How to Aerate Wine - a Simple Guide
Simply put, aerating wine improves its flavour and quality significantly.
What types of wine can be aerated?
Wines that benefit from aeration the most are young wines (usually bottled and sold within the same year). Younger wines benefit from the aeration process because they haven’t yet had the time to evolve.
It’s more common to aerate red wines due to their tannin-rich, full body nature. However, there’s often heavy debate surrounding whether white wines and rosé wines need the same treatment. In most cases, aeration can still be carried out, it just needs far less time compared to reds.
What method of aeration should I use?
Use a decanter: a proper wine decanter with an angled neck allows for optimal contact with oxygen, this traditional method takes a couple of hours
Use a wine aerator: a hand-held wine aerator can be used directly above a wine glass for instant ventilation and an improved taste, much faster than decanting
Decanting vs Aerating
Decanting wine helps to both aerate wine and remove sediment often found at the bottom of very mature red wines. The aeration process is much slower and milder than using an aerator
Aerating wine is the intentional purpose of exposing wine to air to upgrade its flavour and aroma, often conducted through bottle stoppers or hand-held devices
How to aerate wine
Here’s a quick guide when deciding how to aerate your wine…
If you’re having red wine and have lots of time - use a decanter
If you’re having red wine and don’t have lots of time - use an aerator
If you’re having white wine - use an aerator or decanter, the process should be very quick using either
How to use a wine decanter…
- Make sure your bottle has been stood upright for at least 24 hours, this helps any sediment to sink to the bottom
- Pour your wine into the decanter in one smooth motion, holding at a slight angle
- Allow red wine to rest at room temperature for 1-2 hours
- Allow white wines to rest for just 20 mins
- Ensure the decanter is thoroughly cleaned after use and no water or soap sediment remains
How to use a wine aerator…
- Hold the aerator over an empty glass
- Pour the wine slowly through the aerating chamber
- Enjoy your wine straight away
How to aerate wine without an aerator or decanter
There is a very simple method to aerate wine without equipment, although it will be less effective. Uncork the bottle of wine you wish to consume a couple of hours before tasting. The exposure to air will help to aerate, slightly improving the taste.
The basics: what kind of aerator or decanter do I need for my home?
There are lots of types of decanters and aerators to choose from and it can be confusing to decide which tools you’ll need the most.
We suggest having one decanter and one aerator on hand, ready for any occasion…
Take a look at our Twist Wine Decanter
Take a look at our Wine Aerator (voted No.2 in ‘10 best wine aerators of 2026’ by The Independent)
Why not take a look at our entire range of wine gifts, gadgets and accessories.