DECANTERS cont.
Some decanters have long necks and swooping designs, which allow more oxygen in as the wine travels through the decanter.
It is important to note that not all wines benefit from decanting. If you have a very old vintage wine, you will want to decant it off the sediment, but not too early. Older wines are quite delicate — too much oxygen at this stage in their life can actually be harmful, and the wine will start to deteriorate the moment it is open. Sommeliers would recommend opening and decanting these bottles right before they are to be served to maximize enjoyment. Similarly, most young white will not benefit from decanting. In fact, doing so can actually cause the wine to lose its freshness and fruity esters. It is also not recommended to decant most sparkling wines since this can cause the beloved bubbles to dissipate. Decanters can be a fun addition to any dinner party since they come in many different sizes and shapes. Some have long necks and swooping designs, which allow more oxygen in as the wine travels through the decanter. Decanters with larger bases are often meant for fuller- bodied wines, since you are increasing the surface area of the wine that is exposed to — you guessed it — oxygen! Taller, thinner decanters are better for lighter reds, such as Burgundy. No matter what decanter you are reaching for, though, it is bound to enhance your experience. So pop that cork, decant, sip and enjoy!
* Winopedia
SEDIMENT: Sediment is small wine particles.
DOUBLE DECANTING: This is a process of pouring wine from a bottle to a decanter and back to the bottle. The wine decants for the appropriate period of time. It is then poured back into the original bottle free of sediment.
24 SAVOUR MANITOBA | WINTER 24
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