| The world of wine can often seem like an alien | | | | small gap at the top of the wine bottle is just not |
| one. From etiquette to tasting technique, the | | | | going to cut it. If someone suggests to you that |
| common functions of wine drinking can be | | | | this is the proper way to let wine breathe, you |
| mystifying. One such area that confuses many | | | | can smile and know they really do not have a |
| has to do with letting a wine breathe. | | | | clue. |
| What are we talking about when letting wine | | | | In most scenarios, the best way to aerate a wine |
| breathe is mentioned? It is the simple act of | | | | is to pour it into your wine glass and let it sit. |
| exposing wine to the surrounding air. This is better | | | | Make sure the pour covers six inches or more |
| known as aeration. The aeration process | | | | from the tip of the bottle to the glass. Unlike |
| smoothes out the sharp edges of a wine. It can | | | | beer, you also want to make sure the wine hits |
| be the difference between drinking a wine that | | | | the middle of the bottom of the glass. With beer, |
| overpowers the palette and one that simply has | | | | this will give you a huge head, which is bad. With |
| strong, distinct flavors you can parcel out and | | | | wine, however, it gets plenty of air into the wine, |
| enjoy. | | | | which is good. Depending on the glass, more wine |
| The first step in the process of letting a wine | | | | should be exposed to the air. Swirling it every |
| breathe is making sure you have a wine that | | | | thirty seconds or so will further this exposure. |
| actually needs to breathe. Most white wines, for | | | | If possible, an even better way to let a wine |
| instance, do not need exposure to the air to | | | | breathe is to use a decanter. A decanter is usually |
| fortify the taste. Red wines, on the other hand, | | | | a glass container that is leaning to one side or |
| almost always should be aerated before being | | | | another for the purpose of creating the largest |
| poured. The tend to come out of the bottle a bit | | | | possible surface where wine and air can interact. |
| overpowering, which makes the softening effect | | | | In a pinch, any old juice pitcher will even work. |
| of the aeration process especially beneficial. | | | | Just pour the wine back into the bottle to create |
| You see it all the time. People pop the cork on a | | | | the right look! |
| bottle of wine and then let the bottle sit exposed | | | | If you are drinking red wine, letting it breathe is a |
| to the air. Is this aeration? Not really. The wine is | | | | critical step. To do it right, make sure to go |
| not really effected because there simply isn't | | | | beyond just popping the cork. |
| enough wine actually exposed to the air. That | | | | |