Wine Racks and Bars

To let a wine breathe merely means to expose it to fresh air. When a wine mixes with the air, it begins oxidizing. Depending on the wine’s type and age, oxidation can cause different effects, both desired and undesired.  

What wines need to breathe?

It depends on the wine. If the wine is tannic or has been closed for a long time, it will need time to oxygenate after opening. But most wines do not need it. For example, most white wines are ready to be consumed as soon as the cork is pulled. 
 
For a younger wine, breathing is normally not needed, as most of the wines flavors and characteristics will be immediately present upon opening the bottle.  
 
For an older wine, which has had time to age in the bottle, and which has been exposed to slight amounts of oxygen that seeped in through the cork, a longer amount of breathing may be necessary.

Sometimes, allowing an older wine to breath for 15 minutes to an hour will allow its deeper flavors, aromas and characteristics to show through, which otherwise might not have developed had the wine been opened and then immediately poured.
 
There are several ways to allow a wine to breathe:  
 
1. uncorking the bottle and letting it sit out for a few minutes to an hour.
 
2. pouring it into a decanter (a specially-designed glass or crystal container that permits a maximum surface area of the wine to be exposed to air)  
 
3. pouring the wine into a glass, and waiting a few minutes before drinking it.

See our wide selection of wine decanters to allow your wine to breathe.