Does Alcohol Evaporate From Wine When Drinking?

When drinking wine, it's often wondered whether alcohol evaporates from the beverage. Loosely speaking, wine is made up of water and alcohol, and it's basic science that when the molecules of both of these ingredients are exposed to air, evaporation will occur. So, yes, alcohol does evaporate but the evaporated amount is negligible.

The exact amount of evaporation depends on a number of different variables, including the following:

• Temperature – higher temperatures will increase the rate of evaporation—however, the presence of humidity can counterbalance this effect.
• Time – the longer the wine is exposed to air, the more alcohol will evaporate.
• Surface area – a larger surface area will lead to quicker evaporation than a smaller one.
• Humidity – lower levels of humidity will allow the alcohol to evaporate faster than in humid environments.

Improve Your Wine's Taste

Alcohol evaporation can take days, weeks, or even months, depending on the volume of the liquid. The larger the volume of the liquid, the longer it will take for all of the alcohol to evaporate.

Exposure to air (aeration) can benefit alcohol by enhancing its smell and taste. As the alcohol is exposed to air, volatile compounds evaporate, bringing out the subtle flavors and aromas of the wine.

Introducing air into your wine will certainly improve the overall flavor profile, so it's a great idea to use a decanter like the Mayu Swirl to elevate your wine experience. Using a decanter to aerate your wine is a simple solution to get the most out of the wine's flavor.

» Elevate your wine experience with Mayu Swirl