0–30 min
Light reds such as Pinot Noir and Gamay
30–60 min
Medium reds such as Merlot, Chianti and Rioja
1–2 h
Powerful young Cabernet, Syrah and Nebbiolo
The decanting chart
How long to decant each wine
| Wine | How long | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Young Barolo, Barbaresco (Nebbiolo) | 2–3 hours | Very firm tannin, slow to open |
| Young Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux | 1–2 hours | Air softens the tannin |
| Young Syrah, Shiraz, Malbec | 1–2 hours | Brings the fruit forward |
| Brunello, Amarone, Zinfandel | 1–2 hours | Big, concentrated wines |
| Merlot, Chianti, Rioja Crianza | 30–60 minutes | Medium body, opens quickly |
| Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, light reds | 0–30 minutes | Delicate aromas fade fast |
| Red wine 10–20 years old | Just before serving | Mainly to leave the sediment |
| Red wine over 20 years old | At the table, drink soon | Fragile: air tires it quickly |
| Young Vintage Port | 2–3 hours or more | Heavy sediment and big tannin |
| Rich whites: white Burgundy, white Rhône | 15–30 minutes | Optional, when it tastes tight |
| Crisp whites, rosé, sparkling | No need | Freshness is the point |
How to tell when the wine is ready
- Taste it. Pour a small sip when you decant, then every 20 to 30 minutes.
- Smell for fruit. When a closed wine starts to smell of fruit rather than of nothing, it is opening.
- Feel the tannin. When the drying grip on your gums turns smoother, it is close.
- Stop before it fades. If the fruit starts to drop, pour it now.
How long can wine stay in a decanter?
Drink it the same evening. A young red keeps until the next day with a stopper on, but it will have lost some freshness. Do not keep wine in a decanter for days, and never store anything for long in lead crystal. If you have wine left, pour it back into the bottle, close it and keep it in the fridge.
Can you decant for too long?
Yes. After many hours the fruit fades and the wine tastes flat, and old or delicate wines get there fastest. That is why the old wines in the chart above go in the decanter last.
The shape of the decanter changes the timing too: a wide base works faster than a slim one. See does decanter shape matter.
How long to decant: your questions
How long should you decant red wine?
About 30 minutes to 2 hours for most young reds. Light reds such as Pinot Noir need little or none, medium reds 30 to 60 minutes, and powerful young Cabernet, Syrah or Nebbiolo 1 to 2 hours, sometimes more.
How long should red wine breathe?
In the open bottle it barely breathes, because the neck is too narrow. In a decanter, most young reds are at their best between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Taste every 20 to 30 minutes.
How long can wine stay in a decanter?
Drink it the same evening. A young red with a stopper keeps until the next day, but it fades. Pour leftovers back into the bottle, close it and keep it in the fridge.
How long should you decant an old wine?
Only as long as it takes to pour it off its sediment. Decant an old wine just before serving and drink it within about 30 minutes, while its aroma is still there.
Can you decant wine for too long?
Yes. After too many hours the fruit fades and the wine tastes flat. Old and delicate wines get there fastest.
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