Aerating wine?? Does anyone do this??

[luvnit]

If you do, can you tell me about it? Benefits? How do you do it? Best way to do it? Best wines to do it for?

[Harborwitch]

We used to do this - but left our decanter in ND. It's basically a matter of introducing air into the wine -letting it breathe. You can do it by pouring the wine early, decanting it into a decanter, or pouring it through a spout that aerates the wine.

Some wines don't need it. Jean will have more info.

[chef_Tab]

one word........reds

but, I don't know anyone (personally) that actually decants wine anymore. Maybe we have just become lazy.

[DFen911]

I do! I don't have a fancy aerator though. If I have the time I pop the cork 1 hour prior to serving. If I don't have that much I time I decant to a decanter 30 minutes prior to serving.

So I didn't believe this at first but the flavor changes a lot. Do this get a decent bottle of wine you like, red only. Pop the cork and instantly pour a 1 ounce serving and taste it. Makes notes about the flavor, acidity etc. Wait 15 minutes, do it again, wait another 15 min do it again, till you get to the 1 hour mark. You will find it tastes so much smoother if it's allowed to breathe.

[Harborwitch]

Smarty pants!!! You are right.

[Gourmet_Mom]

It's funny, but that's what I planned to do. I decant my wine from time to time, but I never stopped to think how it changed the flavor.

[Old Bay]

Quote:

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If you do, can you tell me about it? Benefits? How do you do it? Best way to do it? Best wines to do it for?

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It's better to let a wine open up on its own, IMO. I decant only if it is a young tannic wine or an old wine that has thrown a lot of sediment. You miss layers of flavor if you decant--a wine will develop over a period of a few hours sometime--each glass will taste a little different and this makes it more fun!!

[cjs]

Laura, what Denise said is fun to do - taste every 15 minutes or so. Another idea to keep in the back of your mind is when you try a new bottle of wine, buy two - that way if you really like it, you don't have to worry about finding and/or getting it again. I always order two now when I order or buy in person. And, if it turns out you don't particularly like it make Beef Bourguignonne or make my reduction and use it as a sweetend sauce or glaze.

I don't decant so often anymore, but I do like to open a good red an hour or two before serving - as everyone says, it certainly helps develop the flavors.

I have two bottles on order (take note, Bill ) from wine express that eveyone who rated it said to open almost a day ahead of drinking...don't know that we'll go that far, but I'll open it a number of hours ahead.

Vina Zaco 2006 Rioja, Bodegas Bilbainas


wish it would hurry up and get here!!!