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