Q&A: Wine, Food, Beer, Or Spirits Questions
How to Decant Wine !
How can I DECANT the WINE? What is the system or process? tnx
Answer From Expert Roger C. Bohmrich, MW
The purpose of decanting wine - in other words, pouring it from the bottle to some sort of carafe from which it will be served - is to remove the wine from sediment which may have precipitated during aging and/or to aerate or "open" a still youthful wine so that it is more revealing and enjoyable. There is certainly no reason to decant the vast majority of wines - unless you just like the visual appeal of wine in a decanter. If you are dealing with an older wine with sediment, it will be best to stand the bottle up overnight so that the deposit settles at the base. Then, carefully cut the capsule, wipe the lip, and gently and slowly pour the wine into a decanter. It helps to do this with bright light shining on the neck of the bottle so that you can stop pouring when the sediment begins to darken the wine. Traditionally, a candle was used, but any small lamp or flashlight will be fine. I find that a paper towel placed on a table directly below the neck is very helpful as it is easy to see the sediment against the white background (and the paper also serves to catch any drips). If the wine is young or without sediment, then all you need to do is pour it into the decanter. Bear in mind that the longer the wine sits in a decanter, the more it is exposed to air, with resulting changes; some powerful wines seem to improve with airing while others may deteriorate rather quickly.
About The Expert
Roger explains his approach to the Q&A -
"My goal is to provide as much reliable, practical information as I can in a brief answer. I try to choose my words carefully to be as accurate and precise as possible in the space allowed. I always do my best to be fair, treat the question with respect, and offer credible, informed commentary. By all means, ask a follow-up question if you feel a key issue has not been addressed. I also encourage you to look over past questions as you may find the answer to yours."
Bio:
Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade, and he last served as a senior executive with a major national importer. In 2006, he launched Millesima USA, a retail entity affiliated with Europe's leading fine wine mail order company. Roger became one of America's first Masters of Wine in 1993, and he has been very active as an educator and speaker at wine festivals and conferences. He hosts a community television program entitled "Wine's Simple Pleasures," and is currently working on a book of original recipes and wine pairing solutions.
