Decanting Wine

A Decanter

Decanting wine is the act of pouring wine, almost always red wine, from the bottle into a clear glass container from which the wine will later be served. There are really three reasons why one would want to decant wine, two of which are practical, while the third is more cosmetic.

1. To remove sediment from the wine - Older red wines that have been aging for years will throw off sediment that collects in the bottle (typically on the side of the bottle and then to the bottom when the wine bottle is turned upright). Decanting allows you to pour the clear wine off of the sediment. This can be accomplished by gently pouring the wine into the decanter and stopping when you reach the end where the sediment is.


2. To help the flavor and aromas of the wine - Young red wines can also benefit from decanting for a completely different reason. In the case of a young red wine, the reason for decanting is to expose the wine to the air. This process helps to soften some of the harsher flavors that may be present in a red wine, while at the same time allowing the aromas to develop.


3. For show - The third reason is ambiance. Decanting and serving wine from a decanter adds a certain ambiance and showmanship to an occasion.

When decanting a wine for flavor or show, it is simply enough to pour all of the bottled wine down the inside edge of the decanter.

Funnel with Screen

When decanting red wine to remove sediment is is best to start by setting the bottle of wine upright for several hours prior to decanting so that the sediment falls to the bottom of the bottle. After that, make sure to remove all of the foil cap from the wine bottle so that you have a clear view through the glass. From this point, decanting is simply pouring the wine down the inside edge of the decanter until you see sediment in the wine through the neck of the bottle.

One may also use a funnel with a wire mesh scree to capture the sediment. In this case, not as much care needs to be taken to watch for sediment in the neck of the bottle.