Most Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need the DECANTUS™ Aerator to enjoy wine?
Red wine should deliberately be brought into contact with oxygen in the air in order to let its tannins mature. You can begin doing this by simply swirling the wine in the glass. Or you can pour the entire contents of the bottle into a decanter. But the DECANTUS™ aerates more efficiently than both of these methods. After being poured through the DECANTUS™, undesirable smells will dissipate more effectively, the aroma becomes more complex and the taste becomes softer and less bitter. The important aroma molecules in the wine are released when the wine comes in contact with oxygen in the air.

Why should I be concerned with “tannins” when drinking red wine?
The main difference between red wine and white wine is the presence of tannin. This comes from the stem, seed and skin of the grape as well as from the oak barrel used to mature the wine. The quality of the tannin indicates whether the grapes were ripe when picked. The nose cannot detect tannins. Only the mouth can detect them. Bitter tannins point to a bad vintage or unripe grapes or production errors. Mature tannins are silky and smooth. Even though they are astringent there is a hint of fruit and sweetness in the aftertaste.

What is meant by the ”aroma” of a wine?
The flavors of the wine are not tasted only with the tongue. The tongue only detects sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Only the aroma molecules that escape from the wine and reach the olfactory center can contribute to full appreciation of how the wine really tastes. The olfactory center is located at the top of the nasal cavity at the back of the throat. The volatile aroma molecules from the wine arrive through the nose in the vapor we breathe in, but they also reach the olfactory center in the nasal cavity from the oral cavity.

Why are the capillary tubes inside the DECANTUS™ placed in a diagonal position?
The tubes are longer than they would be placed in a horizontal position. This pulls more air into the wine. Also wine cannot drip out from the tubes as they would if the tubes were in a horizontal position.

Why is there a vertical planar insert at the base of the top bowl of the DECANTUS™?
To prevent the wine from “whirlpooling” into the lower chamber, the vertical planar insert creates an anti-coriolis force so the wine will flow through the DECANTUS™ more quickly. If the vertical planar insert accidentally falls out it should be re-inserted into the hole at the bottom of the top bowl at a right angle position to the diagonal capillary tubes, i.e., opposite to the direction of the tubes.