Whether you choose to decant every bottle of wine you serve or just a few, consider these tips:

Older red wines benefit from decanting, which eliminates sediment. Some older wines, however, are too delicate to retain their essence for long when exposed to oxygen during decanting. Decant older wines at the last minute. To do so, hold the bottle over a lit candle to illuminate any solids that have collected in the bottom, and then pour the wine slowly and carefully into the decanter until nearly all of the liquid is transferred and the sediment remains in bottle neck.

Young red wines with strong tannins greatly benefit from decanting. As the wine is poured into the decanter and left to sit for thirty minutes or more, oxygen softens the tannins and pushes the fruit forward to intensify the bouquet and delight the palate.

White wines tend to be decanted less often than red wines, but doing so is a wonderful opportunity to showcase a lovely decanter. Decanters range from simple glass carafes to exquisite cut-crystal, but all should be clear so that a wine's color and clarity are visible. Let your style be your guide.

SPORTSMAN’S has long been an advocate of decanting wine and maintains an extensive line of Riedel decanters in various shapes, sizes and prices. Our knowledgeable staff would be happy to discuss proper decanting techniques with you and make recommendations based upon your preferences.

In addition to decanters, we also recommend the use of a wine funnel, to aerate and filter your wine as you decant it. Please visit any of our stores to see the full line of decanters and wine accessories.