When you start collecting wine, you need more than a corkscrew and a wine cooler.
If you are a fan of red wine, you’ll also benefit from a wine decanter. The majority of white wine is good to serve straight from the bottle. Red wine, by contrast, needs to breathe to develop the full flavors and aromas, while at the same time softening out the tannins.
While all red wines are enhanced after aeration, you’ll notice a pronounced improvement if you decant cheaper wines rather than serving directly from the bottle.
Many newcomers to wine collecting initially feel like decanting seems like a waste of time and effort. Nothing is further from the truth. As you expose your wine to oxygen, this can release some delicate fruity and floral aromas, while also taking the sting out of some of the tarter elements of the wine, and also softening the tannins.
We understand you may not know much about decanters, but the good news is that they are remarkably simple by design, following the same core principle: expose as much surface area of the wine to oxygen as possible.
When you’re comparing the best wine decanters, keep the following pointers in mind and you should have no problem finding the right one for you.
OK, with that simple framework in place, you have everything you need in place to assess the best wine decanters up for grabs. Read on to see which of these carafes and decanting systems, if any, makes the right fit for you.
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The 18 Best Wine Decanters
1. Our #1 Pick: Le Chateau Wine Decanter
First up and our overall favorite in this collection of the best wine decanters is a sleek and sweeping model from Le Chateau. This decanter is consistently well-reviewed, so what do you get for your money?
Firstly, you can upend an entire bottle of your favorite vino into this lead-free crystal, opening it up quickly and effectively.
When you pour your red wines into this carafe, you’ll oxygenate it far more rapidly than if you left it to breathe in a wine glass. You’ll have much more surface area exposed, and you’ll find the aroma, taste, and overall purity of your wine is enhanced.
The lead-free crystal allows you to improve the quality of your wine without any niggling concerns about your health. As an added kicker, this decanter looks great on the counter or wine stand, too.
As hard as we looked, we couldn’t find any meaningful complaints about this decanter. The only gripes mentioned inconsistent quality control, so check your package closely upon arrival. In sum, you’re getting a first-class wine decanter that’s fairly priced and comes from a highly reputable stable.
2. Simplified by Jess Wine Decanter
Next up comes a pretty decanter from Simplified by Jess Wine that gives you everything you need and nothing you don’t.
As with all wine decanters, this model is designed to bring out the very best in your fragrant reds. White wine typically doesn’t need decanting.
The snail-shaped design is not purely for the sake of design. Air can penetrate more of your wine, softening the tannins and opening the flavors and aromas.
The hand-blow crystal is lead-free. While it looks quite thin and delicate, the construction is surprisingly robust. Obviously, you need to handle any decanter with care, but you should get plenty of life from this model if you look after it.
Capacity is 750ml, so you can pour in a whole bottle of your favorite red and start enjoying flavors you previously wouldn’t pick out. It’s quite a weight decanter at 2 pounds.
As a crowning glory, this decanter comes backed by a no-quibbles 2-year guarantee, allowing you to buy with complete confidence and the assurance your wine will taste better without requiring you to wait hours for it to breathe.
3. Godinger Dublin Wine Decanter
Anyone hunting for a traditional wine decanter should explore the Godinger Dublin.
The classic design makes a neat fit in a study or man cave. The decanter also looks great on the kitchen counter or wine stand. Diamond and wedge cuts let the light sparkle over the surface of this decanter for a brilliant, eye-catching effect.
As well as the obvious good looks, you’ll also be buying into a company that’s been specializing in handcrafted glassware since the 1970s.
The lead-free crystal decanter has space for a full 750ml bottle of your preferred red. Once poured into this decanter, you’ll find the oxygen hits the wine quickly, developing the full flavor and aroma without forcing you to wait for hours.
You should handwash this delicate decanter for best results. Aside from washing it after every use, there’s nothing else required by the way of maintenance.
Priced very keenly compared to much of the opposition, this is one of the best wine decanters you can find, so what are you waiting for?
4. Brew to a Tea Store Wine Decanter
The Brew to a Tea Store delivers this great wine decanter that’s much larger than most of the competition. Does size matter, then?
Well, it certainly does if you enjoy drinking larger bottles of wine, or if you drink more than a single bottle with dinner. Here, you get enough space for 1800ml of your preferred vino, the equivalent of two regular bottles of Bordeaux.
What this means in real terms if that you’ll expose one whole bottle of wine in surface area to most efficiently open it up.
A nice extra with this decanter is the drying stand. Once you’ve handwashed the decanter after use, pop it on the stainless steel rubber-coated stand for hands-free drying.
When it comes to cleaning, there’s a brush and some beads thrown in so you have everything you need for fuss-free maintenance and a decanter to bring out the very best in your red wines.
5. HiCoup Red Wine Decanter
While this elegant red wine decanter from HiCoup is not especially cheap, it’s currently available at a steep discount, so act promptly and grab yourself a real bargain.
The primary selling point here is the lead-free crystal glass construction. The decanter is hand-blown, so it looks great and performs just as strongly.
The sleek U-shaped decanter works equally well for decanting wine or for serving juice or water.
You can easily accommodate a whole 750ml bottle of red wine inside this thing. The oversized opening promotes easy decanting, and you’ll find the maximum surface area of the wine is exposed, accelerating the aeration process and ensuring you are relaxing with your glass of wine without standing on ceremony.
If you drink lots of red wine, you’ll appreciate the need to aerate it before drinking, and you likely don’t want to wait around for hours. With the efficiency of this decanter, your wine will be good enough to drink almost as soon as you decant it into the HiCoup. Strip the sediments from your wine and mute any excessive tannins by investing in this first-class red wine decanter.
While there is no denying that this wine decanter looks great, we encountered a handful of complaints about the lightweight nature and flimsy feel. Do your due diligence and handle this decanter with care. As long as you are not expecting a thick and sturdy decanter, this is one of the best options at your disposal.6. Rabbit Pura Decanting System
This efficient decanting system from Rabbit will help you bring out the best qualities in your red wine without needing to wait for the aeration process.
You’ll fit a full bottle of wine inside this thing, and there is no spillage involved when you are pouring thanks to the way you simply insert the wine bottle into the decanter and allow it to splash inside.
Made from a reasonably robust glass, this decanter not only looks great but is also reasonably easy to care for. All you need to do is handwash it, ideally shortly after use, and you shouldn’t find any stains build up over time. The decanter is not suitable for use in the dishwasher.
As you pour your red wine into this carafe, it cascades down the sides, instantly aerating it without forcing you to wait around thirsty. There is a micro-filter baked in, too, so any residual sediment is filtered out rather than ending up in your wine glass.
If you drink lots of red wine at home, this decanter represents a solid investment, even if there are many cheaper options at your fingertips. Alternatively, you could pick this decanter up for a wine lover in your life. That’s if you can resist the temptation to keep it yourself!7. WBSEos Wine Decanter
WBSEos serves up an excellent wine decanter that will help you shortcut the process of opening up your wine without using a full-bore wine aerator.
How does this decanter stand out in a glutted field, then?
The key selling point here is the capacity. There’s space for up to 1500ml of wine, meaning that you’ll expose the surface area of the majority of a whole bottle for rapid results.
The hand-blown crystal is completely lead-free. The design is really quite impressive, too. The sweeping curve and slanted spout not only look great, but also enhance performance.
As with many of the more decorative wine decanters on our shortlist, this would make a great gift for any wine lover in your life. It’s stylish, functional, and will save them from buying this piece of essential kit for fragrant red wines.
Aside from a few complaints about the thin glass and fragile nature of this decanter, the vast bulk of user reviews are overwhelmingly positive. This decanter continues to fly off shelves with just cause, so why not see if it makes the right fit for you and your wine collection?8. Riedel Cabernet Decanter
Riedel is a household name in the wine space, and they produce a deep bench of highly attractive glassware like this cabernet decanter perfect for your big-bodied reds.
Made from machine-blown crystal, you’ll get a flawless finish that looks ideal on the wine cabinet or on your desk. Wherever you choose to place this decanter, it will add to the décor rather than cluttering up the space.
When using this decanter, the manufacturer recommends decanting younger wines a few hours before serving. This will give them chance to develop to their fullest. Old wines can be decanted directly before serving, though, giving near-instant results and a dramatic improvement in the taste and aroma of your red wines.
If you need the best wine decanters for your small restaurant or bar, you can pick up these Riedel decanters in multipacks. Any glassware that’s routinely used by the hospitality industry is well worth a look when you’re shopping for wine supplies at home. You can rely on Riedel.
9. GoodGlassware Wine Decanter
Next in line in our curated list of the best wine decanters comes a slick yet simple offering from GoodGlassware. The company delivers as promised here.
The lead-free crystal construction makes a strong visual statement while ensuring no toxins leach into your wine. The glass is also recycled, so you’ll be doing your part for the environment, too.
The 44oz capacity is not the most generous on our shortlist. When you’re allowing wine to breathe, the object is to expose as much of the surface area as possible to oxygen. With this decanter, you can’t do that fully.
Dishwasher-safe, the decanter nevertheless responds best to washing by hand. This doesn’t take too much effort and will prolong the lifespan of your decanter.
The concave rim and slanted base not only look great but also serve to enhance functionality. We’re impressed with such attention to detail considering the budget pricing of this decanter.
Backed by a satisfaction guarantee, if you’re not totally happy with this decanter, simply contact the manufacturer for a no-quibbles refund. You can’t ask for much more than that at this price point.
10. Sagaform Water Oak Stopper
Sagaform’s wind decanter comes nestled among a broad range of accessories for wine lovers. All are designed to complement each other wonderfully, so how does this model shape up in a glutted vertical?
Firstly, this is mouth-blown glass. The minimalist styling looks great in modern homes, but doesn’t look out of place in more traditional spaces either.
Contrasting with that expanse of glass, you get a classic oak stopper as counterpoint. This allows you to keep wine for as long as you need before serving, even if you don’t fancy attacking the whole body at once.
While safe to use in the dishwasher, you would be better advised to wash this decanter by hand. All decanters are prone to breakage in dishwashers, even when flagged as safe.
Although most user reviews of this decanter are positive, we found some scattered complaints about dripping when pouring. This gripe set aside, you’re getting an intelligently-designed and elegant decanter that doesn’t cost the earth.
11. Riedel Ultra Decanter
Riedel glassware isn’t cheap, so if you’re shopping for wine decanters on a tighter budget, we would suggest exploring some of the more pocket-friendly models we review. If you’re prepared to spend a little in return for top-quality glassware, read on.
The 44oz capacity allows you to expose the surface area of a whole bottle of red wine to oxygen when you decant it into this thing. As with all decanters, this allows oxygen to mix with the wine, developing the flavors and aromas fully. If you don’t decant the wine, you can’t achieve this same development.
Hand-washing is recommended as with all the best wine decanters. If you clean it after every use rather than allowing the sediment and stains to build, you should find upkeep a breeze, and you should get years of faithful service from your Riedel. Like many manufacturers, Riedel claims the decanter is dishwasher-safe, specifically referencing Miele dishwashers. To reiterate, we would not recommend this. Stick to handwashing.
Aside from the stiff price tag in common with all Riedel glassware, there’s really not too much to knock about this first-class wine decanter.
12. YouYah Wine Decanter Set
This YouYah wine decanter is a comprehensive set that also includes all the cleaning equipment you need to ensure your carafe stays fresher for longer.
The classic design of this decanter allows the maximum surface area of wine to come into contact with oxygen. This shortcuts the process of aerating your wine and improves both the taste and aroma of red wines.
Made from completely lead-free crystal, you get a decanter that looks the part without introducing any toxins into your wine. Instead, you’ll find the taste enhanced.
This is one of the smaller decanters on our shortlist. While this might be a drawback for some, others will appreciate the space-saving footprint and lightweight nature.
To let your wine breathe quickly and easily without needing to spend a fortune, this is one of the best classic wine decanters out there, so why not give it a try?
13. Le Chateau Wine Decanter
For wine lovers who enjoy sharing the whole bottle at dinnertime, this superb decanter from Le Chateau allows you to accommodate a full bottle with ease.
Pour in a whole 750ml bottle of your favorite tipple and enjoy rapid aeration. This means both the flavor and aroma are intensified without needing to wait around for hours for the wine to breathe. All you need to do with most reds is leave them in this decanter for 30 minutes and you’re good to go.
The intelligent design of the decanter maximizes the surface area of wine exposed to the air so you can start sipping quicker.
Many decanters are clumsy to pour from, and red wine is the last thing you want staining your carpets. With this model, however, you can enjoy drip-free pouring thanks to the rakishly slanted spout.
Made from hand-blown crystal, this is lead-free so you can drink with confidence. The attractive nature of the carafe means it is also a great gift idea if you’re still not ready for the holiday season.
Almost all user reviews for this decanter are positive, but we found several complaints about quality control concerns. Check the contents of your delivery closely for any damage and enjoy this first-class wine decanter.
14. Riedel Wine Decanter
Riedel is one of the most reputable brands producing glassware for the wine industry and this traditional decanter shows why they have so many fans the world over.
Machine-blown from a brilliant crystal, you get a decanter that looks magnificent on the kitchen counter or dining table, while also standing up to a little rough and tumble.
The glass is colorless and completely transparent, with the walls extra-thin to bring out the best in your favorite vintages.
The clean lines not only look good but also make this decanter a great choice for almost any red wine. You could also use it for decanting any white wine if you fancy, although this type of wine does not typically call for aeration.
Size-wise, you can fit a whole magnum bottle inside this thing. You’ll then ensure that a large surface area of the wine is exposed to the elements, hastening the aeration process, and allowing you to get to your wine quicker.
Not only is this decanter easy to use and highly effective, but it couldn’t be easier to clean either. Choose between handwashing it or popping it on the top shelf of the dishwasher for hands-free cleanup.
Any wine lover will be aware of Riedel, so pick up this gem if you’re still rushing around stuck for last-minute gift ideas. This company has been in busines since the eighteenth century and they’re still going strong today: that should tell you all you need to know.
15. Le Sens Scorpion Wine Decanter
As we edge closer to the end of our showcase of the best wine decanters, Le Sens delivers this alluring scorpion model. Is it a case of form over function, though?
Mercifully not. There’s no doubt the design of this decanter makes a very bold statement, but the layout also means you’re getting a highly efficient method of aerating your wine.
The glass is hand-made, and you even get some cleaning beads thrown in so there’s no excuse not to keep this thing spotless.
Pour in a whole bottle of your favorite red and enjoy aeration that’s quicker than most of the competition due to that scorpion shape and the amount of wine exposed to the elements.
While this makes a smart choice for your home bar, the unusual design means it also makes for a thoughtful gift if you have any wine lovers in your life. The hardest part will be giving it away rather than keeping it for yourself!
16. Spiegelau Authentis Decanter
You can be assured of a certain quality when you buy into the Spiegelau brand, and the Authentis is a clean and classic wine decanter well worth a place on any shortlist.
What are you getting beyond that sparkling brand image, then?
Lead-free construction is first-rate. The simple and traditional design ensures that maximum surface area of your wine is exposed, leading to quick results that noticeably improve the quality of the wine in your glass.
Most users are very pleased with their purchase, but we found some isolated complaints about imperfections. This set aside, user reviews are almost exclusively positive.
Although dishwasher-safe, we would add the usual proviso: you’re better off handwashing wine decanters.
17. Spiegelau V-Spin Active Wine Decanter
As we edge to the end of our search for the best wine decanters, we have the first of the automated smart models on our shortlist.
The inimitable Spiegelau delivers the V-Spin, an active wine decanter that looks like something you’d find in a science lab, and capable of aerating your red wine in minutes flat. Read on if you fancy introducing a real conversation piece to your man cave or study…
The V-Spin offers varietal-specific aeration at the push of a button. You’ll be free to decant wine by the glass or by the bottle, giving you a customized decanting and serving experience.
When you activate this pioneering system, it creates an efficient vortex that aerates your wine in no more than five minutes. Both time and speed can be adjusted to suit the type of wine you’re aerating, offering a personalized approach to decanting unmatched by most of the competition.
As you would expect, this slick and automated wine aeration system from an industry heavyweight doesn’t come cheap, but when you assess the performance of this decanter, we’re sure you’ll feel you’re getting great overall value, even if you need to dig deeper.
18. Luigi Bormioli Crescendo
Last but not least in our search for the best wine decanters is an affordable and classic model from Luigi Bormioli.
While smart decanters suit some wine collectors, the bulk of consumers are looking for classic convenience. This simple but effective decanter delivers fully on that score.
The glass is machine-blown in Italy. You’re guaranteed of a smooth and flawless finish, and the carafe is robust enough not to shatter at the slightest impact. It goes unsaid you’ll need to treat this decanter with care, but it’s surprisingly durable.
The open mouth makes pouring your wine in and out super-simple. Unlike many of the decanters on our list, this doesn’t have a reputation for making a mess when you serve your wine. Expect drip-free pouring on a budget here.
A generous 68oz capacity allows you to efficiently aerate a full large bottle of wine, exposing a large surface area to oxygen, and enhancing both flavor and aroma.
Conclusion
Well, if you arrived here today at PascucciRestaurant with no idea of what to look for in the best wine decanters, our comprehensive reviews should have changed that.
Whether you want a simple and traditional decanter to pop on the wine cabinet, or you prefer the idea of something more tech-driven like the smart decanters on our shortlist, you should now have no trouble finding the right decanter.
If you encounter a wine decanter we didn’t review today, we hope you find out brief buying guide beneficial. Keep these pointers in mind and you should easily determine whether the decanters are worth your time or a waste of money.
We’ve just started adding a lot more content to our property, so we would recommend bookmarking our blog. We’ll be bringing you fresh guides and reviews several times weekly, so watch this space and come back soon.