The world of wine is like a magic school, seemingly mundane. After entering, I found a lot of knowledge and changes. Good wine. The process of decanting is like the first blow of a fairy’s wand. Frogs become princes, brooms become spaceships, all of which exist in this magical and solemn process of transformation. Each careful sedimentation or inclination of the sommelier is accompanied by an unparalleled respect and honor. When a muggle is still a magician, there are five important things to know about sobriety that you will naturally know after studying.
I. The purpose of decanting wine
Most wines can be poured from the bottle and consumed directly. However, some wines require a decanter to better reveal their quality and character. A wine decanter can improve the quality of a wine in two ways.
First, it effectively filters and removes sediment from the wine and the cork debris that occasionally falls into the wine when it is opened. At the same time, the wine is effectively oxidized through a series of decanting actions. This oxidation process mellows the wine and accelerates the maturation of the wine. When alcohol deposits are formed as a result of aging, it is almost necessary to use a decanting session to eliminate these harmless but unpleasant deposits from the mouth. Depending on the type and vintage of the wine, the use of different decant and the length of the decant period vary.
How to use the water dispenser
Decanting time can vary from a few minutes to several hours or even tens of hours. decanting can make young wines mellow, smooth and pleasant to drink. But if you don’t time it well, too much time is likely to make the wine lose its freshness and vibrancy. With older wines, you should be very careful when decanting them . The slightest carelessness may cause it to lose its precious aromas and kill an expensive wine. Don’t forget that wine oxidizes faster when it is poured into a glass from a proper water dispenser, so be very careful. For wine, always tilt the glass so that the wine can be poured slowly along the wall.
Before decanting the wine, calculate the shape and model of the wine decanter according to the different wines. The diameter of the decanter and the length of the decanter bar directly affect the area of contact between the wine and the air, i.e. they control the degree of oxidation of the wine, thus determining the emission of aromas and the richness of the wine’s taste. Generally speaking, young wines prefer a relatively flat decanter.
This flat water vessel has a wide stomach, which promotes oxidation. For aged and fragile wines, we should carefully choose a smaller diameter water dispenser and, at the same time, we should choose one with a stopper to prevent excessive oxidation that can cause the wine to age and die. It is important to clean the water dispenser carefully before use. It should be dry, odorless and clean. If a filter is also used, it should also be cleaned in advance to keep it clean and sanitary.
Third, the choice of professional wine glasses
Wine experts have conducted numerous experiments to prove that the same wine has different flavors in different shapes and forms. A wine glass is not only a container to hold wine, but more importantly, it will enhance and show the quality of the wine. In France, each wine producing region has its own regional wine glass to serve its own regional wine.
There are several aspects that should be taken into account when choosing a wine glass: the shape, capacity and material of the glass.
The shape of a wine glass is usually similar to that of a tulip, with a protruding belly. The size and volume of the belly varies from one wine to another. This bulging belly gives the wine a good space to move around and facilitates shaking the glass. The capacity of the glass should be large enough to allow the wine to move around in the glass. A glass of wine is about 9 deciliters. If the glass is too small or too full, you will not be able to shake it, which will also prevent the wine’s aromas from spreading.
The material of the glass should be colorless, clear, smooth, and without engraving. The heavy, colored crystal glass engraving is only a visual pleasure and will affect the performance of the wine. The color of the glass can seriously affect the color of the wine itself. The ideal wine glass is an ultra-thin crystal glass. Crystal glasses have the best light transmission.
1、Air bubble glass
This type of glass best represents the characteristics of champagne and sparkling wine. Champagne and sparkling wine need to be filled to the waist of the glass, the largest part of the glass cross-section, in order to better expel the air bubbles. The rim of the glass shrinks inward and becomes smaller, which nicely collects the wine’s aromas around the rim of the glass. The slender glass allows the delicate bubbles to rise slowly, giving an infinite visual experience, and the charm of champagne can be enjoyed with the sound of the bubbles breaking.
2、Multifunctional tasting glass
The traditional tulip shape is compatible and suitable for almost all wines. Of course, it is best suited for red wines with low tannins and acidity, as well as white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc. Its straight body line and inwardly contracted mouth concentrate the aroma and allow the drinker to quickly experience the pleasure and delight of wine tasting.
4. Decanting methods
1、Decant of young wines
The decanting process for young wines is simple and easy to operate. The main purpose is to allow the wine to breathe and soften through oxidation to make it ripe and mellow. Once the wine has been opened, you can pour it directly into the wine decanting vessel. Pouring can be done very quickly and without harming the wine. The time spent in the bottle should be limited to about one hour. Do not use a stoppered water dispenser, but open the mouth of the dispenser.
2. Decanting of aged wines
For wines of a certain vintage, the decanting process should be particularly careful. It requires a lot of patience and gentle technique. As soon as the wine is poured into the wine cooler, close the cork. The wine should be left upright for about 2 days before decanting so that the sediment in the wine settles at the bottom of the bottle so that it does not pour into the wine when it is poured into the wine decanter. In order to decant the wine, a candle needs to be placed under the bottle to clearly observe the position of the sediment in the bottle and to prevent the sediment from pouring together into the glass.
V. Maintenance of the decanter
Just as we do with high-end crystalware, we must also take great care of our winemakers. The first thing you should do is to keep the decanter clean and wash it repeatedly with hot water. For dry vessels, first wipe the exterior with a clean towel and then place the vessel upside down on a vessel stand so that any water left inside can escape.
Also, place the water dispenser in a ventilated, odor-free area to speed up the evaporation of water inside. It is not a good idea to leave it unused for long periods of time or to leave it in a closed space. Before each decant call, it must be cleaned with hot water to ensure hygiene. Prolonged use of the water dispenser can cause color changes and limescale inside. Usually, coarse salt or vinegar is used to remove this stain, and then it is carefully washed, dried and stored in hot water.
