Let It Breathe…
Except on very rare occasions where I’d be drinking a divine bottle of vintage Shiraz (thank you Papa Bear), I have never been one for decanting wine. Mainly for two reasons – firstly, I’m very impetuous person. Special occasions aside, pouring wine into a decanter and having to sit there for 2 hours while it breathes something akin to medieval torture for me.
Secondly, given that the wine I drink is usually from the regular (lower) end of the grapevine, decanting a $20 bottle seems slightly ridiculous in my mind.
Hence, I would never think of going out and buying a crystal decanter to use on a regular basis. However, this brings me to my story.
Ahem. <clears throat>
One fateful day a couple of years ago, while on a mission to find for a Christmas present for my Dad (probably the hardest person in the world to buy for after the Dalai Lama and Harry Potter) I stumbled across an amazing little contraption called a Vinturi.
Armed with my gut feeling and the ironclad backing of several online search reviews, I bought it, wrapped it, and whacked it under the Christmas tree.
Come Christmas morning. The little box was unwrapped. There was a moment of confusion – what is this weird looking thing? Oh, yes here’s the label…
<pause for effect>
Pure excitement inevitably followed (Papa Bear) and also a great deal of smug triumph (that would be me).
And so the Vinturi was a big hit! We went all out with the aeration this year round at Christmas – in the decanter and through the Venturi (see pics above and below!) I don’t yet own one all to myself, but it makes a nice little treat- occasionally being to be able to go home to the country I grew up, sit outside with the view and a freshly aerated glass of wine.
… In a nutshell….
The Vinturi works as an instant wine aerator. You simply hold the little cone-shaped glass device over your glass and pour your chosen bouquet through it (like you would a funnel). Your ears will be treated with a cheeky little gurgle for a couple of seconds and – voila! your wine tastes infinitely better, even to those with an uneducated taste palette. If you’re skeptical of instant aeration, as I imagine many would be, I’d recommend pouring a little drop of the wine in a separate glass before it’s been aerated through the Vinturi. Compare the before and after and I’m sure you will genuinely be able to taste the difference.
…And now down to the business side of things…
The Vinturi costs roughly $70. You can also buy the deluxe package which comes with a snazzy, but seriously unnecessary accessory – the ‘Wine Tower’. There are different versions of the Vinturi for Red & White, (apparently we all need to aerate our white wine now) and also a compact version for travel. I haven’t tried the White Wine aerator yet; if you have please let me know your thoughts!
Visit the Vinturi website here to read a much more accurate and smoothly-worded product description.
… Something sweet to finish…
And finally, I’d like leave you with one of my favourite songs; a sweet little tune that somehow reminds me of this whole business:
Breathe Me By Sia (Album: Colour The Small One)
Happy listening!
