To those unfamiliar with wine etiquette it may seem strange, but using a wine aerator has a specific purpose and is part of the proper way to serve red wines. This article will delve into the world of wine aerators, how they are used, and why you should be using one.
Although a bottle of wine may be aerated naturally by letting it sit, an aerator is a device that speeds up the process. The reason why an aerator may be necessary is because the thin top of the bottle may not be wide enough to let the gases within the wine bottle escape, which is essential for the proper flavor and presentation depending on the bottle of wine.
What is a Wine Aerator?
There are a few different ways to aerate a bottle of wine. One way is to pour it into another container and swirl it around before letting it sit. The amount of time that it needs to sit will vary on the age and the type of wine. It is suggested that newer red wines should aerate, or “breathe”, for at least an hour or two, whereas a very old red wine will need no aeration at all.
When you are opening a bottle of wine at a dinner party or for a guest at a restaurant, there is often not enough time to properly decant or aerate the bottle of wine. That is, not without the assistance of a wine aerator.
Not all wine aerators are the same and they can have different degrees of efficiency when it comes to aerating the wine, but they work a lot faster at oxygenizing the wine and removing the odors trapped inside from the bottling process.
What are the Benefits of a Wine Aerator?
When a bottle of wine is prepared there is a lot of chemistry that goes into it. When the bottle is sealed, gases are trapped inside and there can even be odors carried all the way from the inside of the wine barrel that gets transferred into the wine.
Older wines will have had plenty of time for any mustiness to diffuse from the bottle, but newer bottles can do with some assistance from an aerator for the best aroma and flavor. The main thing that you want to remove from the wine is the tannic acid which is heavy in younger red wines. Most white wines do not benefit much from the use of a wine aerator.
Are All Aerators Good to Use?
Not all wine aerators are the same, and some work better than others. For the best results you should look for wine aerators that are made by brands that are well-known within the wine community and have a reputation for quality.
Using a wine aerator can add a layer of class and presentation to your dinner party, and for wine enthusiasts it is an essential tool for enjoying wines the way that they are meant to be enjoyed. If someone in your life is a wine fanatic, consider a wine aerator as a gift. They will wonder why they did not think to get one sooner.
Conclusion
Wine aerators release the bad odors from the wine and improve the taste/smell. If you want to serve red wine the correct way with the proper etiquette, then using a wine aerator is the way to go. If you are drinking newer red wines and noticing some mustiness when you first open the bottle, this is because the wine needs to be aerated.
While simply pouring the wine into a container, swirling it, and letting it sit can do the job; if you are at a dinner party or simply enjoying a bottle of wine at home, you may not want to wait the hour or half hour it takes for wine to properly aerate. Like wine coolers, wine aerators are a great way to step-up your “wine game”. With proper aerating, you can start enjoying wine the way it was meant to be enjoyed, with its full aroma and flavor palette.