Here are some personal favorites. Which wine gadgets and wine accessories do you own that tell your wine, “I Love You!”?

Label Savers – One of our all-time best sellers, label savers are a quick and easy way to make lasting memories from a special bottle.  Sold in sets of 10, these nifty laminators work by separating the front printed surface from the adhesive back of the label.

Cork Kits – Another classic product, we have offered cork kits in all shapes and sizes from coasters to barrel hoops for decades. And with our new heart-shaped option, there is truly love in the air!

Riedel Black Tie Bliss Decanter – An elegant wine decanter is the perfect way to let your wine breathe. Your love of wine is perfectly represented in Riedel’s unique design with its heart-shaped cutout which also serves as a pouring assistant!

Eurocave – One of the most infinitely rewarding wine investments you can make, a Eurocave will cradle and protect your wine for years to come. Show your collection some appreciation with the world’s finest wine cellars, crafted in France.

WineHug Self-Inflating Protective Travel Pouch – If you love your wine, the last thing you want is for it to fall victim to the bumps and bruises of travel! The WineHug acts as a life jacket for your wine, so you can take it with you everywhere you go!

Good Wine Glasses – Wine needs to express itself and the best way to do that is with the proper stemware. Our Fusion line is not only beautiful , but break-resistant! Your beloved bottles will be at their best in these glasses.

Bathtub Wine Bottle Chiller – Your wine gets to relax as it chills in our whimsical bathtub wine chiller. White wine lovers, this one is for you!

An Aerator – Whether a finer, a breather or a funnel suits you, aerators allow your wine to mix and mingle with the air around it! Improved aromatics and softer tannins will be the end result. Your wine will thank you!

Like it or not, The Aerator Age is upon us and it looks like it is here to stay. While the traditionalists may be inclined to fight this trend, there are some valid reasons why this new technology has become all the rage.

Aerators tend to open up wine faster than decanting, and if you are only going to have a glass or two you don’t have to decant the entire bottle. So it brings about the question, do I even need my decanter any longer?

The answer is… it depends. Products such as the Vinturi Wine Aerator, Nuance Wine Finer and the Rabbit Wine Aerator have revolutionized wine service. These devices create so much aeration for wine in such a small amount of time that it allows all the bouquet and flavors to come to life within seconds. Because they are either hand-held or fit in right in the neck of the bottle, they are extremely easy to use especially for single glass service. For this reason, you will now find one of these aerators in most tasting rooms. Wineries want you to get the full sensory experience of their top tier offerings, especially since young wines that are big and tannic benefit most from this method.

That being said, not everyone wants to speed up this process. There is certainly something almost sacred about slowly pouring a bottle into a beautifully crafted crystal wine decanter while holding a candle to it in order to check for sediment, particularly in those older wines that may be a bit more delicate. Better quality wines will also constantly change while in the decanter, an effect you lose when utilizing the ultra fast aerators. It can be quite revealing to smell and taste the wine at different points while it is opening up, as the aromas and flavors can grow deeper and more complex.

So if you are a bit impatient and find the prolonged wait time of decanting just a nuisance, or you like to enjoy your wine one glass at a time, then you are ready for all that The Aerator Age has to offer. But if you are from the school of thought that good things come to those who wait, and believe the process of decanting enhances the entire wine experience, then keep on decanting!

But don’t forget, there is no reason you can’t utilize both options and pour the wine through the aerator into the decanter. This can result in optimal pleasure for those really young, or older, wines that need an enormous exposure to air to exhibit all they have to offer.

The answer is that it can, in subtle ways. Letting your wine “breathe” in a decanter softens harsh tannins and releases its full bouquet. The more space there is in the decanter, the more air can reach the wine. Thus a narrow, tall decanter would aerate more slowly than a wide decanter with a large bowl. The use of a stopper would affect the aeration as well because the stopper prevents air from getting in, slowing aeration. The opening at the top can make a difference too as this is where the air flows. The larger the opening, the more aeration.

In January we launched our first Decanter Design Contest, calling on our customers’ creative juices to design an elegant and exciting new decanter for us. Our first and second place designs are great examples of how a decanter shape can affect aeration.

Our winning design was a fluid-catamaran-like form with ample room for wine aeration. This decanter is expansive, allowing for faster aeration.

Our second place winner designed a more compact decanter which permits gentle swirling without exposing the wine to excessive air.

One design allows for faster aeration by spreading the wine across a great surface area and the other is a slower process, in a more compact vessel. You might use the first decanter for a young, tannic wine that requires tremendous aeration and the second for a soft wine that requires less. The most important thing is choosing a decanter that is functional and looks beautiful on the dinner table! By the way, congratulations to our winners: Eric Hwang, Mark T. Maclean-Blevins and Bozena Wysowski!

Browse our full selection of elegant decanters here 

An aerator and a decanter both serve a similar purpose which is to expand the surface area of wine, which allows the air to mingle with it. Whether placing the wine in a larger vessel (decanter) or forcing air to be circulated throughout it (aerator), the end result is a wine with an expanded aromatic profile and/or softer tannins.  So, what’s the difference?

The difference is time. If you have limited time to spare and you’d like your wine to be softer, a handy aerator will do the trick in minutes. A Vinturi or Respirer for example, is held above your glass while you pour wine through the top of the aerator. As the wine flows through the aerator, it “breathes” as bubbles are sent through it. An aerator is therefore more appropriate for casual meals, where time is of the essence, but quality of experience is important as well.

When time is on your side, and you’re preparing a more leisurely meal or inviting over guests, a decanter is the best solution. A decanter is often used with a funnel that aerates wine as it is poured into the decanter. The wine then rests in the decanter until you are ready to serve it, opening and changing all the while. Wine can stay in a decanter for hours without spoiling, it all depends how much air it needs. Presenting wine in an elegant decanter for guests may be a more special experience for company, than using an aerator.

Aside from the time you have available, it’s also important to note the age of your wine. A very old wine (10+ years) should not be aerated but the sediment must be removed. If you’re serving an old wine at its peak, it won’t benefit from aeration, as it’s fully developed. The more an old wine is exposed to air the sooner it will start to fade. The wine should be decanted off its sediment just prior to service.

Do you prefer to use a decanter or an aerator? Or do you keep both on hand depending on what time allows? Leave a comment, and let us know!

Over the years we’ve carried decanters of all shapes and sizes: horizontal, vertical, duck-shaped, antique, modern and even giraffe shaped! Now we are looking for some fresh ideas, what would YOU like to see in a decanter shape? The new decanter should be both beautiful and functional.

If you have a unique idea, submit it via JPEG to Contest@WineEnthusiast.net and you could win:

• a Grand Prize of $1,000
• a 1-Year Subscription to Wine Enthusiast Magazine 
• Tickets to Toast of the Town in New York City, America’s Premier Wine and Restaurant Tasting Event. 
• Have your design featured at Toast of the Town and in Wine Enthusiast Magazine, read by thousands of business professionals every day!

Calling all wine lovers with an eye for artistry, now is your chance to create a revolutionary new wine product, enter today! Or maybe you have a friend who may be interested? Pass on the link love! For more details visit our contest page, here.

Decanters are essential for enhancing the flavors of a young wine or for removing sediment from an old wine. There are all kinds of shapes and styles available but you may be wondering: “What do I do with it?” There are two simple methods of decanting:

1. Decanting a young wine, to aerate it
• Take out your decanter, funnel, and wine. Open the bottle of wine.
• Affix the funnel to the top of the decanter and pour a slow stream of wine through the funnel. Watch as your wine cascades from the sides of the funnel and into the decanter.
• As the wine goes through the funnel and the surface area of your wine is spreading, the wine is aerating, changing its aromatic properties.
• Once the full bottle is poured into the decanter you can remove the funnel from the top of the decanter, and pour from the decanter into your glasses.

2. Decanting an old wine, to separate the sediment
• As tannic, red wines age, the sediment often conglomerates, forming unwanted clumps in the bottom and along the sides of the bottle. The sediment is harmless–made up mainly of grape skins–but it is usually bitter, and impedes the enjoyment of your wine.
• Old wines open up over time, as the pores in the cork allow them to breathe. Therefore, aeration with a funnel isn’t necessary for an older wine.
• Slightly angle your decanter and slowly, pour the wine into the decanter so that only the liquid pours through, leaving the sediment behind in the bottle. Discard the bottle and sediment, and pour the wine from your decanter into glasses.

Now that you understand the basics of decanting, you may need some help selecting the perfect decanter to suit your needs. In this brief video, we explain some of the different styles available, and their benefits. Enjoy!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Do you have any special decanting techniques? Please share your story, with us!

In the world of wine, oxygen is both your friend and your enemy. Wines are decanted or aerated so that friendly oxygen can slip into your wine in small doses. The oxygen, in effect, allows your wine to breathe and release newly developed aromas and flavors.

Oxygen is your enemy when you let an open bottle of wine sit on the counter and heavy doses of oxygen attack the wine, stripping it of its essences. Everything in moderation.

Find oxygen-related tools like decanters, aerators and preservation tools at WineEnthusiast.com. 

Cleaning Beads: These little ingenuous beads are tossed into a decanter and mixed with water to clean the entire interior of the decanter. Best of all, these are a one-time investment as they can be reused again and again.
 
 
 
 

Decanter Cleaning Brush: This extra long brush can reach the bottom of the tallest decanters. There’s no need to use a crummy old sponge when you have a brush tailored to your decanter.
 
 
 
 

Stem Shine: If you’ve ever been frustrated with the cloudiness that regular dish detergent can leave, Stem Shine is a great solution. Squeeze some stem shine into your decanter and scrub with your decanter cleaning brush for a perfectly clean and sparkling decanter, every time.
 
 
 
 

Drying Stand: Our decanter drying stands hold your decanter perfectly in place as it air dries. We offer various shapes for each decanter type.

Now that you’ve learned how simple decanter cleaning can be, what are you waiting for? Select a decanter that catches your eye from our wide variety, then add-on some decanter cleaning products to keep it immaculate with every use.

Have you tried any of our decanter cleaning products? Which do you recommend? Leave a comment and let us know!

Our new Vinturi Wine Aerator is a great way to discover the use of aeration before purchasing a decanter. This fun, new contraption is simply used by holding it over a glass and pouring your wine through. It quickly aerates and opens up the wine while making a fun little gurgling noise that is quite satisfying. It also won’t break the bank at $39.95. Such a great find is a wonderful way to begin experiencing your favorite reds anew and even discovering wines you thought were too aggressive until they met the Vinturi.

Although the Vinturi is a great tool, it doesn’t replace the benefits of having a beautiful decanter to aerate a full bottle of wine. It is however, a great first step towards understanding and enjoying the method of aerating wine before purchasing a decanter. Looking for new ways to understand and experiment with wine is the best way to really appreciate it to its fullest. The Vinturi is one of my favorites products and is a fun addition to any wine bar.

Here’s a quick rundown of the ins and outs of this popular sweet sensation. Yes, Port is a sweet wine and the real thing comes from Portugal, although so-called “Port” is made in many regions around the world. Port is a fortified wine, because to make it, alcohol (brandy) is added to the fermenting vats. This interrupts the fermentation because the high alcohol level kills off the yeasts. Thus, a high quantity of grape sugar remains in the wine. There are several types of Port, each with its own distinct character and proper method of handling.

Vintage Ports
The best ports are Vintage Ports. These are the Ports that collectors desire. Port, like Champagne, only declares a vintage in the best years. This ensures that Vintage Ports are always very high quality. A Vintage Port is aged two years is cask and then bottled unfiltered. Of all the great wines produced, Vintage Port may be the one that requires the longest cellar aging. Generally, 10-20 years minimum aging is recommended. After just a few years of bottle age it will start to throw off a great quantity of sediment, so it must be carefully decanted before drinking. Use a wide decanter for breathing purposes, such as the Vivid, and you can also use a funnel with a screen. Mature vintage Port is sweet, lively and complex.

Reserve Tawny Ports
The next best ports are Reserve Tawny Ports, often just referred to as “Reserve” and then a number of years; 5, 10, 20… These ports are aged in cask for the number of years on the label and then bottled. Hence, they are fully mature and ready to drink when purchased. The Port is racked off the lees when it’s bottled, so there is no sediment and these wines do not need decanting. Because they are cask aged for so long, Reserve Ports have a tawny color and a different character that Vintage port, often with a distinct nuttiness. Once opened however, these wines are delicate, so it’s a good idea to use a preservative like Private Preserve or VacuVin to keep the wine as fresh as possible. Cohelita Ports are similar to Reserve Ports but are from a single vintage. They should be handled the same way.

Vintage Character or Late Bottled Vintage Ports
What used to be called Ruby Ports are now mostly referred to as Vintage Character or Late Bottled Vintage Ports. These simplest of Ports are made from the off-year grapes either singly or blended. They are deep in color, sweet and fresh. Like Reserve ports they are not intended to age further and do not carry sediment. For elegant service you may pour one of these ports into a lead-free stoppered decanter like our Riedel Dominus and then keep it with a shot of Private Preserve until you’re ready to serve it again.
 
 
 
 
 

Port Glassware
When you’re ready to serve Port, be sure you have the appropriate stemware so that the bold aromas can be fully expressed. A Port glass has a narrower bowl so that the nose is concentrated. You’ll likely experience black currant, pepper, truffles and smoky notes that you won’t want to miss! The Riedel Sommeliers Vintage Port glass is ideal, or try some fantastic Port Sippers (see above) for parties.

What is your favorite type of Port and how do you serve it? Leave us a comment, and let us know!