You might have seen a wine decanter at one of your friend’s houses while you were visiting for supper or maybe you saw one on the display at the store and puzzled over what the function is of these pretty glass vessels. While they’re ornate and fun to have a look at they do have a function which goes back to the ancient Roman Days when red wine was the most well-liked libation of the day.
Originally wine decanters were made of glass which the Romans forged and they served as a practical technique of pouring wine at the table which was normally kept in large vessels. The Romans were the first to notice that red wine tasted much smoother when served from these containers which would later be discovered to be the process of aeration. After the decline of the Romans wine decanters were mostly built of metals like brass and silver as the art of glass blowing was temporarily lost. Once the process was rediscovered the stopper was introduced in the mid 15th Century to prevent heavy exposure to oxygen after the wine had been fully aerated.
The Dual Purpose of the Wine Decanter
Decanters serve multiple functions in the wine serving process. The 1st and original function was to split sediment from the wine which was extraordinarily common in the beginning of making wine. This is much less common today as the wine making process has developed but is still useful on occasion when you get a bottle that was poured off the bottom sediment. Thanks to the bigger circumference of the wine decanter the more heavy sediment has an easier time settling to the bottom and away from your pour. The other point of the wine decanter is to aerate the wine which is the process of adding oxygen to a younger or harsher wine. Aeration is very popular with stronger wines with loads of tannins like a Bordeaux or Cabernet Sauvignon and isn’t recommended for more delicate wines like a Pinot Noir.
Wine decanters come in a selection of styles and sizes and the styles vary as much as your inventiveness will permit. The most typical styles are tubewine decanters, shaft and globe wine decanters and duck wine aerators. All decanters are designed to hold at minimum a 750ml bottle of wine and typically the broader the decanter then the more volume the wine has to oxygenate which ends up in quicker aeration.
Fancy Wine Decanter
We advocate that you use your own style and taste to select a wine decanter. There is not any secret formula and most wine decanters will serve the purpose they’re intended for. As with all things related to wine your personal preference is always the most significant aspect in selecting your decanter.
James Warneck is President and wine lover at Wine Buff Warehouse, the online leading seller of wine decanters and wine accessories. For more ideas on wine enjoyment and history or to go shopping for your favorite wino, visit their ecommerce site www.winebuffwarehouse.com
Having a Vinotemp wine cooler can help to keep your wine at a proper temperature allowing it to age properly and prevent it from going bad. But what reds are best to keep in a wine cooler and which ones age the best?? The primary function of a wine cooler is to keep your wines at standard temperature of 53F.
Now let’s look at some red varietals that benefit from aging – what are they?.
1. Syrah or Shiraz - This grape variety which is known in the US and France as Syrah and South Africa and Australia as Shiraz produces some big powerful robust wines. This type of wine has a style that has smooth firm tannins and flavors like cherry, plum, dark berries, licorice, black and white pepper and dark chocolate. Syrah or Shiraz is typically a full bodied wine.
2. Cabernet - This is probably one of the most well known styles of wine, Cabernet originated in Bordeaux France. Cabernet Savignon is great for blending with other grape varieties that have more mellow flavors. Cabernets are often medium to full bodied styles of wine and have high tannin content. Typical flavors that may be found in a Cabernet are red berries, cherries, vanilla, warmer style spices, tobacco, and plums.
3. Pinot Noir - Perhaps the most difficult grape variety to grow pinot noir grapes produce a lighter bodied fruiter front palette style of red wine. Originally from Burgundy France, pinot noir is now grown around the world in areas like Victoria Australia, New Zealand, Oregon, California, and some parts of Europe. Pinot Noir is a much lighter style of wine with flavors like cherry, tomato, red berries and earthy or woody flavors.
All of the wines mentioned above will benefit from proper cellaring in a Vinotemp Wine Cooler.
If you own a Vinotemp wine Cooler make sure that you use it to keep your red wines away from the heat. And don’t forget it is best to keep your red wines at a temperature of around 53F.