Sep 10, 2022
What Is The Point Of A Wine Decanter?
What exactly is it that a wine decanter is? The major functions of a wine decanter are to hold wine while it is being served and to allow the wine to aerate. In order for the oxygenating process to be successful, there must be sufficient surface area exposed to the air.
Red wines frequently contain sediment and bits of crushed cork as well. Putting liquid into a decanter before drinking it might help filter it and get rid of any undesirable residue. In addition to this, it will get rid of the bitter flavor and taste that is typically associated with older wines. Typically, wine decanters have a level base and a broad bowl for holding the wine (up to 30cm).
In most cases, the neck narrows toward the front until it reaches a height of around 30 centimeters. Their capacity is often similar to that of a single regular bottle of wine (0.75 litres). 
What is the purpose of using a wine decanter?
The aeration that occurs during the process of decanting improves the taste. This process is frequently referred to as letting the wine “breathe.” A wine’s flavor can be improved by the process of aeration by first reducing the intensity of the wine’s tannins and then allowing the gases that have accumulated in the wine to escape.
Why should red wine be decanted?
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Scientificamerican. com/page/newsletter-sign-up/?origincode=2018 sciam ArticlePromo NewsletterSignUp ” name= itemprop=”articleBody” value= “articleBody” Explaining this is Andrew L. Waterhouse, who teaches in the department of viticulture and enology at the University of California, Davis. The practice of decanting red wines has a long history in the service of high-quality wines and can be done merely for the purpose of adding an elegant flourish to a dinner.
During the process of decanting, the wine is transferred from its original container into a second one, which is often made of crystal or transparent glass. If sediment is anticipated, the use of a candle to help in visualizing throughout the ceremony is an excellent way to bring even more meaning to the experience.
- The decision of whether or not to decant a bottle of wine is mostly dependent on two factors, despite the fact that there is a very little amount of written material on the subject.
- One of these criteria is whether or not you want to change the flavor or look of the wine.
- The terminology that are not based on measurements but are descriptive expressions that are traditionally used by those who drink wine are in quotation marks.) Some young red wines, defined as those that are between three and ten years older than the vintage date, have the potential to be harsh or astringent if they are eaten immediately after the bottle has been opened.
These are often pricey wines that sell for more than twenty dollars in the United States market today and are made with the intention of being aged in a cellar. During the maturing process in the bottle, red wine is kept in an atmosphere that is largely devoid of oxygen, which contributes to the astringent quality of such wines.
Because of the presence of certain scent molecules, the beverages that are exposed to this environment for an extended period of time develop what is known as a “closed character.” The first ten to thirty minutes after a bottle of wine is opened will see significant shifts in the wine’s scent. The process of breathing is sped up by decanting, which in turn amplifies the smells of natural fruit and wood in the wine.
This occurs because a few volatile compounds are allowed to evaporate during this process. The harshness and astringency that are characteristic of young wines can reportedly be mitigated by decanting, which reduces the flavor of the tannins. Use of a decanter with a broad bottom that allows the wine to be exposed to the most possible air will produce the best possible results.
However, it is noteworthy to note that chemists have not seen any alterations to these tannins after the decanting process has been completed. Simply uncorking a bottle fifteen to sixty minutes before using it will result in changes that are less startling to the senses. Keep in mind that many wines ranging in price from quite affordable to moderately priced, as well as certain wines that are priced significantly higher, are designed for consumption right away and are unlikely to get better with maturing or decanting.
In older red wines, the tannin responses have had sufficient time to complete such that astringency has been reduced. Because of this, the flavor is not as sharp as it was before, although there may be some sediment or precipitate in the bottle as a result.
It is perfectly fine to ingest this sediment; nevertheless, if it is not removed, the wine may appear hazy and have a grainy flavor. The sediment is left behind when the wine is filtered, resulting in clear wine. (When decanting to remove sediment, a container with a small bottom rather than a broad one should be used.) In the case of older wines, one should not wait to pour the wine after decanting but rather serve it immediately after the process.
The fragrance that is contained within the bottle of old wine, particularly extremely old wine, can be notoriously ephemeral, and it can frequently be lost in less than twenty minutes. White wines have a lower tannin content than their red counterparts and do not spend as much time aging in the bottle before being served.
- As a result, there is not much of a chance for them to generate bottle aromas that require evaporation.
- Instead, the natural fruit fragrances that linger in the air characterize their flavor more precisely.
- Due to the volatile nature of these scents, decanting actually results in a wine that has a far lower concentration of the aroma than the winemaker anticipated.
In addition, because white wines have a lower concentration of tannins and pigments than red wines do, white wines do not develop the same amount of sediments as their darker counterparts do. The author would like to extend their gratitude to Kay Bogart for all of her assistance in putting together this response.
