What Is a Decanter For?
A decanter is a vessel that is used to hold a liquid. For modern-day purposes, a decanter is typically used to hold red wine. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The first decanters were used in ancient Rome by servants to pour wine at gatherings. After the fall of the Roman empire, decanters fell into disuse only to be revived once more during the Renaissance, when they were redesigned to have the long necks that are characteristic of modern-day decanters.
Function
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With a decanter, red wine, which can often contain sediment, is poured slowly from the bottle into the vessel. As it is transferred, the sediment remains in the original bottle, allowing for the wine that will be served to be clear of it.
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Types
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Decanters typically all bear a similar shape, though some may be more dramatically sculpted or decorated than others. Materials used for making a decanter are usually non-reactive elements, such as glass, to prevent the wine from being changed or damaged by its container.
Believed Benefits
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In addition to the benefit of removing sediment, many people prefer to use decanters because they believe it allows the wine to breathe, or aerate. Allowing a wine to breathe and pouring it into a separate container is believed by many to enhance its flavors by breaking down the flavors of the wine and releasing its aroma.
Considerations
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In large part, decanters serve primarily decorative functions nowadays, as the production of red wine has improved to the point that it is rare to find sediment within the bottles. It can still be problematic in older vintages, however.
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