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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.
Here’s our edit of some of the best wine decanters around.
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Admiral liquor decanter, $139.95 at Hardtofind
This crystal clear cross-hatched glass decanter encases 30 ounces of your favourite fine wine or radiant liquor for you to enjoy at your own pace.
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Eva Solo cool wine decanter, $195 at Hardtofind
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. SHOP NOW.
Elegance Optic carafe, $229, Waterford, Myer
Carafe Perchée Ronde, $344, L’Atelier du Vin
L’Atelier du Vin Carafe Perchée Ronde, $258 at 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. SHOP NOW.
Tank whisky decanter, $205, Tom Dixon, available from Top3 by Design
Tom Dixon Tank whisky decanter in Black, $245 at David Jones
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. SHOP NOW.
Glass bottles with wood stoppers, wine, $59, West Elm
Riedel Mamba decanter, $800 at Dan Murphy’s
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. SHOP NOW.
Wine & bar carafe, $220, Georg Jensen, David Jones
Georg Jensen wine carafe, $110 (usually $220) at 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. SHOP NOW.
Penguin decanter, from $225 at Glass Decanter
Spilling wine on your guests is a party faux pas of the past with the Penguin decanter that features an ergonomic design – preventing drip, as well as embarrassment. SHOP NOW.
