Did you know that the global wine market size was valued at more than $417 billion last year? It’s no secret that wine is one of the world’s most beloved beverages. From sweet, sultry reds to dry whites, there aren’t many people who don’t enjoy indulging in a delicious glass of wine.
Are you looking to elevate your wine-drinking experience? Letting wine breathe is a great way to enhance the flavor of your wine. But how and why do you let wine breathe? If you’re curious about this method, just keep on reading to learn more.
The Science Behind Letting Wine Breathe
Letting wine breathe, or “aerating” your wine, involves exposing the beverage to air before it’s consumed. The air’s gasses react to the wine and change the flavor, sometimes enhancing it and sometimes doing not much of anything.
When you aerate wine, two things happen: evaporation and oxidation. Evaporation helps the odor of wine not be as harsh or medicinal-smelling, and oxidation “ages” the wine so that the flavor and aroma are more exquisite.
How to Let Wine Breathe
It’s important to note that, whenever you first open a bottle of wine, there is little room for interaction between the air and the liquid inside through the neck of the bottle. It can take up to an hour for a wine to breathe this way, which is why you should consider doing the following:
- Attach an aerator to the wine bottle. Aerators allow the wine to breathe as it’s being poured, eliminating long waiting periods.
- Pour wine into a decanter. Decanters are large enough to hold entire bottles of wine, and allow the wine to be exposed to air over a larger surface area.
- If you don’t have an aerator or a decanter, simply pour the wine back and forth between two glasses. Give it a nice swirl in the glass before you drink, and voila!
Once time is up, feel free to enjoy! However, you won’t need to let white wines breathe because they don’t have the same levels of pigment molecules that are present in red wines.
The Benefits of Letting Wine Breathe
Wine aeration can enhance and elevate the flavors and aromas of certain wines. It can help wine smell better after it’s been opened, cutting that alcoholic odor and revealing the fragrance of flavors present. This, in turn, allows wine drinkers to be provided with a higher-quality experience and lets them truly indulge in the flavor.
If you want to learn more about why you should let wine breathe, check out these benefits!
Now You Know All About Letting Wine Breathe
Whether you’re a connoisseur or a casual wine drinker, it’s always good to know how to make your experience is the best it can be. Letting wine breathe not only elevates the taste of the drink but it comes with so many more delicious benefits! Now that you know all about how to let wine breathe and the reasons behind it, you can look forward to an elevated wine experience the next time around.
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