GT's picks: 11 stylish decanters for all your wine pouring needs

Sit back, relax, breathe. That goes for your wine, too.

Mar 18, 2021 12:45am
Like your wine? Then it's worth getting your paws on a good wine decanter, especially if you have a stock of older, aged reds. A decanter's purpose is two-fold: to remove sediment from the wine, and encourage oxidation to amplify the wine's bouquet. Look for a decanter with a well-rounded bottom and an open spout – this lets in air to circulate in the vessel, and helps the wine to "breathe".
For whisky, however, it's is a different story. Decanters serve a mostly aesthetic purpose, and the taste of the amber stuff won't change remarkably whether it's poured straight from the bottle or a crystal decanter. That being said, we won't not buy a good-looking whisky decanter if the right one comes by.
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Spring decanter, $99.95, Plumm, available from House

Named after Melbourne's Spring Street, this two-litre decanter is made from hand-blown European crystal, with an angled mouth for drip-free pouring. It also includes a set of decanter beads for easy cleaning.

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Elegance Optic carafe, $229, Waterford, available from Myer

We love the elegant lines of this carafe, from the ovular chamber to the gently tapered neck. It's a timeless addition to your wine accessory kit.

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Carafe Perchée Ronde, $344, L'Atelier du Vin, available from Peter's of Kensington

The raised glass podium base means your wine literally takes centre stage. Combine the sleek and tall design, lead-free glass, and the bonus of a yellow glass stopper, and this is a wine decanter that you'll gladly pull out for future dinner parties.

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Mamba mini decanter, $699.95, Riedel, available from Myer

From the Austrian glassware house comes the mini-me version of their popular Mamba decanter. The serpentine crystal-glass form remains – the series of air pockets in the design "double decants" the wine – but the smaller size means it's easier to store.

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Tank whisky decanter in Black, $205, Tom Dixon, available from Top3 by Design

Scientific glassware was the inspiration behind the Tank collection, and you can see it here in the sturdy, block-ish form of this whisky decanter. The colour is a unique fusion of clear and black glass, and each decanter is handmade, meaning there will be slight, characteristic variations between items.

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Glass bottles with wood stoppers, wine, $59, West Elm

With fluid lines, a sculptural body and a spherical stopper, this decanter combine style and affordability in the best way possible.

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London Collection square decanter, $599, Waterford, available from Myer

Add a little luxe to your nightcap. The square grid design is inspired by the London night skyline, and makes for a mesmerising effect when light refracts and reflects off the crystal surface.

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Connoisseur duck decanter, $99.95, Krosno, available from House

For a statement piece that combines form and function, we love this oblique decanter. The elongated shape allows for maximum aeration, and the handle and angled spout means bouring is a breeze.

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Wine & bar carafe, $220, Georg Jensen, available from David Jones

It's the fluid shape that you'll notice first, and the extra details you'll appreciate later: a silicone and steel stopper, the deep divet at the base for easy pouring. It's good-looking yet practical, and exactly what we've come to expect from the Danish design house.

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Cool wine decanter, $185, Eva Solo, available from Peter's of Kensington

For a two-in-one wine chiller and decanter, look no further. Keep the gel-filled base in the freezer; when it's time to drink, place the decanter on top, and fill with your desired white wine or rosé. Plus, all parts of the decanter are dishwasher-safe.

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Pheasant-head crystal decanter, $925, Deakin & Francis, available from Matches Fashion

Talk about a head-turning decanter. This 650-millilitre vessel is made from crystal glass, then crowned with a silver-plated pheasant's head. At minimum it's a bar-cart chat-starter.

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