| Adding a wine decanter to your wine bar area will | | | | of decanting may be seen. One of the most |
| add depth and class to wine drinking. Wine | | | | popular materials to make glass wine decanters |
| decanters not only make red wines taste better, | | | | from is lead crystal. It should be noted, however, |
| but they offer a very attractive vessel from | | | | that lead crystal is no longer recommended for |
| which to serve wine to your visitors. | | | | use in decanters, as the lead tends to seep into |
| A decanter is a type of vessel that is used for | | | | the liquid contained within the vessel. |
| holding decantation results. Decantation is the | | | | Lead crystal is created by adding lead oxide to |
| process where liquid from another vessel is | | | | molten glass. This lead glass is manufactured |
| poured into the decanter in order to separate a | | | | because it increases the index of refraction over |
| small volume of liquid that contains sediment from | | | | that of normal glass. This means that lead crystal |
| a larger volume of relatively clear liquid. In the | | | | has a much more 'sparkly' appearance than |
| process of decantation, the sediment is left in the | | | | regular glass. |
| original vessel and the clear liquid is transferred to | | | | Though many people still use lead crystal |
| the decanter. | | | | decanters, I long ago gave mine away and have |
| Wine is a type of liquid that often must be | | | | since switched to regular glass decanters, to avoid |
| decanted in order to remove excess sediment. All | | | | lead poisoning. If you think about it, most people |
| red wines, particularly young red wines, benefit | | | | have the same liquid sitting against the lead |
| from the oxygenation that takes place during the | | | | crystal for years at a time -plenty of time to |
| decantation process. An optimal decanting process | | | | absorb more than a healthy amount of lead, in |
| involves trickling the wine down the walls of a | | | | my opinion. |
| decanter, which imparts fuller flavor while | | | | Popular makers of lead crystal decanters are |
| removing the unpleasant edge of the wine. | | | | Waterford Crystal, Steuben Crystal, Baccarat |
| Most wine decanters are ornate and tall | | | | Crystal and Steuben Crystal. These |
| containers that are made to be very attractive | | | | manufacturers of fine lead crystal decanters and |
| vessels from which to serve wine. Wine | | | | other items have perfected the art of stunning |
| decanters may come with a stoppered lid. | | | | lead crystal designs. If you opt to go with a |
| Additionally, some wine decanters come with a | | | | traditional lead crystal decanter for your wine or |
| built in rod that aids the decanting process. | | | | liquor, I'd go with one of the tried and tested lead |
| Most wine decanters have a very upright and tall | | | | crystal manufacturers. |
| shape and are made of glass so that the process | | | | |