| Prove once and for all whether decanting and | | | | 7. Pour a quarter glass of wine from bottle "A" |
| aerating young red wines improves your | | | | into the first glass and the same amount from |
| enjoyment of their qualities. You can conduct the | | | | bottle "B" into the second glass. |
| following experiment in your own home and make | | | | 8. Invite your guests to taste each glass and |
| it truly scientific. | | | | mark down on a piece of paper, which they |
| 1. Buy two identical bottles of red wine of a | | | | prefer, "A" or "B". |
| quality you are likely to choose for normal drinking | | | | Note: It is important that your guests do not |
| - typical supermarket price between $5 and $15. | | | | know which of the bottles has been decanted and |
| 2. Invite friends to visit you for a wine tasting. | | | | aerated. Just in case they have seen this article, |
| 3. About three hours before the event, open one | | | | use different letters or use numbers instead. You |
| bottle of wine and pour it into a wide base | | | | should provide your guests with a glass of water |
| decanter. Splash the wine into the decanter | | | | to refresh the palate between tasting and you |
| vigorously, without spilling it, of course. The idea is | | | | should suggest that some guests try "A" first and |
| to expose the wine to the air. Decanters are ideal | | | | others try "B" first. |
| for the job but, quite frankly, any glass container | | | | I have tried this test many times and nearly |
| that lets the wine breathe will do the trick, even a | | | | always the decanted, aerated wine comes out |
| cheap glass pitcher. | | | | better. Once you have proven this to yourself |
| 4. Allow the wine in the decanter, the empty | | | | you will try always to decant young red wines to |
| bottle and the other unopened bottle to stand | | | | allow them to breathe. In normal circumstances |
| side by side to allow them to have the same | | | | you do not need to pour the decanted wine back |
| room temperature (note that the room should | | | | into its bottle. This is only done to hide which is |
| not be hot - room temperature for red wine is | | | | which from the testers. |
| advice from the age before central heating.) | | | | For your dinner party you will get double benefits |
| 5.Just before your guests arrive, label the empty | | | | from your decanter - the wine will be improved |
| bottle "A and label the unopened bottle "B". Pour | | | | and the decanter will look great. The decanting |
| the wine in the decanter back into bottle "A". A | | | | experiment gives you the opportunity to prove a |
| stainless steel or glass funnel helps with this task. | | | | point and show off your new wine decanter at |
| 6. Provide each of your guests with two identical | | | | the same time. |
| glasses marked "A" and "B". | | | | |