Wine Decanter

Robin1

My husband was on about getting a wine decanter. I was thinking of getting same for him for Xmas. Had a look on amazon and there seem to be different shapes, my question is does it matter what shape it is? I don't drink wine and know nothing about it so any suggestions would be very welcome!

rowz

Seriously why bother? do you/he expect to keep a bottle of wine for so long it needs to be decanted?

amdublin

rowz wrote: »

Seriously why bother? do you/he expect to keep a bottle of wine for so long it needs to be decanted?

IMO decanting a younger wine improves it.

amdublin

Also, sometimes it is just nicer to drink wine from a decanter then a bottle. If her husband wants one who are we to question it!

rowz

amdublin wrote: »

Also, sometimes it is just nicer to drink wine from a decanter then a bottle. If her husband wants one who are we to question it!

No we are not,i understand the aesthetics of the occasion!

Robin1

I haven't a clue why husband wants it or what purpose he thinks it'll serve. Also if I buy one it'll save me having to think of another present instead:cool:

So to come back to my original question, is a decanter a decanter?

rowz

Robin1 wrote: »

I haven't a clue why husband wants it or what purpose he thinks it'll serve. Also if I buy one it'll save me having to think of another present instead:cool:

So to come back to my original question, is a decanter a decanter?

NO!

Robin1

So could you enlighten me on the difference rowz?

rowz

Would you prefer a handle {as in Claret jug} or pear shaped
Ships decanters are tall necked with broad wide bases,very decorative but
s
omewhat cumbersome!

Robin1

I don't mind what shape. I just thought that different shapes might have different effects on the wine (or maybe not?) and as you already mentioned some might be more awkward to handle than others.

rowz

Do you have a price in mind ? antique or contemporary ?

Robin1

Probably wouldn't want to spend more than €50. Open to either style.

rowz

OK Robin.
Check out Debenhams,nice one by Jasper Conran {tapered} for 47 euro.
Do hope that is some help!

Robin1

Thanks will do.

rubadub

Robin1 wrote: »

my question is does it matter what shape it is?

Yes

rowz wrote: »

Ships decanters are tall necked with broad wide bases,very decorative but
s
omewhat cumbersome!

The ship decanters stop it topping over when at sea. But also they increase the surface area significantly, i.e. you pour the wine in a shallow container and it is very exposed to air, while a bottle of wine opened and left to "breathe" only has a surface area the size of a coin exposed to air. Some want it purely for decoration, and some want it for this surface area (or both). If your husband opens wine to let it breathe then he probably values the large surface area of the decanter, which in effect allows you to shorten the time needed to "breathe".

If he only wants to shorten the time needed you might look at wine aerators, which plug into the top of a wine bottle. These also aid pouring. Loads of types of these
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=images&complete=1&q=unsalted+vs+salted+butter+%2Bfresher&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=37189454&biw=1540&bih=843&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=9_OXUK2yIoKFhQet0oDgAQ#um=1&hl=en&safe=images&complete=1&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=wine+aerator&oq=wine+aerator&gs_l=img.3..0.308521.311877.2.312012.13.7.0.5.5.0.206.1048.2j4j1.7.0...0.0...1c.1.NuNNOisqhjk&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=caddae7b81342f39&bpcl=37189454&biw=1540&bih=843

afatbollix

I recommend you find one you like the look of. As they nearly all do the same thing. So just find one you like and buy it


A lot of wine snobs around here that have the opinion that if you need to ask for information you shouldn't even ask but thats how we all learn!

Slaphead07

Decanting wine makes a huge difference no matter if it's old or young wine. It allows air into the wine and it's like an little "upgrade" for it! Regardless if it's cheap or expensive you might as well get the best out of it. They're very useful for catching sediment in unfiltered/unfined wines too.
There are a few rules for a good wine decanter. It needs a wide base to give the wine surface area to breath and a wide(ish) opening, again to let the air circulate. Don't buy a tall one with a lid - that's a spirit decanter. Don't buy a cut glass one, you can't see the true colour of the wine.



Don't buy "designer" decanters - they're usually just copies of good ones and more expensive. A real one should retail at about €29.99

Irishrossoblu

I would recommend:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wine-Breather-and-Carafe/dp/B0035WSJQW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352142342&sr=8-1

dinneenp

read an article in The Sunday Times saying that decantering newer wines makes taste better.
So I'm getting one for my birthday, cheers for the tip about large base.