Why Decant Wine and How to Do It

Wine bottle and wine glass - Decant Wine

Why Decant Wine


Removing Sediment




How to Decant Wine

For Sediment







Decanting Wine, How, When and Why to Decant Wine

If you have gone to the trouble of purchasing some good wines and learning a little about wine in general, then you probably realize that decanting is an important part of the process. There are several reasons for this; however, it’s best to start off by understanding that decanting is primarily about removing sediment from the wine. It also assists the aerating process in that a wine needs to be exposed to the air in order to bring grapesout its flavors and aromas. It has been said though, that white wines do not need to be decanted, but this is a matter of personal taste and something an individual connoisseur needs to establish for themselves.

Why You Should Decant

As mentioned above, the primary reason for decanting is to remove sediment from wine, usually red wines. The reason for this is that wines have a variety of organic matter in them such as grape skins and yeast. Tiny particles but nevertheless, it is there and as the wine ages, they settle from the wine and need to be removed prior to drinking. It is the red wines which have a greater percentage of skin contact which tend to have the most sediment and it becomes more noticeable as the wine ages. So the presence of the sediment is the primary reason for decanting. Aerating the wine is the other.

How to Decant

To achieve the best results, there is a specific technique to follow. You will have noticed that during the storage process, the wine will have been stored in a certain position. It is imperative that you maintain the same side facing down while you are decanting to avoid mixing the sediment into the wine. Then pour the wine very slowly into the decanter while holding back the sediment and not pouring it into the decanter as well. The traditional method of decanting involved holding a candle close to the wine bottle and decanter, when the sediment could be seen at the neck of the bottle, it was time to stop pouring. The rule of thumb was to leave the last 1½ inches of wine in the bottle with the sediment. Modern decanting involves using an aerating funnel which has the added benefit of filtering out the sediment.

When to Decant

This is very much related to the type of wine being decanted and how much time it is likely to need for the aeration process. In addition to removing sediment, aeration occurs with decanting. Coming into contact with air will release the aromatic properties of a wine. Approximately 1 hour prior to drinking the wine will provide optimum aeration, bearing in mind that the older the wine, the less aeration is required. An aged wine will only need a few minutes exposure to the air. You can observe the change in the flavor of the wine over the course of a meal as the air exposure time increases. Too much air exposure will result in a very tart, vinegary taste – which is not advisable, so it is best to either seal or refrigerate the wine, or drink it while its flavors are at their very best.


It’s a good idea to stand a bottle upright for a minimum of 24 hours and maximum of 36 hours prior to enjoying a wine to allow the sediment to settle to the bottom of the bottle prior to decanting. Timing is always important because the decanting and aeration process should be carried out in such a way so as to achieve the optimum flavor during the course of a meal, allowing for the type and age of the wine being consumed.

Best Wine Storage Practices

How to Properly Store Wine


Cleanliness and proper ventilation




Storing Wine at the Proper Angle






Optimum Temperature



Aging Wine


Why age wine?


What wines should be aged?


How do I age wine?



Which Red Wine Should I Choose?

Red Wine
Which Red Wine Should You Choose?


What Is a “Varietal”?



What are “Blends”? Are Varietals Better?


What is a Reserved Wine or a Library Wine?



Are More Expensive Wines Better?






Common Red Wines


(Remember, these are general guidelines.)


The Adventure


Here are a few tips for making the trip more fun.



Three Simple Ways to Make Wine Taste Better

Wine bottle with cork screw

Some wine drinkers like to savor the effects of consuming wine with little or no regard for subtle nuances of flavor and would even knowledgeably declare that it all tastes the same after several glasses. However, this is definitely not the case and if you enjoy good wines, you owe it to yourself and the wine, to savor and enjoy the many elements that work together to ultimately result in a fine tasting wine. There are ways though, to improve the taste of your wine and this can be achieved by understanding and working with temperature, air and light. These are the three elements which can affect how a wine will taste and they can be manipulated to bring out the best in a wine.

1. Temperature Must be Optimal For Serving

Common knowledge has it that a red wine should be served at room temperature while a white wine should be chilled. There is an element of truth in this, however it is only the beginning, particularly in regard to red wines. Each wine has it’s own optimal temperature and will vary with different grape varieties and the region where they were grown. For example, a full flavored Bordeaux should be served at 65 degrees F while a light Beaujolais should be served at 54 degrees F. Likewise for storing wines. For red wines, it should be between 52 – 65 degrees F, while for white wines, it should be between 45- 50 degrees F. You can find a detailed list of serving temperatures for various wines at this website: http://www.skybarhome.com/about-wine/wine-serving-temperatures/wine-serving-temperatures.html

2. Correct Aerating and Decanting

Correctly aerating a wine will improve it’s taste. Essentially, it involves allowing the wine to ‘breath’ by exposing it to air prior to drinking it. Young wines can often have high levels of carbon dioxide and exposure to air can reduce this and allow their true flavor to come through. This will work well for most young red wines and can also have a similar effect on young white wines. Young wines will need up to two hours to fully aerate, although a mature wine should only need one hour. For aged wines, a few minutes only is recommended. Decanting with the aid of an aerating funnel is the best way to aerate a wine, although electronic aeration is commonly used these days.

3. Wine Glasses Should Be Wine Specific

Yes, the way in which wine is tasted can also enhance its flavor. Wine glasses are shaped so as to direct the wine to precisely the right place on one’s tongue and to allow the aroma to waft gently up the nose. This is why a full flavored red wine should be tasted from a large wine glass. It also allows for full aeration. With white wines, reducing the surface area can create a more concentrated funnel through which delicate aromas can be savored and tasted. Keeping a collection of wine glasses suited for reds and whites will ensure you experience maximum aroma and flavor from either wine. A tip for serving red wine, is to only fill the glass to the level of the glass’s greatest diameter because this will provide excellent aeration and thus improve taste.

The correct combination of wine glass, aeration and temperature can bring about the optimal taste and aroma experience for both red and white wines. So yes, you can make your wine taste better but it is always a good idea to start out with a good wine in the first place so that you actually have something to improve upon.

The Best Decanter for Serving Wine

Wine Tasting for Beginners

Wine pouring into wine glass - copyrighted image

There is a time honored tradition to follow when it comes to wine tasting and there are a series of steps to follow if you are serious about understanding the aromas and tastes that are associated with the myriad of wines that are just waiting for you to try. It is a complex process with many facets however if you are just starting out with wine tasting, you can break the process down into several steps that will ensure your path from wine tasting for beginners to that of a more advanced taster, occurs reasonable quickly.

Step 1 – Look at the Wine

You should take note of the color of the wine as it sits in the glass, preferably against a white background. A white tablecloth or napkin is ideal for this. Be sure to check the color at the edge of the glass and then tilt it gently to see if the color changes between the edge and the center of the glass. You should look for the clarity of the color as well as saturation or depth, and intensity while noting that the depth and intensity of the color do not necessarily equate with quality.

Step 2 – Smell the Wine

After you have had a good look at the wine, bring the glass to within a few inches of your nose and breathe in while identifying the main scent. Then place your nose closer into the glass and inhale again. Aside from checking for any odors that could indicate a spoiled wine (aka corked), you should try to identify the predominant scent. It could be fruity, cheesy, spicy, woody, flowery or any of the other countless scents that can be present in a particular wine. Be aware of any alcohol smell too and if any are present, it should not be overpowering.

Step 3 – Let the Wine Breath

This step involves swirling the wine around in the glass because this will expose it to air. The air can act to bring out even more scents in the wine because the act of swirling wine and allowing it to spread over the interior of the glass increases the wine’s surface area. Aromas in the wine will open up as the wine becomes exposed to the oxygen. It is also worth noting how the wine runs back down into the glass as you swirl it around. It will run quickly or perhaps slowly and is known as viscosity. A viscous wine may be more full bodied.

Step 4 – Taste!

Finally you get to taste the wine, having already noted some information about it from the previous steps. Simply take some wine into your mouth along with some air and allow it move over your tongue as well as all around the inside of your mouth. Take note of its texture, body and weight as well as any features such as smoothness or tartness. While savoring the tastes you should also ascertain if they align with the aromas you smelled a little earlier.

Step 5 – Swallow the Wine?

This last step involves either swallowing the wine in your mouth or spitting it a spittoon provided for the purpose. It is a personal choice but obviously if you are driving, the spittoon option is the one to take. The other thing to consider is that swallowing many samples will result in you becoming tipsy and perhaps not as discerning during the tasting process as you were when you started out. Either way, the experience should be fun and you can drink water between wines to cleanse your palette.

These steps will guide through the wine tasting for beginners stage of your journey to being a more experienced wine taster. There are additional steps to consider once you are ready to move past the learning stage however that is a topic for another time. Learning about the varieties of aromas and tastes of wines should be an experience to enjoy and a little knowledge of the process should ensure this is indeed so.