Why Decant?

Both old and young red wines-and some whites-benefit from decanting. Decanting means pouring wine from the bottle into another glass container with a large base where the wine can have room for as much surface area as possible to come in contact with oxygen.

Like swirling wine in a glass to release aromas, decanting allows a wine to mix with oxygen and release flavors, or "open up".

Old wines also benefit from decanting because sediment builds up at the bottom of the bottle. If you properly decant old wines you'll leave most of the sediment in the bottle. It should be noted, however, that sediment is harmless.

Wines deposit sediment as a natural part of aging, some more than others. Decanting the wine can help to separate the clear wine from the sediment. Decanting the wine also introduces air into the wine - letting the wine breathe - releasing the aromas and enhancing flavors.

Decanting old wines, just prior to serving, helps to ensure that the wines' clarity and brilliance are not obscured by any sediment that may have developed over time (pour slowly and avoid decanting the last ounce).

One way to decant an old wine is to place a candle on the table or stand a flashlight with the beam pointing toward the ceiling and pour with the light shining through the neck of the bottle. You'll be able to see the sediment approach the neck and stop the pour, letting it settle and continue the process until you've held back as much sediment as you can.

Decant young wines as much as several hours before they are served to give the wine a chance to breath, simulating a stage of development that might normally be acquired after years of aging in the bottle. Pour quickly, even up-ending the bottle because the idea is to expose the wine to air.

Wine decanter design varies from the purely function to extravagantly decorated, but sometimes unusual design and functionality can go hand-in-hand as in the Orbital Decanter that, when removed from its base, will sit elegantly on your table while a gentle orbital movement increases the breathing of your wine with minimal disturbance.

Don't forget that the wine glass is a "mini-decanter", If you are serving many people at a dinner setting, utilize the glasses. Pour before the guests are seated to aerate the wine.