Wine 101: Decanting

It's the time of year when we're entertaining more frequently, and we're looking to make a nice presentation for our guests. What better time to dust off your decanter to display the rich hues of your pinots? However, a decanter's role at the table does not only have to do with presentation.

Simply, a decanter is a container, usually glass, that you pour a bottle of wine into to let it "breathe" before you drink it. Decanters are widely available in many different sizes and shapes, from economy-priced versions to ornately engraved crystal, I've even seen decanters shaped like tree branches.

Generally we decant wine for two main reasons: To release aromas, and control sediment.

When you have an older bottle of wine that is aged and ready to drink, there is very often a lot of sediment at the bottom of the bottle that is perfectly harmless and natural, but not very pleasant to see trickling up bottom of your glass when you take the last sip. When decanting an older bottle, make sure to stand the bottle up for a few hours to allow the sediment to settle to the bottom of the bottle. After you open the wine, slowly pour it into the decanter and let it sit for a little while. A great majority of the sediment will remain in the bottle itself, and what little hasn't will settle to the bottom of the decanter and stay there instead of being poured into the glasses, so you can enjoy your sediment-free wine.

You know how when you taste wine, you're supposed to pour only a little into the glass and swirl it around before you sniff it? Decanting is the same thing on a larger scale. Decanting, like swirling, allows the wine to come into contact with oxygen in the air, which releases the delicate aromas that have been trapped in the bottle. Since our sense of smell is so intricately connected with our sense of taste, this enhances flavor as well as aroma.

And, as mentioned, one last reason to decant is presentation. When entertaining, a decanter can enhance the look and feel of the table and allow you and your guests to see the color of the wine being served.