Aeration
Beginner Service & GlasswareDefinition
Deliberately exposing wine to oxygen to improve its expression.
In Depth
Aeration activates aromatic compounds and softens tannins through oxidation. Methods range from simple swirling to aerator gadgets to full decanting. Young, tannic wines benefit most. Over-aerating can flatten delicate wines. A double-decant (pour into decanter, rinse bottle, pour back) maximizes aeration for very tight wines.
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Details
- Category
- Service & Glassware
- Difficulty
- Beginner