Whether you’re toasting a big moment with friends and loved ones or just enjoying a glass of your favorite libation on your own, the glasses and decanter you choose can either help or hinder the experience.
Choosing a decanter and glasses can help to make sure your favorite drink tastes just as it should, and there are a few important things to keep in mind. Decanters are often beautiful pieces of cut crystal, so they make a good addition to your home décor even when empty. An evening with a glass of your favorite beverage is quickly elevated when you use a stunning Puik decanter and modern glassware. But did you know that certain types of wine need to be decanted in order to get the best flavor and aroma?
Which Wines Should You Decant?
While most types of wine can benefit from decanting, young red wines need to be decanted as their tannins can be the most intense. Older reds, meanwhile, have a tendency to develop more sediment and can also greatly benefit from decanting. The only wines that should not be decanted are sparkling wine and champagne whose signature bubbles would be reduced by decanting.
What Is Decanting?
Decanting is basically the process of slowly pouring a liquid (generally wine, whiskey, or other alcoholic drink) from one vessel into another. Wine is best decanted into a glass vessel with an easy pour neck, like the Puik decanter, and we prefer ours served in beautiful Puik modern glassware. Cut from mouth-blown crystal and crafted into an elegant diamond shape, this unique pitcher and matching glassware can stand tall or sit on its side without spilling a drop.
Why Decant Your Wine?
There are three reasons you’ll want to decant your wine before pouring and enjoying a glass.
1. Decanting Separates the Sediment From the Liquid
Older vintage wines can give off sediment as they age. This is the case particularly with red wine and vintage ports. While it’s not harmful to drink, it can be harmful to the flavor of the wine. The decanting process allows the sediment to remain in the bottle while the liquid flows into the decanter.
2. Decanting Aerates the Wine, Enhancing Its Flavor
You’ve heard that it’s important to let wine “breathe.” Aeration introduces more oxygen into the liquid as you slowly pour from the bottle into the decanter. This allows the flavors and aromas to bloom while releasing gases that have built up as a result of being tightly bottled.
3. Broken Wine Cork? Not a Problem.
When a cork breaks, the small pieces can disperse throughout the bottle, ruining the wine. However, similar to the way sediment remains in the bottle during decanting, the small pieces of cork will remain there as well, leaving nothing but the liquid in the Puik decanter.
Whether you’re a budding wine aficionado or if you just like to enjoy a glass or two with dinner or friends, a little forethought, a Puik decanter, and Puik modern glassware can go a long way toward making your drink that much more enjoyable all around.