A brief science popularization about sobering up devices

1. What is a decanter?

A decanter, also known as a wine bottle or a wine jug, is a vessel used for drinking newly fermented wine. There have been three generations of development so far.

The first generation decanter is a classic water droplet shaped structure, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. Pour the wine into the bottle at about one-fifth of its height, allowing the liquid level to come into contact with the air at an optimal level. They mostly have slender lines and soft curves, with smooth bottlenecks and circular bottoms that allow for sufficient inflation and release a rich aroma of fine wine.

The second generation decanter bottle mouth is not located in the center, but on the upper side. The shape of the bottle is composed of two triangles, which is designed to increase the contact area between red wine and air. Their designs are mostly very tense and have a unique "affinity" for wine. The design of the bottle body allows impurities to settle faster (sediment will settle at the bottom of the wine bottle), and prevents sediment from shaking when pouring the wine.

The third generation decanter has a similar style to the first generation decanter, with a narrow top and wide bottom, and a slender bottleneck line that is quite elegant. The difference is that the bottom of this Wine Decanter is wider, with a diameter of over 20 centimeters at its widest point. In addition, the bottle mouth is equipped with a glass funnel for easy pouring of red wine.

2. What is the function of a decanter?

For aged red wine, tannins and pigments can form sediment over time, which can be unsightly and slightly bitter when poured into a glass. So after opening the bottle, the principle is to pour the wine smoothly and slowly into the decanter, leaving sediment at the bottom of the bottle. This process is called decanting, commonly known as "changing bottles".

The fundamental purpose of the development of decanters is to maximize the contact area between red wine and air, while retaining the pure aroma of the wine. After removing the fishy smell, the original flavor of the red wine can be preserved.

3. How to use a decanter?

Before changing bottles in a restaurant, the bottle should be upright for at least 30 minutes to allow the sediment to fully settle to the bottom of the bottle; At home, if you want to drink tomorrow night, you should take down the old bottle of wine lying on the shelf today and keep it upright. When changing bottles, it is necessary to light a candle (with a stable light source) and place it 15 centimeters below the shoulder of the bottle to observe the flow of sediment.

When opening the bottle, please be careful not to shake or rotate the bottle, otherwise it may raise sediment in the bottle. Cut open the bottle cap and try to tear it down as much as possible. Wipe the bottle mouth with a clean damp cloth, and then dry it with a napkin. When opening the bottle, please use a long spiral drill bottle opener to fully pull out the bottle stopper, and then carefully examine the bottom of the bottle through a light source to ensure that the sediment has not contaminated the liquid above.

When starting to change the bottle, simply tilt the bottle gradually and let the wine slowly pour into the decanter. After most of the wine has flowed out of the bottle, the wine holder can use the light source below to carefully control the pouring of the wine, only pouring out clear liquid and discarding the chaotic sediment remaining in the bottleneck. Please do not stand the bottle upright during the sobering process, otherwise sediment will immediately contaminate the clear liquid.

As for how long it takes to sober up, there is no precise concept of time due to differences in variety, year, brewing process, and storage conditions, and most rely on experience and intuition to grasp. The general practice is to pour the red wine into a decanter and let it sit for a few hours after opening the bottle, allowing it to fully contact the indoor air before drinking it directly.

4. How to clean and store a decanter?

There are currently two commonly used methods: one is to introduce lemon juice or white vinegar, add water to a height where there are no traces, soak overnight, and wash with water the next day. Another method is to add a professional cleaning ball, spin and shake it with water, and then remove the cleaning ball and pour out the excess water. (Cleaning beads can be reused, please pay attention to storage).

In addition, for cleaning the surface of the vessel, you can apply toothpaste to the surface of the vessel without getting it wet. Brush off the dirt and rinse with clean water. After the cleaned decanter evaporates the water from the bottle in a warm environment, it is best to place it upright in a clean and dust-free place.