What is a decanter, how to use it and why do you need it?

Proper storage and serving of wine at the right temperature in the right glass are elements that affect both the taste and aroma of the drink. However, one should not forget about the very important process of wine decantation. Check what is hidden under this mysterious-sounding name and why it is worth decanting some types of wine.

What is decantation?

Decantation...

from a chemical point of view - separation of liquid from sludge. In the wine world, this process means the same thing - only in this case, the liquid is always wine. Decantation consists of pouring wine from a bottle into a decanter i.e. a glass vessel specially designed for this purpose. Although it must be mentioned that the second feature of this process is aeration of wine which is why not only the wine with the sediment is being decanted, but more about that in a moment. 

Why decant the wine? Description of the decanter's appearance

There are several reasons why wine is being decanted:

  • To separate wine from the lees

It is natural that sediment appears in the bottle when the wine matures. To eliminate it, the wine must be poured into decanter.

  • To soften the taste

Young wines, which contain a lot of tannin, are decanted to remove the unpleasant astringency, roughness and bitterness.

  • For better taste and aroma

During the decantation process, large amounts of oxygen enter the liquid, which causes it to aerate, which raises and brings out the aroma and taste of the drink.

  • To eliminate unwanted odours

Some strains of wine just after opening the bottle do not delight with their scent. Decantation will turn any unwanted aroma into a more pleasant one.

To carry out decanting, a decanting jug must be provided. What's a decanter? It is a glass vessel with a specific shape and appearance, resembling a flask with a flat bottom and a long and slender neck, which expands and gently flattens at the outlet. Usually, the lower part of a decanter is very wide, so that the wine is placed in a larger surface and aerates better.

Cabernet Carafe

47,32 €

Cabernet Carafe

Holmegaard
    Cabernet Carafe

    47,32 €

    Cabernet Carafe

    Holmegaard
Etno Carafe crystal

87,58 €

Etno Carafe crystal

Huta Julia
    Decantation decanter with cooling base Eva Solo
    Noah's wine bottle rack
    Bark wine bottle rack

What wines require decantation? How to use a decanter?

The wines requiring decantation are:

  • Mature red wines, usually 10-year-old or older, such as Bordeaux or Barolo in which deposits have precipitated.
  • Young wines with a high content of tannin, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Petit Sirah, to soften their taste and release the richness of aromas.
  • Wines that do not smell very pleasant when opened.

It should be noted that when handling some types of wine no aeration is allowed. They include red wines with a brittle bouquet which, in contact with the oxygen lose all their aroma. I mean, old red Burgundy or old, mature Pinot Noir.

You already know what wines should be decanted, so it's time to find out how to do it properly. Red wines with deposits must be decanted slowly and with great care to precisely separate the wine from the lees. Pour some wine into the decanterand, turn it over the sides so that the liquor washes the wall of the dish. Wine pour into a glass. Pour the remaining wine to the decanter...and make sure that the sediment remains in the bottle. Decantation is recommended . . .above the bottle's neck light. . .. This allows you to observe flowing wine and lees. When you see the sediment in its neck, stop the glasses pouring immediately.

Whereas wines without sediment, requiring only aeration, can be poured directly to carafe without lighting up the neck of the bottle.

Decanter with wine put away for a while. It's hard to tell how long it should sit aside. It could be half an hour, an hour, half a day or a whole day. All depends on the nature and type of wine. Usually, red wines require longer aeration than white or rosé wines.

Eva Solo Decanter carafe with cooling base

119,86 €

Eva Solo Decanter carafe with cooling base

Eva Solo
Authentis Decanter

83,51 €

Authentis Decanter

Spiegelau
    Authentis Decanter

    83,51 €

    Authentis Decanter

    Spiegelau
Delta Wine decanter with a decanter

101,92 €

Delta Wine decanter with a decanter

Blomus (3)

Attention!

A suitable place to store wine is the wine rack, in which the bottles should be placed in a horizontal position. However, at least 24 hours before the decantation process begins, the bottle should be placed upright so that the entire deposit can fall to the bottom.

Learn more about how to store wine properly at home from two FA Magazine: Wine storage at home - create favourable conditions for bottles.

Carafe and decanters - what is the difference?

All kinds of carafes, including the stunning crystal carafes, are all excellent pieces of a decorative element of the interior and they are there to present themselves beautifully on the table. After all, a bottle with a label and excise residue on its neck does not look very aesthetic. Pouring wine from a decanter into glasses is also more elegant. These types of dishes are perfect for aerating wines.

Polski Stół Carafe crystal

71,73 €

Polski Stół Carafe crystal

Huta Julia
Etno Carafe crystal

87,58 €

Etno Carafe crystal

Huta Julia
Crystal Carafe Polish Table

The Crystal Carafe is part of the Polish Table collection. The water, juice or wine served in such an elegant dish will look splendid and become a decoration of each table.

Decanters are...

The decanters are glass vessels equipped with special decantation systems. At FormAdore you will find, among other things, models of decanters, on top of which the wine bottles are placed or equipped in a special decanting filter. Therefore, decanters are special vessels for both separating red wine from the lees and for aerating different types of wine.

Aeration decanter for Deluxe wine
Glass decanter Standard 1,4 l

Wondering how to wash the decanter?

Due to its shape, it is difficult to reach all corners, but there are several ways to get rid of stubborn wine deposits. You can use vinegar or citric acid, and if that doesn't help, think about getting special beads for cleaning your decanter.

It should also be mentioned that leftover wine sitting at the bottom of a carafe must be secured against the supply of oxygen. Because while at the beginning, the effect of air on the beverage has a beneficial effect, over time oxygen contributes to loss of aroma and shallow taste of the drink. In order to prevent the process of oxidation of the wine, the alcohol must be adequately protected. They come to the aid of wine accessories in the form of a wine cork, but also special vacuum pumps for wine, which, by creating a vacuum, remove air from inside the liquor bottles.

Share