One way to serve wine at home or a party is with a wine carafe or decanter. It is simply a container for the wine. Proper wine etiquette suggests using a carafe in some situations.
Function
Pouring the wine into a carafe before serving allows the wine to breathe or mix with oxygen. Connoisseurs know this liberates the full flavor and releases the bouquet or aroma.
Considerations
The carafe is usually reserved for red wine, especially older ones or those with sediment. However, holding wine in the carafe too long could make it loose its flavor or turn it into vinegar.
Identification
Wine carafes come in a variety of shapes and styles from plain glass to very elaborate and decorative crystal.
Features
The container holds about one bottle of wine or .75 liters. A stopper is not a standard accessory with a carafe as it is with a decanter.
Costs
Wine carafes range in price from a simple $5 design to an ornate crystal retailing at more than $265.
Tags: Wine carafes