How Long Should You Aerate Red Wine to Soften Tannins?
Published October 6, 2024.
Tannins are phenolic components found in red wine that give it its flavor and complexity. They can also be responsible for astringency, or a drying sensation on the tongue. Tannins come from grape skins, seeds, and stems, as well as wood barrels and oak chips used in aging, and can often be visible as sediment in older red wines.
Aerating is a process by which you expose red wine to oxygen over time so that tannins can soften, and how long you should aerate your red wine depends on age and type of wine.
Both younger and older wines can benefit from aeration, which involves exposing the wine to oxygen either in a glass or a bottle to make the flavor more enjoyable.
» Want to know more about aeration? See what aeration entails
Young Red Wines
Young red wines are typically aged under eight years and include varieties like pinotage, pinot noir, and merlot. Make sure to follow these tips:
- To aerate a young red wine in a bottle, leave it standing open for 1 to 2 hours.
- If you're only drinking a glass of young red wine, aerate it by pouring it into a wineglass, give it a swirl, and let it rest for 10 to 20 minutes.
Mature Red Wines
Mature wines' age exceeds 8 years. These wines tend to be darker and richer than young wines and need less time to aerate. Varieties include Syrah, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
- To aerate a mature red wine in a bottle, leave it uncorked for standing open for 30 minutes.
- If you're enjoying your mature wine by the glass, aerate it by pouring it into a wineglass, swirl it, and let it rest for 10 to 20 minutes.
- For mature wines, it's often necessary to decant the wine to remove sediment.
» Learn whether you should aerate cheap wines
Aerate to Soften Tannins
Aerating wine is a great technique to open up the depth and flavor of red wines. By exposing the wine to air through the process of aeration, you can enjoy softer tannins and a more enjoyable taste. And to make the process even simpler, try a decanter like the Mayu Swirl for a quicker aeration process.
» Elevate your wine experience with Mayu Swirl
