What is the proper way to decanter wine for table service?!
What is the proper way to decanter wine for table service?
Do you decanter the entire bottle and then pour for the guests or do you pour first and decanter what remains? What wines do you decanter?
Answers:
Typically, you decanter older red wines or Ports, which have sediment at the bottom, although a lot of people do it with younger wines or whites just to put them in a prettier container, and that's fine too. Because you are removing sediments from the wine, you will want to pour the wine into the decanter before serving, and away from your guests. Either angle the bottle so that you can stop the sediments from getting into the decanter, or strain the wine through a cheesecloth or even a coffee filter. Allow reds to breathe for an hour before serving.
Normally you would decant the wine prior to the guests arrival, and pour from the decanter for them.
Red wines are usually decanted, particularly ones like Port (fortified wines)
White wines are served in a carafe, but it depends on where you are.