The swirling wine’s graceful movement looks mesmerizing to the eye. However, its purpose is more than just making someone look like an experienced aficionado. Aerating the wine plays a vital role in enhancing its flavours. The simple use of a wine aerator can increase the aroma and zest of your wine. Let's take a look at how to select the best wine aerator in 2021.
What are the Different Types of Wine Aerators?
There are mainly four different types of wine aerators. Although all of these types of aerators work on the same principle, they function in different ways. There are several channels in an aerator that draw air in it while wine pours out. Hence, it mixes the perfect amount of oxygen or fresh air to enhance the flavours.
Bottle-Stopper Wine Aerators
Bottle stopper wine aerator or wine pourer is a user-friendly device that fits in the neck of a wine bottle just like a regular stopper. Many bottle-stopper wine aerators can provide the functionality of both a stopper and an aerator.
The wine pours right through the aerators and comes directly into your glass. Although the job is done, there is not much perfection. It does not give too much room for the consistent mixing of wine and oxygen compared to the other types discussed below.
Handheld Wine Aerators
Handheld wine aerators are not many complex devices. You need to hold your wine aerator and position it correctly over your glass, and finally, pour the wine through the device. The best thing about these types of wine aerators is that they sometimes come with screens that can catch sediments. They also come with a base where you can set your wine aerator when you are not using it.
Aerator/Decanter Wine Aerators
The third type of wine aerator is Aerator/Decanter. As the name suggests, it performs a combination of aerating and decanting. How it works is that you pour your wine in the decanter, position it over the wine aerator, and your filters down the aerator.
Electric Wine Aerators
It is the most expensive type of aerator in the whole bunch. However, the results are excellent. It would be best if you positioned the aerator on your bottle of wine, and with a touch of a button, the wine automatically pours into the glass.
What Should You Consider When Buying Wine Aerators?
If you are in a pickle when deciding to buy a wine aerator, you can look up these factors:
Ease of Use
If you want an aerator that is easy to use and works as effectively as possible, an electric aerator is your best shot. As mentioned earlier, it works perfectly just by the touch of one button. Not only this, the addition of oxygen to the wine is perfectly proportionate, giving the best results.
Brand
Multiple brands are producing various wine aerators. However, to choose the best wine aerator, you should go with a well-known and revered brand. The advantage of selecting an esteemed brand is that you will get quality assurance for the product's durability.
Included Extras/Accessories
If you are looking for a package deal, you can choose a wine aerator with accessories. It can help you maximize the usage of your aerator. Extras can include storage cases, stands, cleaning brushes, and much more. These additional accessories can also help you maintain your aerator and increase its durability.
Easy to Maintain
When it comes to maintenance, premium quality wine aerators are the top pick. Aerators that are dishware safe and have detachable parts are the easiest to maintain. Take a note that you would want an aerator that can be easily assembled as well after cleaning.
What is the Different Material of Aerators?
The materials commonly used for wine aerators are acrylic, steel, plastic, and glass. Please note that these materials do not contaminate your wine or add any harmful components to it. It is crucial to choose the material wisely because it plays an essential role in deciding the durability of the product. The better the material, the longer the product will last.
There are fewer chances for acrylic plastic to break as compared to highly delicate and fragile glass.
Some Other Important Features
There are some other small yet important features to look for in an aerator:
Flow Regulator: Some of the best wine aerators also have the feature of controlling the aeration process and flow rate.
No Drip Stand: If you don't want to leave a mess around, then the anti-drip feature is a must-have.
Easy Grip: Another feature of the top wine aerators is their comfortable and tight grip. Most of the aerators have a silicon grip. While the fit on the wine bottle should be snug, the use of the aerator should be easy.
Wine Aerator FAQ
Q. What types of wines need aeration?
Ans. Wines that are extra bitter or have a high amount of tannin in them should be aerated. The purpose of aeration is to soften the tannin and enhance the aroma. It also builds the flavour of the wine. Primarily red wines need aeration, but sometimes it is good to aerate the white wines as well.
Q. What is the best temperature to aerate wines?
Ans. To get the best results, it is better if you aerate the wine at room temperature. You can chill it later because if you choose to aerate a cold wine, it will add extra oxygen. However, if you are still persistent to aerate your wine while it is cold, make sure that you drink it directly to lessen its exposure to air. If not, then keep it chilled so that oxidation can stop.
Q. How to minimize air exposure to wine that is aerated?
Ans. There are two ways to minimize air exposure; you should keep the wine container full and check for leaks in your bottle. The former is helpful because less space in a container means less air can enter. Secondly, by checking for leaks, you can see the potential air bubbles in the bottle and try to minimize them by using a well-fitted cork.