Tag Archives: Aerators
How do Wine Aerators Work?
A wine aerator is a device that sits above a decanter or glass, allowing the maximum amount of air to flow through the liquid as it’s poured. In the past five years, many models of aerator have been introduced to the market, giving wine lovers a number of options for enjoying their younger wines by the glass, or by the bottle, hours earlier than they could with decanting alone.
Why aerate wine?
Most full-bodied reds require time to “breathe” in order for the flavors to mellow and blend for an ideal drinkable state. In fact, most wines under 15 years will benefit from aeration – this is why we often think the last glass out of a bottle tastes better than the first. Simply uncorking a bottle and allowing it to stand will not sufficiently aerate the wine – it needs more of the surface area of the wine exposed to get enough contact with air.
Do all wines need aeration?
Not all. The oldest and palest vintages should be enjoyed after only minutes out of the bottle – as they’ve reached their peak flavor in storage.
But, as most of us are not storing our wine bottles for years, or buying vintage cases at auction, our preferred brands will likely benefit from the use of an aerator or 30-90 minutes in a wide bottom decanter.
What kind of wine aerator should you buy?
That depends. Many models are for reds or whites only. Others have single uses, either by the glass or bottle. An ideal choice for wine lovers new to aeration is a multi-function aerator that can switch from bottle to glass.
Glass or Polycarbonate?
Several popular glass models are available on the market, but the lesser-known polycarbonate options are more practical in terms of longevity and functionality. The Wine Weaver is a fun, polycarbonate choice – it comes in a number of jewel tones and is engineered to allow maximum airflow by releasing the wine in small streams along the sides of the glass or decanter.
Prolong the Life of your Bottle
A word of caution: too much air can be a bad thing for your wine. Pair your wine aerator with a vacuum pump if you like enjoy the same bottle over several days. There’s nothing worse than having to throw out a half bottle of great wine that has been spoiled by resealing too much air in the bottle.
A great gift
Wine aerators are high on the must-have gift list for wine lovers for this Christmas. Give them as hostess gifts and you’ll be a big hit at this season’s holiday parties, where more than one great bottle of wine is sure to be served.
Do Wine Aerators Work?
Pour-through wine aerators are a relatively new addition to the wine accessory world, and the reviews are unanimous: they work.
They are especially useful for the average wine drinker who buys wine off the shelf, for consumption within a few weeks or months.
Most retail wine sellers don’t stock ripe vintages, opting instead for more affordable reds and whites from the previous 5-10 years. These wines are wonderful, high-quality options if you follow the cardinal rule of wine: Let it breathe.
Have you noticed that the last glass poured from a bottle tastes better than the first? That’s not the alcohol confusing your tastebuds, it’s the oxygen improving the wine over time. Amazing wines can be ruined by drinking them too soon out of the bottle, your $ 15-$ 20 bottle needs a little TLC to live up to its price.
New reds especially need air to ripen and allow the flavours to meld. As oxygen flows through the wine, the harshest elements are burned off, leaving a smoother, well-rounded taste.
Young whites also benefit from air, as they can come out of the bottle tart or overly tangy.
There are two preferred ways to allow your wine to breathe – decant or aerate.
Decanting –
Decanting was originally introduced to allow wine sediment to settle to the bottom of a vessel, and is largely used for deep, complex reds. Today, sediment is hardly an issue with wines, normally you can see through the bottle if decanting is necessary. The average rich red wine needs a minimum of an hour to breathe in a wide vessel. Many wine lovers don’t have this kind of time, especially when entertaining and serving several bottles over the course of a dinner or party.
Aerating –
For wine drinkers who like to enjoy single glasses, or a number of different wines in an evening, a wine aerator is the must-have gadget to ensure maximum enjoyment. Available in single glass or bottle sizes, (some wine aerators are versatile enough to do both) aerators sit between the glass or vessel, separating wine as it’s poured from the bottle into streams to allow maximum airflow in seconds, not hours.
Great for Parties
As well as being practical, wine aerators are fun to show off to guests. The next time you throw a party, make a point of pouring a glass through an aerator, and let your guests try both the oxygenated wine and the wine straight from the bottle. Most average drinkers can’t believe the difference in taste. You’ll be the host of the season, and establish yourself as a true aficionado.
Wine Aerators Reviewed
Giving your wine time to breathe is essential to getting the true experience of a wine’s flavor and feeling. If you’ve previously been just opening up a bottle and drinking it immediately, then the simple change of giving wine time to breathe is going to make a huge difference in your enjoyment of the wines you choose.
The effect that this will have is going to depend heavily in the kind of wine you choose. If you’re drinking a younger wine, giving it time to breathe is going to mellow out the harsher notes and make it a more pleasant experience. The effect on older wines is almost the exact opposites, as it brings out lost flavors and allows you to taste subtle flavors that you might miss if you were just going to drink it straight from the bottle.
The problem with this is that while giving the wine time to breathe, it also means that you have to decant the wine and allow it in the mix with the air so that the molecules of the wine have time to interact with the oxygen in the air. While this works, it’s also incredibly time consuming.
Which is why some enterprising folks have created wine aerators, which are designed to allow the air to mix with the wine as your pour, so that you can enjoy the full flavor of wine without having to decant and wait. If you’re someone who wants to enjoy your wine without having to go through the whole ritual first.
Like anything else, not all wine aerators are created equal. The two main things to consider with wine aerators are how well they work and their aesthetics. You need a wine aerator to actually do the job it was designed to do, and you also want something that’s going to not look like something created by a glassblower who had a sneezing fit.
A wine aerator that is extremly popular in the UK is beginning to make itself known as an essential part of any wine lover’s kitchen in the United States. This wine aerator has a great rep, but does the actual device live up to the hype.
The first and by far the most important thing to consider is whether or not the Wine aerator does what it’s intended to do: does it bring out the full flavor of the wine. The answer is an unequivocal yes.
The design is where it takes its name from; as it weaves the wine around the air, a process that gives you an optimum mix of air and wine, and it really b rings out the subtle flavors of virtually any wine. It’s also designed so that it can work with both a decanter and individual wineglasses, which makes it a very flexible aerator.
The functionality would probably be enough to recommend the Weaver on its own, but it’s a pretty nifty piece of work. It’s made out of more or less unbreakable polycarbonate in a beautiful design, so you’ll be happy to have it on your table.
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Red Wine Aerators Can Make Your Next Bottle Of Wine Simply Fantastic!
Do you love a great bottle of red wine? Aerators can make your next bottle one that you won’t soon forget. These products are designed to take the place of the decanting process, which can sometimes take hours. Within just a few moments, you’ll have a glass full of your favorite red, with all of the character, bouquet, and aroma it’s meant to have. Decanting brings this out as well, but it can take up to three or more hours, for the aeration process to be complete.
Here’s More Information About the Aeration Process
When you use red wine aerators, depending on the style, you will either place it on top of the glass or decanter, or you will hold it above the glass. The vino flows through, and it is introduced to the air. The oxygen weaves through the liquid, releasing its true taste and character. The best part? It only takes a few moments. As soon as the it cascades down the sides and the curve of the glass, it’s ready to enjoy.
There are a few things you need to know about the different styles of red wine aerators. First, the kind that sits on top of the glass is best. Why? Because it allows for one complete breathing system. In other words, the liquid is poured into the aerator. It flows through, grabbing oxygen, and then flows out through the bottom. Through a series of precise holes, it hits the “sweet spot” of the glass. You’ll immediately notice the difference in the bouquet, especially if it is one of your regular bottles.
The taste is less acidic and has a smoother feel on the tongue. The finish is as smooth as ice and you’ll love it all the way to the last drop. For those who truly enjoy this experience, wine aerators are simply a must!
Where to Find One
The internet is a good place to begin your search. However, you’ll want to make sure you choose wisely. Some that are offered today do not aerate properly, which can give a lower impression for all models of this type of product. There is simply nothing better to enjoy with a great meal than a fantastic glass of wine. The best aerators work with reds and whites, but also with older and newer bottles. Isn’t it time you got the most out of your next bottle?