Decoding Decanters

You have the wine, you have the stemware, but do you have the right decanter for your vino? That’s the question we’re here to answer today with this handy guide to help you choose the best decanter or carafe for your preferred wine. Read on to score points at your next wine-tasting event!

Cornett Style
This elegant style of decanter is great for beginners as it is quite versatile! Easy to pour and clean, it is perfect for lighter reds like Pinot Noirs and floral whites like Rieslings. These wines do not require that much oxygenation, as they do not have a large amount of tannins and have been created for quick consumption. Decanting these is simply enhancing them. This is also great for mixed wines like rosés, fruit variants and dessert wines.

Duck Style
Duck decanters or mallard decanters are perfect for wines like Prosecco, Sauvignon Blanc and Moscato. These decanters are great for wines that need to be served chilled as the handle ensures that you’re not transferring body heat while pouring. Their elegant shape makes them a favorite for dinner parties and get-togethers. Their tilted style allows a greater volume of the wine to be aerated in a shorter amount of time.

Bell Style
Also referred to as the standard decanter, this multi-purpose style can be found in every wine-lover’s home. As many vintage wines have some sedimentation, this tall shape is perfect for keeping them settled at the bottom and away from your glass. This shape is also great for simpler wines that need just a little extra to bloom fully like Pinot Noir and Merlot!

Wide-bottomed Decanters
This style is one of the most recognisable ones and for good reason! This is perfect for the popular full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Shiraz and others. The wide shallow bowl allows the wine to be aerated evenly while the long neck traps the aromas for your glass. It is a little harder to clean than the other styles, so it’s best for experienced wine-enthusiasts.

Tilting Style
This unique style is a rather niche pick, as it is predominantly used for vintage and aged wines that require agitation to reveal the flavors. However the twirling or tilting decanter can also be used for other full-bodied wines by keeping it still and not using its swirling function. It is a bespoke style for wines like Chateau Margaux, older Bordeaux, and Chateau Latour varieties!

Aerator Decanter
This unique fusion of modern technology and the age-old tradition of decanting, is perfect for your modern home. The most common style of aerator decanters is one where a traditional wide-bottom decanter has an aerator funnel or top. Here the wine is aerated as it’s poured into the decanter speeding up the process immensely. This style is great for almost every type of wine that needs heavy aeration, whether it's a full-bodied Malbec or a vintage Cheval Blanc!

We hope this little guide helps you the next time you’re shopping for decanters! Whether you’re a novice wine-enthusiast or an experienced vino-connoisseur, there’s a decanter in our collection to help you get the best out of your bottle. 

-Written by Geetika Agarwal