Wine Decanters
Decanting does two things. It gets a young wine in contact with air, which softens the tannin and opens up aromas that were shut in the bottle; and on an older wine it leaves the sediment behind in the bottle instead of in the last glass.
Venice Captain's Decanter
$38.00
Verona Upright Twisted Decanter
$38.00
Milan Free Form Contemporary Decanter
$38.00The shape decides how much air the wine gets. The Venice captain's decanter has the wide, flat base first made for a ship's table, which gives the wine the most surface area. The Verona is taller and narrower, with a twist through the body and a wrapped handle, for a table where space is tight. The Milan is the modern one, a free-form shape that looks different from every side. All three are $38. In a hurry? An aerator does the job as you pour.
Questions
Do you need a decanter if you have an aerator?
Not for a young wine you are drinking tonight: an aerator opens it up as you pour. A decanter is still the better tool for an older bottle with sediment, and for serving a whole bottle at the table.
Which decanter shape aerates most?
The wider the base, the more of the wine meets the air. The captain's decanter aerates the most; the upright Verona takes the least room on the table.