What to Buy Bar & Drinks The 8 Best Wine Decanters to Bring Out the Best in Every Bottle These top-rated and expert-approved wine vessels will let that vintage breathe. By Adam Campbell-Schmitt Updated on November 2, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Amazon / Saks Fifth Avenue For most meals or casual evenings at home, pouring wine directly from the bottle suffices while having a glass or two. But for dinner parties, brunches, and cocktail attire-worthy soirees, serving wine in a decanter, usually made of glass or crystal, can give your best bottles an added boost. Whether it's a traditional cork or a screw top, using a decanter or carafe for your wine (especially older or tannic reds) can breathe new life into every pour. According to Food & Wine Executive Editor Ray Isle, there are a few reasons you should decant wine. "If you have older wines, they're full of sediment at the bottom of the bottle, so you pour them into a decanter slowly and that way you don't have to get the sediment in the glass," he explains. The other reason to decant wine is to let the wine breathe and give it as much air and oxygen as possible. "As the wine reacts with the air, the aromas come out, the flavors blossom," Isle says. "It makes the wine more delicious." So if you want to let a bottle of wine really breathe, the best way to do so is to decant it. Use a confident, heavy-flow pour to expose as much of your wine to the air as possible, as it travels from bottle to decanter. And while any clean vessel that resembles a pitcher and can fit a whole bottle of wine will work for the purposes of getting it properly aerated, here are the best wine decanters you can find that are perfect for the job. One more thing to keep in mind: Although there are plenty of beautiful (and expensive) decanters to choose from, you certainly don't need a pricey one to do the trick. In fact, you can often get the same experience from a more affordable option. Take it from Master of Wine Isabelle Legeron, founder of RAW WINE: "I often double decant, which is when you pour the content of your bottle into an empty bottle, rinse the bottle of any sediment, and then pour it back into the bottle it started off it," she explains. "By the time you have finished your first glass, the rest of the bottle will be ready and waiting. In the end, it's just about mixing the wine with oxygen—however you do it." Keep reading to learn all about the best decanters from top-rated and expert-approved brands. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Richard Brendon Young Wine Decanter at Bloomingdales Jump to Review Best Rated: Le Chateau Wine Decanter at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: HiCoup Wine Decanter at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Baccarat JCB Passion Wine Decanter at Saks Fifth Avenue Jump to Review Best for Magnums: Riedel Magnum Cabernet Wine Decanter at Williams-Sonoma Jump to Review Best Crystal: Waterford Elegance Carafe Platinum Band Crystal at Amazon Jump to Review Best Expert Pick: Riedel Cabernet Decanter at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Young Wines: Riedel Merlot Decanter at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Richard Brendon Jancis Robinson Young Wine Decanter Bloomingdales View On Bloomingdales For anyone searching for a multi-use decanter, this one from Richard Brendon is the right move. Not only is it one of Isle's favorite decanters, but it's also been designed to use for any kind of wine, including sweet and sparkling wines, port, and sherry. Let the wine of your choosing open up in this decanter, enhancing a wine's texture, flavor, and aroma, all while removing any built-up sediment. Price at time of publish: $195 Best Rated Le Chateau Wine Decanter 4.8 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart With over 3,500 five-star ratings, this decanter is one of the most popular at Amazon—and for good reason. Thanks to the extra wide base, the decanter is designed to release a wine's natural aromas when it reaches the widest diameter of the glass. Not only is the hand-blown and lead-free glass sleek, but it's also a stunning piece to showcase on any shelf or home bar. "I now actually taste each flavor described on each wine," one shopper says. "It's an entirely new wine drinking experience. And the piece is simply beautiful." Price at time of publish: $63 Best Value HiCoup Wine Decanter 4.2 Amazon View On Amazon If you're searching for a decanter on a budget, l the HiCoup Red Wine Decanter is just $28 at Amazon. The stylish, hand-blown glass is shaped like a U, which not only maximizes oxygenation to enhance the flavor of the wine, but also prevents any sediment from entering your wine glass. Simply pour the wine into the larger opening, let aerate for at least 30 minutes, then pour out of the smaller side. "Super happy with this product!" one five-star reviewer shares. "It easily stands up next to any of the very fancy (and expensive) top selling decanters out there." Price at time of publish: $55 Best Splurge Baccarat JCB Passion Wine Decanter Saks Fifth Avenue View On Saks Fifth Avenue This elegant decanter from Baccarat is sure to become a statement piece during stylish dinner parties, and even an heirloom for a wine enthusiast family. Made with help from Jean-Charles Boisset—a French vintner who operates a number of wineries across two continents—this crystal decanter is complete with a matching stopper and has the capacity to hold up to 33 ounces of liquid. Once it's been used, make sure to only hand wash it; it should never be placed in the dishwasher. Price at time of publish: $890 Best for Magnums Riedel Magnum Cabernet Wine Decanter Williams Sonoma View On Williams-Sonoma View On Liquor.com View On Macy's Although you may be familiar with Riedel's wine glass collection, the brand also boasts a collection of wine decanters, including this excellent one designed specifically for magnums. The vessel is perfectly proportioned to carry a full magnum of wine (and it can also hold two standard 750-milliliter bottles), allowing young vintages the opportunity to develop, while older ones can come to full clarity. The chic hourglass shape is sure to match the wine glasses you have at home, even if they're not Riedel. "Love the size and the price," a shopper says. "I have some magnum and 6-liter bottles and this decanter can help." Price at time of publish: $99 Best Crystal Waterford Elegance Carafe Platinum Band Crystal Amazon View On Amazon This impressive decanter is as functional as it is beautiful. The wide and deep base allows the wine to gather as much oxygen as possible, giving it a chance to open up and develop as much as possible. Since it is made out of Waterford's famous crystal, it needs to be expertly taken care of: It should only be carefully hand washed after use. "We received this carafe as a wedding git and it is stunning," a reviewer shares. "We love it for decanting wine and it is very attractive as the centerpiece on our bar cart. The weight is perfect too. It feels solid, not flimsy." Price at time of publish: $295 Best Expert Pick Riedel Cabernet Decanter Amazon View On Amazon View On Crate & Barrel This expert-recommended decanter is a favorite of Legeron's. She prefers this style for a number or reasons: "Aesthetically, it's very simple and can fit in nicely with any type of decor or bar cart," she explains. "It's very light, which makes it easy to handle and clean." Plus, it's a wonderfully affordable option that will still do the job: the machine-blown crystal decanter can be used for both young and old wines, bringing out aromas and flavors in just a few hours. Price at time of publish: $55 Best for Young Wines Riedel Merlot Decanter Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Crate & Barrel This machine-blown crystal decanter is an excellent choice for younger vintages, and it's a perfect option for drinkers who want to decant but don't want to spend an enormous amount of money on a vessel. By letting these newer vintages open up for a few hours, you'll certainly be able to taste the difference. "This decanter is amazing," one five-star reviewer shares. "It looks great on the table, it's easy to clean because the opening is big enough, and it does a great job of aerating the wine—particularly if you are hosting a bigger group and have two bottles of the same wine." Price at time of publish: $55 Factors to Consider Shape Decanters come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some designs are more functional; others are more aesthetic. In general, the purpose of decanting is to get air into the wine and filter out any sediment from older wines. You want the bowl of the decanter to be wide and shallow to allow that air to improve the wine. A shorter neck allows for ease of pouring, and you want a spout that will easily direct wine into glasses without splashing or gushing too fast. Some decanters come with strainer funnels for filtering wine. Capacity Most decanters are designed to hold one standard bottle or one magnum worth of wine. If you usually decant standard bottles, there’s no reason to buy a large decanter. Only go up a size if you plan to serve magnums often. Many wine experts will decant, wash the original bottles, and return the decanted wine once it has breathed enough back to the bottle to store before service. Material Decanters should be either clear crystal or glass to allow you to see the wine. Crystal will be more expensive, yet glass decanters work just as well. You should avoid decanters made of other materials as they can affect the flavor of the wine. Frequently Asked Questions What’s the purpose of a decanter? “A decanter allows a wine to breathe and be aerated, as well as filter and remove sediment from the bottle,” says Jonathan Shapiro, founder of Vinedrop. “Wines, especially red wines, benefit from a large surface area being exposed to air to help the breathing process. This allows the release of aromas, helps to soften tannins, and takes the flavor to the best level to be enjoyed.” How long should you decant wine? “It depends on the type of wine, conditions, and age of the wine," says Shapiro. "Usually, about 30 minutes will do the trick, but sometimes a couple hours might be even better depending on the wine. A fun thing to do is to try the wine immediately upon opening the bottle, then decant it, and continue to try it every 15 to 30 minutes or so and see how the wine evolves with each sip.” Some very old wines, with 20 or more years of bottle age on them, can benefit from several hours or even a whole day of aerating time. When in doubt, contact your local wine merchant and ask for advice on a specific bottle. How do you clean a wine decanter? "You'll see various methods and tools to clean wine decanters. There are some great decanter brushes that work well. Just do not use dish soap, as this leaves residue on the glass and can mess with the flavor and proper experience of your wine," says Shapiro. "Warm to hot (not boiling) water and some white vinegar are a great combo. Let it sit for 10- to 5 minutes, scrub it, and then rinse with warm to hot water again. Also, the best time to clean your decanter is immediately after using it. The longer you wait to clean it, the harder it will be to clean it. And do not put it in the dishwasher, unless you're in the market for a new decanter!” Updated by Amy Schulman Amy Schulman Amy Schulman's work has appeared in a variety of publications including Food & Wine, PEOPLE, and Travel & Leisure. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit