Wine 101: Aeration

You could pour your fine wine straight out of the bottle, but why stain the wine tasting experience? There are many undesirable compounds in wine that diminish as wine is exposed to oxygen. In short, aerating wine makes a huge difference in taste.

Why?

Have you ever over-steeped your tea and tasted those bitter notes? Those are tannins! Tannins exist in wine, and aeration allows the tannins to soften which creates a smooth, pleasant drinking experience. It speeds up the natural aging process that would have happened in the wine cellar, and brings out the best and most expressive flavors in your wine. Simply popping the cork and letting the wine sit isn’t enough to allow the air to flow freely into the small neck of the bottle.

The strong alcohol smell that you may have experienced indicates the presence of naturally occurring ethanol, and wine aeration helps evaporate the astringent odor.

Sulfites, a naturally-occurring preservative added to the wine, can also contribute to a burnt or egg-like flavor. Yikes! Who wants to smell sulfur?

Why use an aerator?

You may have heard about the recent fad of pulsating wine in a blender, but there are much more elegant and effective solutions. Aerators like our Vintorio Wine Aerator Pourer which is a bulb aerator that you pop on a bottle or the Omni Wine Aerator is a faster and more efficient way of letting your wine breathe! Instead of waiting for your wine to breathe at your next wine tasting party which can create an awkward lull as guests wait for wine to be poured, you can easily enjoy the wine immediately, without wasting a drop as you pour by the glass. You’ll be able to wake up the hundreds of different aroma compounds that exist in your favorite wine, and taste the difference in red or white wines.

Where can you buy an aerator?

We offer the Vintorio Wine Aerator Pourer, the Vintorio Omni Wine Aerator, and even the Vintorio Wine Chiller (for those white wine lovers!). Check them out in our shop!

Which wines benefit from aeration?

We recommend aerating:

• Young, tannic reds which can be harsh or overwhelming, e.g. Merlot, Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Shirax/Syrah, Bordeaux, Montepulciano, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo.
• Earthy, aged red wines which can open up after they breathe, like Barolo or Barbaresco.
• Dry, full-bodied, heavier white wines, e.g. Sonoma Chardonnay, white Burgundy, white Bordeaux, Alsace Whites, or other white wines like some Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chablis, and even a popular sweet tasting wine like Sauternes.
• Aged port