How long to let wine breathe

If you want to shorten that time, then you can pour it into a decanter to expose the wine to more air and surface. All wines benefit from letting them breathe. Opposed to general thinking, every wine benefits from air time if it is made well and the length of time depends on how old the wine is.

Remember the Ginny in the bottle? It took time for her to work the get loosened up. Your ability to experience all the nuances of a wine also depends on your ability to smell the aromatics. Letting wine breathe enhances the aromatics of wine and helps your senses experience those aromatics. This is particularly true for more subtle and elegant varietals like Pinot Noir.

Because they tend to be less bold and in your face, letting them breathe will enhance your experience while enjoying a glass of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.

If you are ready to experience some amazing Oregon Wines please visit our online store. We offer many unique wines that are all organic and award winning.

We offer daily wine tastings. We are located just 10 minutes from downtown McMinnville. Buy two bottles, decant one, and let it breathe for an hour. Do you notice a difference in the taste? One word of warning: No matter where a wine comes from, it is possible to overexpose it to oxygen. That, friends, would be one hell of a waste. Have you got a Big Question you'd like us to answer? If so, let us know by emailing us at bigquestions mentalfloss. Be careful with older vintages, which can be much more sensitive once opened and may lose fruit aromas much more quickly.

Perhaps the best thing to do is conduct your own research, which may necessarily involve opening a bottle or two. Have fun experimenting! This article was originally published on Decanter. Home Learn Advice. Helmenstine holds a Ph. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter.

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