave a smoky taste on the palate.

• All White and Rosé Wines: These wines will benefit from aeration, even though they do not have sediment buildup. Brief aeration before drinking will enhance their aromas and flavors.

Types of Decanters

There are different types of decanters for different wines, just as there are different types of glasses for different wines. Each decanter is specially designed to suit the needs of the particular style of wine you wish to enjoy.

1. Carafes for White and Rosé Wines
   Wines that are to be aerated just prior to drinking can be decanted into a carafe, also known as a small bowl decanter due to the lack of a bowl at the base.

2. Medium-Bowl Decanters for Medium-Bodied Reds
   A medium-bowl decanter is perfect for medium-bodied red wines that will suffer quickly from too much oxygen exposure. These decanters are also ideal for oak-aged Chardonnay.

3. Large-Bowl Decanters for Full-Bodied Reds
   A large-bowl decanter is a vessel with a wide base, providing maximum contact with air. These decanters are perfect for opening up young, full-bodied reds.

Decanter Care and Maintenance

The most important tip I can offer on decanting wines is always to ensure your decanter is as clean as possible. Never use chemical cleaners on a decanter; in fact, I don’t even use detergent. Simply rinse it a few times with plain hot water and dry it as best as the shape of your decanter allows.

You can also buy a decanter cleaning brush, shaped like a large pipe cleaner. These flexible brushes work quite well for getting into hard-to-reach corners.