Decanters have been around for centuries. They have been made of many different materials during this time. At first glass was used and then after the fall of the Roman Empire it was earthenware, bronze, silver and gold. It was only after the Renaissance that using glass became popular again. The crystal wine decanter of today with its long neck and wide body owes its origins to the Venetians.
One of the reasons why decanters came to be used in the first place was to deal with the problem of sediment in wines. In times gone by it was quite common for wines to contain some solid matter. In order to avoid bringing wines to the table which still had unsightly sediment in them, they were decanted into a receptacle leaving the solid matter behind.
Another reason for decanting was to aerate the wine. By allowing it to mix with oxygen, the aromas and flavors developed fully and harsh tannins were softened. Of course using decanters also helped with the pouring process and showed off the clarity and color of the wines.
The need for such a receptacle led to the development of the many elegant decanters which are available today. The need for dealing with sediment lessened as wine-making processes improved but this did not lessen the appeal. Craftsmen showed off their skills by hand-blowing one of a kind receptacles which were also hand-cut and engraved.
For some years lead crystal was used for making decanters. It had a brilliant silvery appearance. The dangers of lead to the health has only been discovered in more recent years. There is debate over the danger of the lead in these receptacles. Some people will not use them at all while others feel there is only danger if wines are stored for more than three months.
Many decanters today are made from crystalline glass. This is an extremely fine quality glass. Usually glass is composed of a mixture of sand, soda, potassium and lime, which is melted at high temperatures. Metallic oxides are added to make finer quality glass with enhanced clarity and brilliance. Obviously, the prices of decanters vary considerably, depending on how they are made and what materials are used to make them.
Glass decanters with narrow necks and wide bottoms are beautiful for presentation when serving drinks but cleaning them may be tricky. There are a variety of methods that can be used to agitate the inside in order to remove the stains. It helps to use a scrubber such as salt or crushed ice which swirls up against the side when agitated, helping to remove stains.
Contrary to what some people believe, decanters are easy to use. There are those who question the value of decanting, whilst others swear by it. However, there is no argument over the aesthetic benefit of using stylish decanters.
A crystal wine decanter sets off the color and clarity of wines beautifully because of its transparency. Decanters are made today in such a variety of styles that there is one to suit every taste. It can also make a perfect gift for someone who entertains frequently as it brings style to any occasion.
One of the reasons why decanters came to be used in the first place was to deal with the problem of sediment in wines. In times gone by it was quite common for wines to contain some solid matter. In order to avoid bringing wines to the table which still had unsightly sediment in them, they were decanted into a receptacle leaving the solid matter behind.
Another reason for decanting was to aerate the wine. By allowing it to mix with oxygen, the aromas and flavors developed fully and harsh tannins were softened. Of course using decanters also helped with the pouring process and showed off the clarity and color of the wines.
The need for such a receptacle led to the development of the many elegant decanters which are available today. The need for dealing with sediment lessened as wine-making processes improved but this did not lessen the appeal. Craftsmen showed off their skills by hand-blowing one of a kind receptacles which were also hand-cut and engraved.
For some years lead crystal was used for making decanters. It had a brilliant silvery appearance. The dangers of lead to the health has only been discovered in more recent years. There is debate over the danger of the lead in these receptacles. Some people will not use them at all while others feel there is only danger if wines are stored for more than three months.
Many decanters today are made from crystalline glass. This is an extremely fine quality glass. Usually glass is composed of a mixture of sand, soda, potassium and lime, which is melted at high temperatures. Metallic oxides are added to make finer quality glass with enhanced clarity and brilliance. Obviously, the prices of decanters vary considerably, depending on how they are made and what materials are used to make them.
Glass decanters with narrow necks and wide bottoms are beautiful for presentation when serving drinks but cleaning them may be tricky. There are a variety of methods that can be used to agitate the inside in order to remove the stains. It helps to use a scrubber such as salt or crushed ice which swirls up against the side when agitated, helping to remove stains.
Contrary to what some people believe, decanters are easy to use. There are those who question the value of decanting, whilst others swear by it. However, there is no argument over the aesthetic benefit of using stylish decanters.
A crystal wine decanter sets off the color and clarity of wines beautifully because of its transparency. Decanters are made today in such a variety of styles that there is one to suit every taste. It can also make a perfect gift for someone who entertains frequently as it brings style to any occasion.