Wine on the Radio - June 20, 2003

Decanter Basics

Here are some thoughts on decanting.  

One of the things you should have on hand at home is a decanter.   Decanting wine can have both aesthetic and practical effects to enhance your wine experiences.

Aesthetically, admiring the deep garnet color of red or the honey hue of white can excite your taste buds even before you take a sip.

But practically, decanters play an important role.   They're the best way to aerate and breathe the wine . . . a simple step that releases more aromas and adds to the taste experience.

And they're necessary for aged wines.  

Decanting an aged wine helps make sure that gritty sediment doesn't make it into your glass.

Check out the stubby, flat bottomed style for reds, since decanting opens them up more.   A slender, shapely kind for whites should do well, too.  

Don't want to spend for a decanter?    You won't have the aesthetics but, in a pinch, a clean empty bottle works too.

Pop the cork™ . . . and decant away.  Some great decanters are right here:

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