Enhance Your Wine Experience: The Magic of Decanters

If wine is your passion, you likely own a wine decanter. If you’ve only been using it as a decorative piece, here’s something that may motivate you to start using it regularly.

How to use your decanters

Some may dispute which is crucial, but there are two primary reasons for decanting:

Decanting disengages the wine from the sediment. Sediment naturally accumulates in wines during the fermentation process and as the wine matures. While it’s harmless, it imparts a disagreeable bitter flavor to the wine. The aim is to retain the sediment in the bottle, so it’s essential to pour the wine gently to stop it from entering the decanter.

Decanting enhances a wine’s characteristics. Aerating a wine not only helps to eliminate unsavory odors, it softens the tannins and integrates the flavors and subtle aromas that add balance and complexity. (Both characteristics which may have remained dormant without decanting it).  There are no hard and fast rules on how long to decant a wine. In general, red wines 15 to 20 years old or older should be decanted 30 minutes to an hour; a younger, tannic full-bodied red benefits from two to three hours. Lighter red wines such as Gamay and Pinot Noir, as well as light-bodied whites, can improve with 20 to 30 minutes. For wines needing longer than 30 minutes, taste them every half hour to ensure they don’t end up becoming over oxidized.

Size matters. Decanters come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Different size decanters should be used for different grape varietals. For example, a large decanter with a wide base works best with full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo and Petite Sirah because there is more oxygen exposure in it.

Durability vs. low maintenance. Decanters are typically made from one of two types of glass, crystal or standard. Standard glass decanters normally come in simple designs with thicker glass while crystal ones tend to be larger and more contemporary styles. While the standard glass decanters are easier to clean, crystal ones are more durable. All bets are off if either of them hits the floor though.

Decanting tips

If you plan to decant a special wine bottle, it’s advisable to plan in advance especially if you’ve been storing the wine horizontally. Potentially, let the bottle stand upright for a day or two to allow the sediment to settle at the bottom before proceeding to decant it.

When decanting, gently pour the wine into the decanter’s neck at approximately a 45-degree angle. Be vigilant for any sediment approaching the bottle’s neck. If noticed, adjust the bottle back to an upright stance and resume pouring slowly. Using a well-lit candle or a light behind the bottle can help in detecting moving sediment.

Cease pouring the wine upon noticing about half to three-quarters of an inch of sediment remaining in the bottle.

For those in search of decanters, a wide range of designs are available.

Mallard Duck

This duck-shaped decanter features a top handle that keeps the surfaces fingerprint free. The wine also won’t warm from your hands, separated by the handle from the vessel while pouring. Truebrands, $44, amazon.com.

Veloce

A new design with casual dining in mind from Riedel, the Veloce can be used for a variety of red and white wines. $55, riedel.com.

Le Chateau

Designed to aerate red wine, the clean, simplified design of this crystal decanter makes it suitable for both casual and formal occasions. Le Chateau, $45, amazon.com.

Mosel

Recognized as one of Riedel’s classic designs, this user-friendly decanter is perfect for both young and aged wines, can contain up to a magnum of wine, and is safe for cleaning in a dishwasher. $99, riedel.com.

Eve

Named after Eva Riedel, the matriarch, every decanter is freely blown. It is meant to aerate full-bodied and younger wines. The price of the decanter is $725. It is available at riedel.com.

Deciphering the decanter

Not long ago, I got the chance to interview Georg Josef Riedel. He is the leader of the Riedel Glass Company and is the 10th in his generation. The interview was about the enhancement of wine taste through decanters.

First, when and why did Riedel decide to make wine decanters?

Riedel, hailing from Austria, has been a pioneer in creating wine decanters since 1957. They started offering decanters seeing their essential role in professional wine serving. Wine decanters form an integral part of wine-friendly glassware concept. Over the years, Riedel has continued to offer innovative and creative decanter designs.

Does Riedel follow a protocol in making new decanters?

Riedel’s team of skilful glassmakers are instrumental in developing decanters, following a method of trial and error. The inspirations provided by me or my son, Maximilian (11th generation) are transformed into a reality by them. Lately, the protocol for creating intricate and unique designs has been revolving around fun, creativity, and functionality. Riedel’s decanter designs stand out from the traditional styles generally available in the market. Their high standards, creativity, innovative ideologies and freehand designs set them apart in the industry.

What are things people may not know about using a decanter?

Some people may feel overwhelmed when faced with the task of using a decanter due to fears around its complexity or because they simply do not know how to clean it properly. However, the reality is far different. The cleaning process is rather straightforward, starting with an initial rinse followed by an overnight soak in warm, distilled water. Next, the outside of the decanter needs a gentle hand wash with soap on. Please note, distilled water is essential to prevent water stains. Following this, the outside of the decanter can be dried and polished delicately using microfiber cloths. For a bonus tip on avoiding water stains, consider employing your hairdryer over the vessel for thorough drying. Check out our website for comprehensive instructions on cleaning decanters.

Contrary to common belief, there isn’t a single wine type that wouldn’t enhance with decanting. Decanting, indeed, makes wine softer and rounder. So, if a softer perception is something the consumer seeks in their wine, decanting should always be an essential step in their wine service.

On a closing note, could you describe your favorite Riedel decanter and provide reasons for your preference?

My favorite Riedel decanter is our Eve decanter because it is truly unique. It is a more advanced decanter and requires the user to thoroughly understand the art of decanting. The Eve’s functionality allows it to ‘double decant’ the wine, making it perfect for young and fuller-bodied wines. This decanter is a true show piece, and it turns serving wine into a theatrical performance.

Peg San Felippo is a certified sommelier who served as a judge at the recent Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirit Challenge, the annual American Fine Wine Competition, South Florida’s home-grown national wine event; and THE Rosé Competition.

 

 

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About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!