How to Decant Wine
Decanting is a matter of patience rather than complexity. Whether you are softening the sharp edges of a young vintage or saving a mature bottle from its own debris, the goal is to introduce the wine to oxygen and clarity.
Clarity is the objective
If you are decanting an old bottle, the 24-hour vertical rest is non-negotiable. If you are decanting a young wine, you can bypass the resting period and move straight to the splash pour.
- glass decanter
- light source (candle or flashlight)
- corkscrew
What goes in.
- 1 bottleRed wine (aged or young)
The steady hand
Place your light source directly beneath the neck of the bottle while pouring. Stop the moment you see the sediment reach the shoulder of the bottle; never pour the final drop into the decanter.
The method.
Rest the bottle
For vintage bottles, stand the bottle upright in a quiet, dark place for 24 hours to ensure all sediment collects at the base.
Remove the foil and cork
Cut the foil cleanly and pull the cork with steady pressure. Wipe the inside of the glass neck to remove any loose cork fragments.
Illuminate the pour
Position a candle or flashlight beneath the neck of the bottle. Pour slowly and steadily into the decanter, keeping your eyes on the liquid as it exits the bottle.
Watch the sediment
As the bottle nears empty, the flow will change. Watch for the fine, dark silt to move toward the neck. Stop immediately when it appears, leaving the dregs in the bottle.
Aerate young wine
If the wine is young, pour it into the decanter with force, splashing it against the glass walls to encourage rapid oxygen contact.
Other turns to take.
The Double Decant
Pour the wine into the decanter, then pour it back into the cleaned original bottle. This is useful for aerating young wines when you lack an attractive decanter.
When it doesn't go to plan.
A wide-bottomed decanter is best for young, tannic wines that need surface area to open up.
A narrow, tall decanter is superior for old wines, as it limits the surface area exposed to oxygen, preventing the wine from fading too quickly.
If you lack a decanter, any clean glass vessel or even a large glass pitcher will suffice.
The ones that keep coming up.
How long should a wine sit in the decanter?
Young, tannic reds benefit from 30 to 60 minutes. Old wines should be poured and served immediately, as they can lose their structure with prolonged air exposure.
Do I need to decant white wines?
Rarely, though some fuller-bodied white wines benefit from 15 minutes of air to shed any reductive, matchstick-like aromas.
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