Do you decant wine

[Greg_D]

I have got in the habit of decanting all my wine at home - i always have 'decent' stuff (C.£15/bottle) so feel it is best to present it as well as possible and to let it breathe.

Now, i don't know technically why i am doing it, does decanting wine actually change anything about the taste or is it just a middle class one-upmanship/look how nice my cut glass is type of thing.

some education would be lovely!!!

[Adenauer]

Yes, into a glass

[stormin]

I decant red wine, was told many years ago that it helps it to beath properly as well as looking posh.

Don't know it it works with white, but if you think it makes you feel posher...then go for it

[jenpot]

It also means the sediment stays in the bottle.

If you drink decent wine.

[soda]

Adenauer said:

Yes, into a glass

I had a pint glass last time I was drinking red.

[soad]

No, I don't

[Pothole]

Greg_D said:

this post is just a middle class one-upmanship/look how nice my cut glass is type of thing.

EFA

[andy400]

Somebody recently tried to tell me why it's a good idea - for red wine at least - but I have to admit I wasn't listening.

I don't. I have a number of decanters (presentations etc) which just gather dust.

[Adenauer]

Isn't it a bit, well, 70s? You know, like pineapple and cheese on cocktail sticks?

[RemainAllHoof]

Greg_D said:

Now, i don't know technically why i am doing it, does decanting wine actually change anything about the taste

You mean you can't tell?

[J B L]

Works wonder on older wines. But you need to do it at least half a day before you drink it and leave in the room to get to tempurature.

Useless on cheap, green, "new world" tat.

[jet_noise]

Dear All,

jenpot said:

It also means the sediment stays in the bottle you get to drink more wine .

EFA

If you don't decant, there's sediment in the bottom and you pour a glass or so at a time the sediment is disturbed and the last 1/4 of the bottle becomes undrinkable (until the next day at least),

regards,
Jet

[jains15]

Yes, allowing red wine to breathe is actually allowing it to oxidise slightly so the tannins soften. Ever noticed how the second glass out of a bottle is nicer than the first (assuming you havn't put the cork back in)? This is because the oxygen in air softens the tanins (I think)

If you don't want to or can't decant, open the bottle half an hour before hand, and/or when you are pouring, pour slower and from a height so that is 'splashes' into the glass, you'll get a similar effect.

It can go too far the other way though, wine is horrible after it's been open too long

[RemainAllHoof]

The sediment is bits of grape. 1 of your 5 a day? Hm... 5 bottles of wine a day, then?

[Davey S2]

Yes. Its all about getting some oxygen through the wine.

Simply pulling the cork then leaving the bottle on the table for a few hours does f**k all but decanting it does.

As said it also stops you pouring the sediment into the glass.

You can buy a decent decanrter with a glass funnel and gauze filter for about £10 in Ikea.

[Greg_D]

RemainAllHoof said:

Greg_D said:

Now, i don't know technically why i am doing it, does decanting wine actually change anything about the taste

You mean you can't tell?

no, because i always decant.

[E36GUY]

The price of the bottle does not indicate "the decent stuff," OP! You can get awesome wines for half that.

One decants aged wines to allow them to airate and then breathe and to (try and) keep any sediment in the bottle.

[ascayman]

i have a decanter but tend to use a vinturi wine decanter for ease nowdays.

[ascayman]

ascayman said:

i have a decanter but tend to use a vinturi wine Aerator for ease nowdays.

[Podie]

ascayman said:

i have a decanter but tend to use a vinturi wine decanter for ease nowdays.

These any good?