While many people have heard of wine decanters, not many people actually know what they are, what they do or how they should be used. We will use this article to explain exactly what they are, how to choose one and why you should be using one!
Firstly, we will look at what a wine decanter is and what it should be used for. A wine decanter is similar to jug and is often made of glass, although older decanters would have been made from metal. The decanter helps you to transfer the wine from bottle to glass. The wine is poured from the bottle into the decanter which causes the wine to start oxidising and left for at least 15 to 20 minutes before being served.
If you are drinking a very high quality bottle of wine then you should pour it into the decanter and immediately into the glass for drinking as the flavour of the wine could change dramatically if left in the decanter for too long.
The biggest reason for using a wine decanter though is to allow you to separate the wine from the sediment in the bottle of the bottle. This can often ruin a glass of wine if not removed before pouring.
There are many fancy wine decanters available in a wide range of different styles, however for the best results you should choose a clear glass or crystal decanter. This allows you to see the wine when it is in the decanter and monitor it. You should also avoid decanters which have too much decoration on them as this can often cause problems as well.
You should ensure that the decanter is thoroughly cleaned before being used each time so as not to contaminate the flavour of the wine at all. Ensure that it is cleaned using only water, as cleaning fluids could leave behind a residue which will be mixed with the wine when it is next used.