What is the best wine decanter?
When looking for the best wine decanter, you want one that is stylish and functional. We selected the Le Chateau Wine Decanter – 100% Hand Blown Lead-free Crystal Glass Red Wine Carafe. This is made of lead-free crystal and is specifically designed to hold an entire bottle of wine. The Le Chateau decanter aerates the wine perfectly
The slanted spout allows for easy pouring without dripping or spilling. Hand washing is recommended to properly care for this decanter.
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6 Best Wine Decanters: Our Picks & Recommendations
- Best Overall: Le Chateau Wine Decanter
- Best Budget
: Wine Decanter, WBSEos 1.5L U Shape Classic Wine Carafe,100% Hand Blown Lead-free Crystal Glass - Best Antique Decanter: The Wine Savant World Decanter With 2 Globe Glasses and Whiskey Stones For Whiskey or Wine With Antique Ship And Matching Globe Glasses
- Best White Decanter: Kalalou CRL4047 Tilted White Wine Decanter With Ice Pocket
- Best Red Decanter: BTäT- Decanter With Drying Stand, Stopper And Beads, Hand Blown 100% Lead Free Crystal Glass
- Best Vintage Decanter: Lily’s Home Wine, Liquor and Whiskey Decanter with Glass Stopper
How to choose The Best Wine Decanter?
When you are looking for the best wine decanter, you want a decanter that store and aerate your wine perfectly so that the aroma is enhanced
You want a decanter that will add to your kitchen bar with classic styling. You want a decanter that looks amazing but is not too delicate.
Size:
The size of your decanter matters tremendously. You want one that will hold an entire bottle of wine and still allow for the perfect amount of aeration.
Material:
The decanter is holding wine that you will consume. Depending on the type of wine you drink, it could be an incredibly expensive bottle of wine. You want the best materials you can get, specifically lead-free crystal
You do not want to lead leaching into your wine. You also do not want anything that will change the taste or the aroma of your wine.
Ease of Pouring:
You want a decanter that has a slant at the top to help you pour your wine. Not only will this help you while pouring the wine, but it will also prevent spillage and dripping
There is nothing worse than having wine drip down your decanter on to the table.
Design and Color:
This is a personal choice. You want a decanter that is pleasing for you to look at and adds style to your kitchen, or bar. One particular decanter is made of recycled glass and has a greenish hue as a result
You are the one that will have to look at your decanter, so you should make sure that it is something you will enjoy looking at regularly.
Ease of Cleaning:
No one wants to spend a lot of time cleaning. Most decanters are made of lead-free crystal and should be treated like a fine piece of crystal, which means it needs to be hand washed
Decanters also tend to have deep angles that are hard to reach which could make cleaning difficult. When looking for a decanter, keep in mind how difficult it may be to clean.
Some decanters come with beads that will help you clean in those hard to reach places. You may also need to get a high-quality cleaning brush to clean it.
Budget:
Your budget matters here. Price is always a consideration and the price of a decanter can go up quickly. You want to make sure that you are getting quality for the price you pay
Often, the same decanter can be found at varying prices, so make sure you are getting the best deal. You want a high-quality product but you do not want to pay an exorbitant amount for it
Surface Area:
Size does matter. The size of the bowl of the decanter, which is where the wine sits, is what indicates the amount of surface area the decanter has
The larger the surface area, the more space the wine has to oxygenate. The more oxygen that gets to the wine that better it tastes
The bigger the space for oxygen means that there will be faster aeration and the wine will not have to sit as long. That means you get to enjoy your favorite wine.
Related: Best Electric Wine Opener
Benefits of Using a Wine Decanter
When you use a decanter, you are pouring the wine from its original bottle into a glass container. The wine is then served from the decanter.
There are many benefits
When you carefully and slowly pour your wine into a decanter, it allows any sediment to remain in the bottle. Therefore, you will not be drinking any of it
Pouring your wine into a decanter allows it to breathe and oxygen to flow through the wine. Wine can be closed to oxygen in the bottle and pouring it into a decanter allows oxygen to mix with the wine
This process opens up the wine which brings out its natural flavor and aroma.
One thing to keep in mind is that is it possible to put too much oxygen in wine, so you do not want to let it sit for many hours before you drink it
Difference Between Decanting and Aerating
Aerating and decanting are very similar. The intended purpose of both is to increase the surface area of the wine to allow oxygen to mix with the wine.
When you put wine into a larger container, which is commonly called a decanter, you are decanting the wine. When you are forcing air to move through the wine, you are aerating it.
To aerate the wine takes less time than decanting. An aerator will also give your wine a softer taste.
The basic way to aerate wine is to use an aerator, which is held above the glass and you pour the wine directly from the bottle through the aerator into your glass
When the wine goes through the aerator, bubbles are pushed through it forcing the wine to breathe. This process takes seconds and can be done at the table
This is commonly used in a more relaxed, casual setting, like a meal at home or with a small group of close friends
Decanting take more time than just a few seconds. If you are having guests over for dinner, you can pour the wine in a decanter and have it waiting for them to arrive
It gives a classy look to your table. The decanter typically has a longer neck and spout that acts as a funnel for the wine. The wine sits at the bottom, in the bowl of the decanter until you want to pour it.
While it is sitting, oxygen is moving through it in the bowl opening up the flavors of the wine. The wine can sit in a decanter for a few hours, just be careful not to put too much oxygen in it.
Related: Best Wine Aerator Buying Guide
Wine Decanter vs Carafe
A carafe is a container that holds some type of liquid. A carafe does not allow air into the liquid, so it does not change the taste or the aroma of whatever is in it
Carafes are typically used for an everyday type decorative piece on the table. Carafes look different from a decanter in that a carafe has a long body to hold a large amount of liquid
They have small bases so they do not take up a lot of table space. A decanter is usually intended for wine and allows it to breathe. A decanter adds air into the liquid to open up the flavor.
Top 6 Best Wine Decanter Reviews
To find the best wine decanter, we looked closely at all the reviews and ratings from consumers and experts. From the large number of decanters we studied, these seven made our final list based quality of craftsmanship and use.
Best Overall Wine Decanter
1. Le Chateau Wine Decanter – 100% Hand Blown Lead-free Crystal Glass, Red Wine Carafe
What You Will Love: The Le Chateau has a slanted spout for easy pouring and less spilling.
The wine touches the widest diameter on the decanter when a full bottle of wine is poured into the decanter which allows for faster aeration
It is hand blown lead-free crystal will enhance the aroma and taste of either red or white wine. It is perfect for any type of wine you wish to use
Keeping wine in the bottle restricts the air that gets to it. When you decant the wine, it allows the air to move through it and release the rich flavor and aroma.
The slanted spout is designed with the poured in mind. The special spout allows the wine to be poured with ease and prevents dripping and spilling
This decanter is dishwasher safe, but hand washing is recommended. After washing, it should dry upside down on a drying rack
Pros:
- Slanted spout for better pouring
- Perfectly aerates an entire bottle of wine
Cons:
- Hand washing is recommended
Best Budget
2. Wine Decanter, WBSEos 1.5L U Shape Classic Wine Carafe,100% Hand Blown Lead-free Crystal Glass
What You Will Love: The WBSEos has a unique U shape design that gives your kitchen bar a delicate look.
The WBSEos design adds a touch of class to any home bar. When not being used to decant wine, thanks to its unique U shaped design, it can be a centerpiece for your table
The curved and slanted spout guarantees that your wine will flow effortlessly from the decanter to your glass.
If the product or the packaging in which it ships it damaged or broken, or if there is anything wrong with it, contact WBSEos and they will replace it or refund your money.
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Delicate construction that seems to chip easily
Best Antique Wine Decanter
3. The Wine Savant World Decanter With 2 Globe Glasses and Whiskey Stones
What You Will Love: The Wine Savant World Decanter is crafted to be as beautiful as it is functional
The Wine Savant World Decanter With 2 Globe Glasses and Whiskey Stones For Whiskey or Wine With Antique Ship And Matching Globe Glasses.
The Wine Savant World Decanter is the best decanter for wine because it aerates your wine in a beautiful mahogany stained wood stand
This decanter sets itself apart from all others with its design. The decanter is handcrafted glass as designed to look like a globe with etchings on the glass.
Inside the decanter is a glass ship that gives it a look of class and sophistication. The Wine Savant did not miss a thing as the ship has the finest details in it.
The decanter has a glass
The decanter is lifted up from the base and held in your hand to pour. When not pouring from it, it sits comfortably in the base. The base also acts as a coaster for two glasses
Included in this set are two globe glasses and stones for whiskey. These additional pieces round out the decanter making it the perfect gift
The dimensions of the decanter are 10 inches high by 4.5 inches wide by 6 inches deep.
Pros:
- Classy look with a ship inside
- Comes with a glass stopper
- Storage base
Cons:
- The ship is extremely delicate
- Hand wash only
Best White Wine Decanter
4. Kalalou CRL4047 Tilted With Ice Pocket
What You Will Love: The Kalalou White Wine Decanter is hand made and no two decanters are alike.
The
One of the great things about it being hand made is each piece is unique and you can bet there is no other decanter that looks like yours. Each decanter is a work of art.
They are free form pieces that do not have mold. It has a space in the side which serves as a pocket for ice to help keep your white wine cold. It is tilted to aid in pouring
The recycled glass gives it a unique look that some may not like. The decanter has a green hue to it. This decanter is recycled from glass that was once windows, bottles
The dimensions of this decanter are 10 inches by 7 inches by 9.5 inches.
Pros:
- Made from recycled materials
- Truly unique and one of a kind
Cons:
- It is
a heavy glass and it does not have the delicate look of most decanters - Heavier than many other decanters
Best Red Wine Decanter
5. BTäT- With Drying Stand, Stopper And Beads, Hand Blown 100% Lead Free Crystal Glass
What You Will Love: This decanter is the perfect gift set that includes a drying stand, stopper
The BTaT decanter is hand blown with 100 percent lead-free crystal. It has the capacity to hold 60 ounces (1800 ml) of your favorite wine
The shape has been specifically designed for faster aeration and allow oxygen to flow through your wine. This release the natural aroma and flavor in the wine
It comes with a stainless steel drying stand that has a rubber coating on the places where the decanter sits. Drying your decanter upside down will prevent water spots from appearing on the glass
It has a cork ball that is a stopper for your decanter. This prevents dust or any other particles from getting in your wine.
This set also comes with cleaning beads which help clean the decanter in all those hard to reach places
This decanter must be hand washed.
Pros:
- Comes with beads for easy cleaning
- Drying stand allows for drying without drip marks
Cons:
- The glass is thin and not durable
- The drying stand has the potential to rust
Best Vintage Wine Decanter
6. Lily’s Home Wine, Liquor and Whiskey Decanter with Glass Stopper
What You Will Love: The Lily’s Home Decanter comes with a superior stopper so you know your decanter is sealing out all air when storing wine.
The Lily’s Home Wine Decanter excels at storing your wine and preventing air from getting into it so that it does not get over oxygenated
When the stopper is not in place, it allows even your oldest vintage to breathe properly. It can hold 25 ounces of your favorite wine
This decanter is stylish and elegant with flared sides and a narrow neck. It is a work of art as well as a functional decanter. The stopper is about 1 inch long and fits perfectly into the top of the decanter.
The glass is 100 percent lead-free, so you do not have to worry about any lead in your wine
The classic look and functionality of this decanter
Pros:
- Large stopper size to prevent too much oxygenation
- Stylish and elegant
Cons:
- This decanter may be better for whiskey instead of wine
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