What makes a good decanter
- It holds a full bottle with the wine at or below the widest point. Many are sold as 1.2 to 1.8 litres for that reason.
- A wide base for young reds, the wine most people decant. See decanter shapes.
- Lead-free crystal or good glass. Never store wine for days in lead crystal.
- It pours without dripping and is stable when full.
- You can clean it. A simple shape is easier to keep spotless.
The picks, by need
Riedel makes decanters from machine-made everyday models to handmade statement pieces. The everyday ones are dishwasher safe, which makes them easy to live with. More on the range: Riedel decanters, explained.
Mouth-blown, very thin and very light, like the Zalto glasses beside it. It is a decanter for great bottles and careful hands. More: the Zalto Axium decanter.
Schott Zwiesel’s Tritan crystal resists chips, and the Pure and Diva decanters go in the dishwasher. More: Schott Zwiesel decanters, explained.
My picks come from the Amazon listings and from what a sommelier needs a decanter to do, not from a lab test. Price levels: $ budget, $$ everyday, $$$ mid-range, $$$$ premium. The button shows today’s price.
Crystal or glass?
Crystal can be blown thinner and clearer, so it is lighter and shows the colour of the wine better. Choose lead-free crystal. Ordinary glass decants just as well; it is thicker and heavier. The decanter does not change the wine’s taste, only how much air it gets and how cleanly it pours.
Do you need a stopper?
It helps, but it is not essential. A stopper keeps dust and kitchen smells out if the wine waits a few hours, and lets you keep a young red until the next day. Many decanter sets include one.
What to buy with it
A decanter is only as good as it is clean. Two small things keep it that way: cleaning beads for the base and a drying stand so it dries upside down without spots.
Buying a decanter: your questions
What is the best wine decanter?
For most people, a wide-base decanter in lead-free crystal that holds a full bottle, from a glassmaker such as Riedel or Schott Zwiesel. For serious wine, the Zalto Axium. On a budget, the Le Chateau does the same basic job.
Is a crystal decanter better than glass?
Crystal can be thinner and clearer, and it shows the wine better. Choose lead-free crystal. Ordinary glass decants just as well; it is heavier and less refined.
Is it safe to keep wine in a lead crystal decanter?
Pouring wine through it for a few hours is the normal use. Do not store wine or spirits in lead crystal for days or weeks, because lead can move into the drink over time. New decanters are usually lead-free.
What size decanter do I need?
One that holds a full 750 ml bottle with the wine level at or below the widest part. Many are sold as 1.2 to 1.8 litres for that reason. A magnum needs a magnum decanter.
Should a wine decanter have a stopper?
It is useful, not essential. A stopper keeps dust and smells out if the wine waits a few hours, and lets you keep a young red until the next day.
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