Vintorio Wine Aerator Pourer

Home sommeliers, pinot noir fans and rosé-all-day champions have dozens of new ways to enjoy their favorite drinks at home. You can buy chilled blush wine in six-packs of aluminum cans, sip from self-cooling wine cups and save the other half of your bottle with preservation sprays and special stoppers. But one of the easiest ways to make every sip more memorable is by using a wine aerator. 

Wine aerators are small devices that you can pop right into the mouth of your wine bottle. They swirl your wine around as you pour, helping it mingle with more air to enhance the taste. It might seem counterintuitive, but exposing your wine to more air actually makes it taste better. 

The oxidation that occurs when air hits your wine emphasizes compounds that create delicious notes like blackberry or apple, while less tasty flavors from ethanol and sulfites evaporate. The result is a full-bodied wine tasting experience that wakes up your tastebuds. Red wines are the only wines that need to be aerated. 

You can also help your wine breathe by buying wine glasses with larger openings or by using a specially designed vessel called a decanter. However, using a wine aerator is much faster. Since it mixes your wine with air as you pour, you don’t have to wait for it to sit in your glass or decanter. You can pour red wine in any glass with an aerator and enjoy a full-bodied taste in seconds. 

Red wine aerators are available in two general designs. Some aerators fit into the mouth of your wine bottle, so your vino runs through the aerator as you tilt the bottle and pour your glass. These aerators are convenient because you can pour your wine and aerate it with one hand. 

Other aerators must be held separately above your glass, so you’ll hold the bottle in one hand and the aerator in the other as you pour. Both styles are equally effective at getting air into your wine. 

• Red wines are the only wines that need to be aerated. Denser red wines, like Malbecs or Cabernet Sauvignons, are especially great for aeration. Adding air to these vinos removes extra sediment, acidity, ethanol notes and tannins that make your wine harder to drink and enjoy.
• Fine red wines that have been aged are an exception to that rule. Exposing them to too much air for too long can flatten their delicate notes, leaving you with ho-hum vino. Allowing them to sit in a decanter to remove sediment can be helpful, though.
• White wines and very light reds are airy enough to enjoy directly from the bottle — they don’t require additional aeration.
• Aerators will improve the taste of any red wine, so they’re great to use with inexpensive bottles. This will save you cash in the long run — you might even find a new favorite bottle that won’t break the bank.
• The materials used to construct your aerator will determine how well it adds air to your wine and how long it lasts. The sturdiest aerators are made from acrylic. Stopper-style aerators will require a snug rubber seal to prevent leaks. 
• Some aerators are dishwasher safe, but we recommend hand washing them to avoid cracks. Use gentle dish soap after each use, then set the aerator out to air dry. 
• Each aerator is designed a little differently. Some use added features, like drizzle plates or extra holes, for more efficient aeration. Others have built-in filters to catch extra sediment or bits of cork. Take a close look at each aerator’s features to see which one will make your wine taste the best.