My experience with wine decanters has led me to the conclusion that not all of them are created equal, and that the performance of your decanter depends on how you use it. I’ve made some mistakes along the way, and hopefully after reading this article you won’t make these mistakes when using your own wine decanter. Here are the six most common mistakes I’ve made with my Le Chateau wine decanter and how you can avoid making them too.
1) Not cleaning my glass wine decanter properly
Before each use, I should run hot water through my glass wine decanter with a few squirts of dish soap to make sure there’s no bacteria in it. And if it’s been sitting for too long without being used, I can soak it in warm water with a little vinegar and baking soda overnight to clean out any residue.
2) Not fully opening the spout before pouring
Only partially opening a decanter spout can prevent wine from fully aerating, which results in a less-than-pleasant drinking experience. Take some time to get used to opening and closing your spout—it only takes a moment but makes all of the difference in how much you enjoy your glass of wine. Le Chateau’s decanters have unique handles that make it easy to operate our glass stoppers with one hand while pouring with another. No more fumbling around! The Decanter is designed with elegance and functionality in mind, making it simple for anyone to pour their favorite glass of wine at any occasion.
3) Pouring it too slowly
Over-pouring wine is a common mistake among new decanters, but it’s also one of the easiest to avoid. Over-pouring is usually caused by pouring too slowly, which is a good way to cause drips and leave unwanted dregs at the bottom of your glass. Remember: you want about an inch of wine in your glass for each pour.
4) Pouring it too quickly
Don’t pour too quickly. You want to give enough time for all of that sediment to settle at the bottom of your decanter. If you pour too quickly, you might end up throwing some sediment into your glass along with your wine. And don’t worry if it takes a little longer than usual: The small wait is worth not having to drink wine and dirt together! (And hey, who knows?
5) Pouring it into a tall glass instead of a wide one
A real wine connoisseur may pour their glass of wine directly into a wide-mouthed glass (such as my favorite Le Chateau wine decanter) but for everyone else, it’s recommended to first pour it into a short, wide glass and then slowly slide your freshly poured drink from that glass into one with a longer neck. This prevents drops from spilling on your countertop or table.
6) Using it for something other than red wine
The Le Chateau wine decanter is used primarily for red wines. (In fact, we actually have a special glass for white wine.) If you try to pour anything else into it—whether it’s white wine or soda—it won’t fit and won’t look very pretty. So if you use your decanter for everything but wine, it might not end up looking so good in your cupboard.