Decanting Isn’t Waiting ,It’s Allowing
This past weekend, I opened a bottle that didn’t say much at first.
It was a bold red I had been saving, not for a special occasion, just for a moment where I could sit with it. I poured the first glass right away. It tasted... muted. Like it wasn’t ready to speak yet.
So, I reached for my decanter. Not because it’s fancy or ritualistic, but because I’ve learned that some wines need a little air. A little room to be themselves.
I poured it in and waited, not just to pass the time, but to give the wine permission to open up. Thirty minutes later, it was a completely different experience. The tightness had softened. Fruit emerged. Layers I hadn’t sensed before showed up, one by one, not all at once. And suddenly, the wine had a story to tell.
It made me think about how often we expect people, or even ourselves, to be ready instantly. To be expressive, open, accessible, perfect, without any pause or breath. But some of us are more like that bottle. We’re complex. We hold back. We need a moment to breathe.
Decanting isn’t about waiting. It’s about allowing. Allowing what’s inside to come out. On its own terms.
The same grace we give to wine... maybe we should offer it to ourselves, too.
🍷 Sommelier’s Note: What Is Decanting, Really?
Decanting serves two key purposes:
To remove sediment in older wines (typically reds aged 8+ years), which can be bitter or gritty if poured directly into your glass.
To allow younger wines to breathe. Especially bold reds that have spent time in oak, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, or Tempranillo. Aeration helps soften the tannins and release aromas that are otherwise trapped when the wine is first opened.
If you don’t have a decanter, don’t worry. You can:
Use a clear glass pitcher or vase.
Simply pour the wine into your glass and swirl it slowly.
Wait 20–30 minutes and enjoy the evolution with each sip.
🗝️ Key takeaway: Not every wine needs to be decanted, but many benefit from being given space.
🖤 Final Sip:
Not every bottle is ready the moment you open it.
And maybe, neither are we.
That’s okay.
Give it time.
Give it breath.
Give it space to become what it was meant to be.
