Do I Need a Wine Decanter?

Attributes:

Size

Not all wine decanters match every style of wine.  If you prefer a full-bodied red wine, like a touriga nacional, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, or petite sirah, look for a large-bottom decanter—it should be similar in shape to a frisbee. White wine and light red, such as pinot noir and beaujolais, decanters are tall and slender, with a similar profile to a wine bottle. Medium-bodied reds, like anything from Penedes or Piedmonte, will shine in a decanter somewhere in the middle. What’s the difference? Wine-to-oxygen ratios. The larger, full-bodied reds generally need more time to open and for the tannins to integrate into the wine. Decanters with a wider base speed up the process.

Style

Outside of the standard curving decanters, there are vessels in quirkier shapes, from porrons to cornetts to large, curving swan decanters. The difference is largely just visuals and heritage. The Spanish swear by porrons while the swan-shaped decanter is more for show, though the striking shape does allow for a neater pour and a more comfortable grip. The biggest difference here, really, is how much you want to spend and what design you prefer.  (That said, brands like Riedel do have hyper-specific decanters crafted exactly to match certain varieties.)

Material

Proceed with caution when purchasing vintage decanters. Often, crystal made at the turn of the century had lead it. It’s since been discovered that lead is poisonous, and when ingested, it can reach toxic levels.

Modern crystal is perfectly safe. Outside of older crystal, approach purchasing a decanter the way you would purchase a wine glass. Whisper-thin, hand-blown crystal falls at the top of the quality scale, though there are plenty of perfectly good machine-blown options.

Should I buy a wine decanter?

Do you drink wine? Are you interested in learning what’s in your glass? If the answer is yes, chances are you’ll benefit from a wine decanter. For starters, decanters will enhance your entire wine-drinking experience. I personally decant almost everything: whites, oranges, light reds and heavier options. I love to explore how a wine will change over the course of its life, and a decanter is a great way to do that.

A decanter is also almost essential if you’re dealing with older bottlings that will need time to open up after years of aging. If you’re at all interested in wine, a decanter is a helpful accessory to have around.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Kate Dingwall is an experienced wine writer and working sommelier, who has her BarSmarts and WSET certification. She has been writing about the bar and spirits world for six years, including extensive coverage on the subject of glassware and bar accessories.