While there are multiple ways to allow for your wine to breathe before drinking, one of the quickest and easiest ways is to use a decanter. These simple and ingenious devices will make every red wine taste better, and can even improve some select whites.
Some recent comers to the market have started to push out plastic decanters in an attempt to lower the cost of these useful tools. Buyer beware: plastic can very easily seep into your wine, not only affecting the delicate taste of your favorite vino, but potentially adding health complications that are nothing less than insidious.Many of these products come directly from China, where attention to quality control seems to be about 5 steps below the attention to the bottom line. Everything from baby formula and children's toys to drywall from China has been found to have toxic chemicals as a basic ingredient.
If you are looking to better your wine, not to poison yourself, I'd suggest looking for a quality glass decanter from a nation that has some resemblance of regulatory structure to prevent such issues.Every wine is different, and even every vintage will have distinct characteristics that may either call for the use of a decanter, or may also preclude its use. Although you will be able to find some basic guidelines as to which wines should be run through a decanter, your best bet will be to speak to your local wine professional about your specific bottle.
One thing can be said without exclusion, that your discount wines will taste far better than they have ever have before. Although you may be able to create the same effect with your discount wines delivered by simply corking the bottle and letting it sit, this is highly time consuming and may take more logistical planning than you are willing to get into just to drink a couple glasses of wine.All things being equal, a decanter is one of the least expensive ways to improve the taste and quality of the wines that you enjoy. Although you'll never be able to turn a year old wine into a 20 year old vintage by simply running it through a piece of glass, you will be amazed at the difference this simple device can make.
