Wine tasting is a science and an art for professionals. For the amateur, it is essentially a matter of enjoying the experience. To do so, it is necessary to appreciate the wine in optimal conditions. In our articles, we explained why it’s important to aerate wine and how you should do it. We discovered that there were many techniques, and that the aerator was the easiest. Indeed, this is exactly why a device such as the wine aerator was invented: to make the tasting experience easier, and to allow everyone to enjoy their wine at its best.
1- What is a wine aerator?
A wine aerator is a tool used to aerate wine. There are different models, which use different technologies, have different shapes, design. The purpose of an aerator is to provide rapid, or even immediate, aeration. This device allows you to appreciate your wines better, and no longer wait for the tasting. Usually, the wine aerator is discreet, and easily transportable. Which makes it the ideal tool for all wine lovers.
2- What is the purpose of a wine aerator?
As silly as it may sound, a wine aerator is used to aerate the wine. The wine will then release all its aromas, and you will have rounder tannins. An aerator speeds up the aeration process. While the decanter requires time, this device is generally very fast. It means you no longer have to wait to drink your wine in optimal conditions.
3- Why should we use it?
Wine is a complex drink with an evolving taste. Therefore, we have always sought different systems, methods and techniques to enable wine to reach its full potential. The use of an aerator will help the wine soften its tannins and reach the best of its potential. It is a tool that helps to accelerate the process of wine aeration.
The use of the wine aerator is simpler than that of the decanter. Oxygenation of the wine is generally done when the wine is served in the glass. There is therefore no need to anticipate the opening of the bottle, and there are generally fewer gestures to make with a wine aerator. The aerator ensures rapid or even immediate aeration, which is its great strength. No need to wait any longer to enjoy a perfectly aerated wine.
4- How does a wine aerator work?
When the wine is in contact with oxygen, it will develop all its aromas. We will say that the wine “wakes up”. An aerator will accelerate the oxygenation process. The idea is to increase the surface area of contact between the wine and the oxygen so that it can give the best of its aromatic palette. This tool generally incorporates an aeration chamber to give life to this process.
5- Which aerator to choose?
There are different types of wine aerators for all budgets. Some look like spouts, while others have a stemmed structure. However, not all of them are the same: the quality of the materials, the design, and the aeration capacity will make the difference. Most aerators are on/off. They aerate uniformly, without any control over the level of aeration. However, each wine has different needs, depending on its color, grape variety or vintage. The only aerator that allows to control aeration is the Smart Wine Aerator, by Aveine: it allows to aerate precisely and instantly all wines from 1 to 24 hours.
Do not hesitate to search the internet to find the one that suits you best. Also, do not hesitate to get information from wine professionals such as wine merchants and sommeliers.
6- Where can I buy it?
Most companies selling a wine aerator advertise it on their website and on Amazon. But you can also find it at a wine shop. The Aveine connected aerator, is very popular among professionals who use the aerator and promote it; they are Ambassadeurs.
7- How to use a wine aerator?
Traditionally, we use a carafe to allow the wine to air out. In this way, the surface area in contact with the air will be larger than in the bottle, allowing the wine to oxygenate and release its aromas as well as possible. This process requires several hours of waiting before the wine can be drunk. Now, with an aerator there is no need to wait. It speeds up the aeration process.
There is no universal use for aerators. However, most of them are used to pour wine into the glass through the aerator. The wine is aerated when it is served. This avoids using the whole bottle.
To clean it, a quick wash under water is usually enough. A carafe will be much more complex to clean.
8- Annex: do I need an aerator for white wine?
Just like red wine, white wine needs air before tasting. Airing a white wine helps to reduce the effect of wood or carbon dioxide left over from fermentation. As a result, you will enjoy the aromas more in the mouth but also in the nose. We can therefore only recommend the aerator for white wines.
Taking the time to do a “good” wine tasting should not be a complex exercise, but an expression of the love we have for wine and the desire to know more about what we like.
To find out more about the Smart Wine Aerator, by Aveine and the app, visit our website!
