It seems that these days wine snobs are everywhere, with some people actually knowing what they are talking about and others who just think they do.
When is the last time you had a glass of wine served from a decanter?
Decanting Wine Makes A Difference
The truth is that having a wine decanter on the dinner table not only looks good but in many cases it can actually help you to enjoy the taste of a wine.
Essentially the term decanting means to pour the contents from one vessel usually a bottle into another vessel from which to serve it from.
Not all wines need to be decanted even though it certainly looks better on the dinner table than the bottle yet for some wines it can actually help you to enjoy them more.
Most experts agree that decanting is very helpful with some older wines and ports as it can separate the wine from any sediment which while not only looking nicer in your wine glass, but adds to the drinking experience. When decanting an older wine be sure to have enough light so as to see any sediment in the bottle which in days gone by was done by placing a candle at the other side of the bottle as you slowly poured the wine into the decanter while making sure that any sediment remained in the bottle.
The second and probably the most important reason to decant a win is to allow it to aerate with many especially joven wines or young wines being tightly closed on the nose and palate.
By pouring the wine again slowly from the bottle to the decanter allows the wine to take in oxygen allowing the wine to express its aroma and flavors to a higher degree. Wines that are high in tannins such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and blends containing either of the two are high in this regard and will benefit from being decanted.
Many opponents to decanting say that just by swirling the wine in your glass will have the same effect as decanting yet I do not agree unless you are talking about a very old vintage red wine such as a delicate Burgundy that needs to be exposed to very little oxygen before drinking.
As a rule do not decant the wine hours before you plan on drinking it but half an hour or so before a meal is fine.
As for white wine most people tend to think that it is not necessary but it can have the effect of opening up a full-bodied white such as a Chardonnay, and just like with a red wine they can blossom when exposed to air. Another reason you may want to decanter a white is if the wine is too cold and you want to warm it to the correct serving temperature.
You will often see this done in some of the top restaurants in the world, as not only does it make the wine nicer to drink but also provides the diner with a little show at no expense.
Gemma Holmes has teamed up with www.forevercrystal.co.uk to bring you great dinning and wine advice. Gemma has got a degree in hosipality and now works in events. She lives in a country pub which she runs near Tetbury UK.
