are there different decanters for different wines

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Medium-bodied Red Wines (Merlot, Sangiovese, Barbera, Dolcetto, etc): medium-sized decanter. Light-bodied Red Wines (Pinot Noir, Beaujolais): serve in a small to medium-sized decanter that’s been chilled. White and Rosé Wines: decanting isn’t necessary, although you can use a small chilled decanter.

FAQs

Hard liquors are sometimes served and stored in decanters, but this is mainly for appearance. These vessels are typically thick glass or cut crystal, and should always include a stopper. Hard alcohol does not need to be aerated before serving and should be sealed during storage.

Gadgety Decanters: Aerators, Wine Towers, and Electric Wine Decanters

There are many decanters that fall outside of the classic designs. Some use technology to offer faster aeration, and some forsake function in favor of design.

Wine aerators offer the ability to decant one glass of wine at a time. These are attached to the neck of a bottle of wine and are designed to agitate the wine as its poured and instantaneously aerate it. For a lot of folks, this will be enough. For old wine, it may be too aggressive. And for a tight wine, it might not offer sufficient oxygen exposure. If you use an aerator, taste the wine after its been poured. If it hasn’t opened up sufficiently, allow it to rest in your glass, where it will continue to breathe.

Wine decanter towers—with various designs and parts—pose a large (no pun intended) cleanup and storage issue. They feature a glass portion that filters wine down into the standard decanter or sometimes just a wine glass.

And, finally, electric wine decanters are comprised of an electronic base that creates a vortex within the decanter, churning wine around to accelerate oxidation. And while they might be fun for the at-home drinker, sommeliers are skeptical (and when we reviewed wine decanters, we thought this style felt gimmicky).

Wine Decanter Explained! When And How To Use It?

FAQ

What are the different types of wine decanters?

Does any decanter work for wine?

Are all decanters the same?

Does the shape of a wine decanter matter?

What size wine decanter do I Need?

Small wine decanters: They are ideal for decanting a glass or two. Medium wine decanters: This is the standard size in which you can decant up to one standard bottle (the usual preference.) Large wine decanters: These decanters are great if you need to decant more than one bottle.

What is a standard wine decanter?

A standard wine decanter features a circular base and narrow neck. The wide base is designed to let the wine pool out for greater surface area and oxygen contact. The narrow neck creates an easy place to hold the decanter while pouring.

What wine should be served in a decanter?

Here are some examples to consider: Full-bodied Red Wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Tannat, Monastrell, Tempranillo, etc): Use a decanter with a wide base. Light-bodied Red Wines (Pinot Noir, Beaujolais): serve in a small to medium-sized decanter that’s been chilled.

Do wine decanters exist?

To a wine newbie, few things in the wine universe are more mysterious than wine decanters. Many wine drinkers worldwide aren’t exactly sure why these glass vessels exist and how they are used when serving wine. If that’s you, then you are in the right place. In this article, you’ll learn about decanters and understand how and when to use one.