How to Shop for a Decanter
A decanter is used as a receptacle for wine. Red wines often contain sediment, or insoluble potassium bitartrate crystals, that should be filtered out before drinking. Leaving the sediment in wine can alter its flavor and prevent you from enjoying it to its fullest potential. Wine enthusiasts will slowly and carefully pour red wine from its bottle into a decanter to leave the sediment behind and put the clear wine into a new container for serving. You can also use a decorative decanter to serve white wine or younger wines that do not need decanting. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Head to your local wine store to shop for a decanter. Choose a wider-necked decanter for wine you plan to drink that day, because the wide neck lets in more air. Shop for a narrower-necked decanter for wines to be kept overnight.
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Shop for a decanter with a wider base and a fluted lip to allow for more aeration. This gives the wine more surface area and allows air to reach it faster.
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Shop for a decanter with a narrow neck to reduce an older wine's exposure to air. These types of decanters are typically used for wines that have sediment to be filtered out before drinking. The sediment is not harmful, but it can cause a bitter taste.
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Choose a decanter that holds the amount of wine you intend to serve. For example, you can buy a half-size decanter to serve half the bottle and save the other half for later.
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Pick a decorative decanter to dress up your table or impress your guests. There are many elegant designs made of glass or crystal. Some are even sold in sets with wine glasses. Stash the decanter on your sideboard or credenza when not in use.
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Note that the prettier decanters might not be the most practical for decanting or aerating wine, but they can make your table look more attractive. Many people find decanters more pleasing to the eye than standard wine bottles.
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Aerate younger wines in a decanter. Many will not require decanting, yet their flavor will be much improved if you aerate them by pouring into decanters and allowing them to be exposed to oxygen for several minutes before drinking.
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Tips & Warnings
Most mass-marketed wines are already clarified by the time they reach you and do not need to be decanted. However, a decanter can still make an excellent gift or beautiful addition to your table and is a festive way to celebrate your love for wine.
Many people collect both antique and modern decanters.
