Sometimes you just can’t be in a hurry. When enjoying a glass of fine wine, patience has its rewards. The wine needs time to breathe and aerate. This means air needs to come in contact with the wine. Just allowing an uncorked bottle of wine to sit a while is not sufficient. The benefit of stopping to smell the roses before enjoying your glass of wine is the additional time and contact with the air will allow for the opening of the aromas and the flavor will soften and the flavor will improve.
Red wines generally benefit most from breathing before serving. However, there are select whites that will also improve with a few minutes of air exposure. Most wines will improve with as little as 15-20 minutes of air time. However, the higher the tannin level, the more aeration is needed. Tannins are found in grape skins, seeds, and stems that are an excellent antioxidant and natural preservative. Tannins give wine a needed structure and texture.
Two options to allow the wine to aerate is to pour the wine into a decanter, if several glasses will be enjoyed, or into a single glass. Wine experts also suggest that wine is poured into the center of the decanter or glass with at least 6 inches of "fall" from bottle to glass allowing additional aeration during the actual pour.
A decanter can be any large liquid container that has a wide opening at the top. The increased surface area is the key to allowing more air to make contact with your wine.
For additional information ask one of your knowledgeable servers while enjoying a tasting at our Briar Rose Winery tasting room. We love to discuss our wines and how to enjoy them. Make a reservation today for your next visit to our Temecula Valley Wine Country location.
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