Wine Aerators – How Do They Work?

Have you heard of wine aerators before? They’re an interesting piece of kit that most wine aficionados won’t do without. If you are new to them the first question on your mind will probably be ‘wine aerators – how do they work?’

Let’s answer that question right now.

What is the purpose of a wine aerator?

The purpose of a wine aerator is quite simple. It is designed to fully aerate your wine. This in turn lets out all the flavors and enables you to taste and enjoy the wine as it was intended to be enjoyed.

If you pour wine straight from the bottle you won’t give it the chance to breathe. This means that some of the flavors and the depth of the wine – whatever it may be – will not be there to experience. If you think of the process that goes into the making of any wine, you will see that the final stage of letting it breathe is very important indeed.

The question ‘wine aerators – how do they work’ is answered simply by saying that they give the wine all the room it needs to release the plethora of flavors and aromas it was meant to release.

Is it necessary to have one?

It’s not necessary but you will definitely get more pleasure from whatever wines you drink if you invest in one. They aren’t very expensive and some of the best ones look rather attractive too. Take the Wine Weaver for example – this is a stunning design available in lots of different colors. If you like red wine you can get one in red to match. White wine can be poured through a clear design Wine Weaver, or you can just get a color to match your décor.

It’s understandable that lots of people think wine aerators are not worth the money. It’s one of those items that unless you try it for yourself, it is very difficult to see why you should buy one. But once you do you will see the huge difference it can make to your wine.

Try the taste test

If you spend a few dollars on a Wine Weaver wine aerator you will be able to do the taste test to see exactly how the process works. The idea is that you should pour a small glass of wine straight from the bottle. You then get a second glass and use the wine aerator with it, pouring the wine through to aerate it.

When you taste the two – remember this is exactly the same wine you are drinking – you will see a noticeable difference between the two. The aerated version will be smoother and more pleasant. It is also a great way to test someone who doesn’t know or believe in the power of wine aerators! They’ll probably think they are trying two completely different wines.

So you see, when you ask the question ‘wine aerators – how do they work’ you will get an answer that is both fascinating and very useful to know indeed.

Wine Aerators – Do They Work?

Wine aerators lovers know that there is a wide range of accessories and equipment that can be used to help further their love and appreciation of wine. But few can be more puzzling to the uninitiated than the wine aerator. Most people at one point or another ask the same question: ‘wine aerators – do they work?’

The question is, what is the answer? Let’s find out shall we?

What does a wine aerator do?

The clue is in the name. Red wines in particular can be very heavy and not too flavorsome when you try and drink them straight from the bottle. But if you were to pour them through an aerator first, you would introduce lots of air to the wine.

Basically in order to get the most from every bottle of wine you ever open, you want to pour it through a specially designed aerator first. This enables you to get as much air in contact with the wine as possible. If you have never tasted an aerated wine before you will be amazed at how much different – and how much better – the end result actually is.

Does it work for all wines – white wines included?

Yes, they can be used for all wines. When people ask ‘wine aerators – do they work’ the best answer is that they work best for red wines. They tend to be much heavier and full bodied, and so aerating them will get the best results.

However with that said it won’t do any harm at all to use your wine aerator for white wine and even a nice rose. You will still notice a slight difference if you do a taste test, but the most evident results are always gained from trying it with a nice red wine.

Can I really get more from my wines if I buy one?

Yes, you certainly will if you are a red wine drinker. But it is nice to purchase this item even if you only ever drink white wine. Any wine can be improved through using a wine aerator, because letting the wine breathe is one of the most important steps to take before you serve it.

It is understandable to be skeptical about a wine aerator if you have never tried one before. Until you actually give it a go there is no way to know if it works or if it is just something that real wine fans use. But the difference is so noticeable when you use a well designed wine aerator like the Wine Weaver that it will amaze you. If you test someone as you use it you will usually find they think they are drinking two different wines altogether. This is how good the Wine Weaver wine aerator actually is.

So you see it is worth investing in one that you will use frequently. It makes sense that you would want to get the best out of every bottle you buy, regardless of the price. The answer to the question ‘wine aerators, do they work?’ is a resounding yes.

Why Use a Wine Aerator?

If you like wine you will probably have heard of a wine aerator. But if you don’t currently own one it will probably be because you have one question on your mind – why use a wine aerator?

The answer lies in what the aerator actually does. It may look like an unusual and bizarre piece of equipment, but it does have a specific function. This function makes your wine taste very different if you use the aerator in the proper manner.

Am I right in thinking that it aerates the wine?

Yes you are correct – it allows the maximum amount of airflow into and through the wine as you pour it from the bottle. You can use an aerator with a decanter or pour it straight through the aerator and into the glass.

An aerator is designed to do this in the best possible way, to aerate the wine quickly and easily. If you tried to do it without the aid of an aerator it would take a long time and you would not be able to achieve the same results.

Why do I need to put air in my wine?

It’s not a question of putting air into it as such – it’s more a question of letting the wine interact with the air before you drink it. The air allows more of the flavors and aromas that are locked into the wine to come out. If you pour it straight from the bottle into the glass you only get a fraction of all the delights that you were intended to experience.

It’s fair enough to ask ‘why use a wine aerator’ but the answer is really in the tasting. If you try the same wine with and without the aid of an aerator, you will have the answer you are seeking.

Okay so I really should think about investing in one of these aerators?

You should. The Wine Weaver is the best one around and it is not very expensive either. It actually makes a great gift if you should happen to have any wine aficionados in your life!

It is always best to get something that isn’t breakable, and the Wine Weaver is made from polycarbon. This also ensures your glass or decanter won’t break when you use the aerator with it. The beauty of the Wine Weaver aerator is not just in the way that it releases all the flavors and aromas from your wine; it is also in the way it looks. It sits on a stand while not in use and is good looking enough to display as an ornament. Its wine glass appearance belies its true nature, giving everyone the ability to enjoy a sensational object that looks good and certainly works extremely well too.

So you can see that if you ask yourself the question ‘why use a wine aerator’, you will only need to try one once to see how effective it is. If you love drinking red wine in particular, there is every reason to invest in an wine aerator now.

Why Allow Wine to Breathe?

There is a range of common questions that are often asked about wine. One of the most popular ones is this: why allow wine to breathe? It’s a fair question to ask; after all you wouldn’t let many other drinks sit for a while before drinking them, so why should you do it with wine?

You may have heard that most wines get better with age. This is because the flavors have an opportunity to deepen and become much better than they would be if you were to drink a brand new wine virtually as soon as it was made. So time is definitely a good thing to have when you want to drink some wine.

But what about letting it breathe – is it really necessary?

Let’s get one thing straight here. If you want to uncork a fresh bottle, pour out a glass and drink it straightaway, you can do. There is nothing stopping you from doing this and the wine will certainly taste fine.

But you will be surprised at how much different – and how much better – it will taste if you leave it to breathe for a while. The air does a lot of good things to a bottle or glass of wine, and you will get a lot more appreciation from it if you do let it mix with the air for a time.

How do you do it?

Why allow wine to breathe? Let’s find out. There are two main ways to do it, and contrary to what some people believe, one of these methods is not to uncork the bottle and leave it standing. There is simply no room at the neck of the bottle for this to work.

Some people decant the wine into a decanter and leave it to stand for a while. This method works well but you still need to leave it for a bit to get the best results. Alternatively you can use an aerator. This is designed to let you pour the wine from the bottle directly into the glass if you wish. This means you can drink it straightaway, because the design of an aerator is such that it allows the biggest volume of air to come into contact with the largest volume of wine.

Is there a length of time you should leave it for?

It really all depends on your method of letting it breathe. If you use an aerator as described above, you can pour the wine and get the most out of it straightaway. If you do a taste test with wine poured straight from the bottle and wine poured through the aerator, you will notice a significant difference.

Alternatively if you are using a decanter you may want to leave it to sit for an hour or so. But in either case you now have the answer to the question: why allow wine to breathe? It is simply so you can get the very best out of every mouthful.

Who is Christopher Delalonde?

Depending on how well you know the wine industry you may have heard the name Christopher Delalonde already. But if the name is a mystery to you and you are currently wondering who he is, keep reading to find out the answer.

Who is Christopher Delalonde?

Christopher is an experienced sommelier. This means he is a wine steward or waiter, both of which are alternative terms for the role. A sommelier has extensive knowledge of various different wines and uses this knowledge to pair up wines with appropriate dishes on the menu at a restaurant or other similar establishment.

How much experience does he have in the industry?

Christopher has worked in the industry since July 1992, when he took an apprenticeship as a sommelier with Philippe Faure-Brac. This was in Paris and it enabled Christopher to start learning all the different aspects of being a sommelier.

Since then he has worked in several different establishments, including a stint on a cruise liner. This involved wine tastings with the passengers and the training of hundreds of members of the team.

He has also worked in The Square in London and in Gordon Ramsay’s at Claridge’s. during his time as a sommelier he has gained more and more experience and worked his way up the ladder as well.

Has he won any awards?

Yes, Christopher has won the biggest award in the UK for sommeliers. This was achieved in 2010, when he won the Sommelier of the Year. He has also achieved the highest level of training and been granted the Master Sommelier qualification. He did this with the highest score overall, which is quite an achievement. When anyone asks ‘who is Christopher Delalonde’ you can see that there is quite an extensive and impressive answer to the question!

What is he doing next?

His next project will be to share some of his knowledge with the Wine Weaver website. The Wine Weaver is a wine aerator that has sold in large numbers and it has an eye catching design as well. It is shaped like a wine glass when it is sitting in its holder and it vastly improves the flavor of any wine you pour through it. This is particularly true with red wine, which tends to be a lot heavier than white wine.

Christopher will be contributing content to the Wine Weaver website in the very near future. This is an excellent coup for the website, particularly as Christopher is the 2010 Sommelier of the Year and has a very high standard and knowledge of wine and its varieties.

You can see that his career has developed in leaps and bounds since the early Nineties when he first took that apprenticeship in the position. Since then he has worked as an assistant head sommelier, a head sommelier and a cellar master. He currently works as part of a private sommelier service. Who is Christopher Delalonde? Quite simply, he is one of the highest regarded sommeliers in the business.

What is a Wine Sommelier?

There is a pretty good chance you will have heard of a wine sommelier before. But what is a wine sommelier? Do you know what this person actually does for a living? Another name for their job title is a wine steward, although this doesn’t sound anywhere near as attractive or as dramatic!

If you have always wanted to know what a sommelier does, now is your chance to find out.

What does a wine sommelier do?

Contrary to popular belief they do not just taste wine! Although this is a key part of the job they will have many more duties as well.

They will usually help create and maintain a wine list for the restaurant or venue they work in. They can also give advice to customers and clients on which wine they feel may suit their tastes. They must also ensure the wine cellar is properly stocked and does not run dry. They may also be asked to do a stock check on a regular basis and order those wines which are running low.

Do you need to study and pass exams to become a sommelier?

In theory the answer is no. But in answer to the question ‘what is a wine sommelier’ one of the answers you could give would be ‘qualified!’

You could become a sommelier without any qualifications at all. But in reality most if not all wine sommeliers do have professional qualifications that help them attain the degree of knowledge they need to excel in the job. Without such qualifications it would be very difficult to gain employment anywhere, as most employers would prefer a qualified person to do the job. The ideal goal is to become a Master Sommelier, which allows you to have the letters MS after your name.

Is serving wine the only thing they do?

No, a wine sommelier takes on many different duties depending on his or her level of expertise. For instance an assistant or deputy head sommelier will take on several duties and work under the guidance of the head sommelier. This means they will be in charge of other sommeliers and assist in tasting and choosing new wines with the head sommelier. If they are promoted to become a head sommelier they will take on more duties and have the final say in choosing particular wines among other things.

As you can see the role of a sommelier is a very complex one that has many different facets. For example one day you could be checking the levels of stock in the wine cellar. The next day you might be advising and teaching other members of staff – usually junior sommeliers – on how to effectively taste wine. A sommelier can also work in the most high class of restaurants, on cruise liners and in a variety of other settings as well.

So when you ask ‘what is a wine sommelier ’ you will see that there is no simple answer. The answers you do get however are immensely rewarding.

Wine Weaver

The Wine Weaver has been a resounding success ever since its original launch. The many colors of the Wine Weaver have found their way into homes around the world, bringing a new experience to wine drinkers everywhere.

We are now proud to announce that the winner of last year’s coveted award, Sommelier of the Year, has agreed to contribute content to our website on a regular basis. The man in question is Christopher Delalonde MS (Master Sommelier), and he has garnered lots of praise and experience in his line of work. You can find out a little more about Christopher below, and look forward to reading his work on our website in the weeks and months to come.

Is Christopher endorsing the Wine Weaver?

Yes, Christopher is happy to lend his name to the world famous Wine Weaver product. He knows how important it is for a fine wine (or any wine for that matter) to be served in just the right way, in order to get the most out of it. He is delighted to support the Wine Weaver as an outstanding product in its class, for its efficiency, aeration technique and its attractive style as well.

Does he have a deep appreciation of wine?

Yes he certainly does. He started his career as a sommelier back in 1992 when he served an apprenticeship with the World’s Best Sommelier of that same year, Philippe Faure-Brac. In the intervening years he has built up lots of experience in the industry, working in Paris and London as well as on a European and Caribbean cruise liner. He is currently working with a private sommelier service.

The team at Wine Weaver is proud and delighted to welcome Christopher aboard. We are enormously proud of our product and we know how important it is to get the thumbs up from such a well respected expert in the wine business. We are looking forward to being treated to Christopher’s insights and reading what he has to share with us in this respect.

Even though he won the Sommelier of the Year Award in 2010, he also managed to finish as the runner up the year before. 2009 was his first attempt at winning the prize, so to finish as runner up and then to win it twelve months later is quite an achievement. He received high praise for winning and showed great depth of knowledge and experience in coming through the rounds to take the prize.

Keep visiting our website to read and benefit from Christopher’s knowledge very soon

If you have not yet invested in a Wine Weaver there has never been a better time to do so. But with that said you should bookmark our site now so you can come back and read Christopher’s contributions in the near future. We are looking forward to sharing in his knowledge, and we are sure all our visitors will enjoy the experience just as much as we will!

How Many Calories in White Wine?

If you enjoy the odd glass or two of white wine, it makes sense that you would want to know how many calories in white wine. Wine is wonderful to enjoy with a meal or on its own, but it also contains calories. These are called empty calories because you are not getting any nourishment of any kind from them.

However there is no denying the enjoyment that a good glass of wine can bring you. So let’s find out more about the calories so you can enjoy that next glass and still fit it into your daily diet plan.

How big is a glass of wine when it comes to measuring the calories?

This question sounds the same as ‘how long is a piece of string’, because glasses come in all kinds of sizes. The trick is to know which size glass is a regular sized glass, otherwise you could end up drinking a lot more calories than you think you are.

A standard size glass holds 125ml of wine. It is a good idea to measure this out against your own wine glasses, so you can see how much it is. You can have a bigger glass of course, but remember to increase the number of calories you will be consuming as a result.

Does white wine have more calories in it than red wine?

It can do, but it depends on the type of wine you are drinking. It stands to reason that sweet white wine will have more calories than a dry white, simply because of the additional sugar that has been used to make it.

Generally speaking you can assume a 125ml glass of dry white wine will have about 90 calories in it. The same volume of red wine will have around the same number of calories, but it could be slightly less depending on the grape variety that has been used.

If you get a medium white wine the calories per 125ml glass will go up slightly to about 95 calories. However the bigger jump comes when you opt for a sweet white wine. In this case you will be looking at about 120 calories per glass. You could also measure it as one calorie per 1ml of wine, if you wanted to work it out roughly. As you can see you will consume fewer calories if you stick to the dry wines instead of the sweet ones.

Everything in moderation

The good thing about wine is that it will fit into any healthy eating plan provided you drink in moderation. There is no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy a glass of wine with dinner every night if you want to, providing it is a small one. In practice most people don’t drink every night. You may want to treat yourself to a glass every weekend instead.

In any event, now you know how many calories in white wine you can plan your diet accordingly, lose weight and still enjoy some wine whenever you want to.

How Many Calories in Red Wine?

Most people are aware that alcohol has calories in it. But how many calories in red wine specifically? If you are a real red wine lover you will want to know how many calories it has in it, especially if you are dieting. Red wine can be part of any diet you are on, just so long as you don’t drink too much of it!

So is red wine more calorific than white wine?

Actually red wine can have fewer calories in it, but it does depend on the type of wine you are talking about. For example a sweet white wine will be more calorific than red wine, but a dry white will be about the same. This is obvious when you think about it, because of the sweetness (or lack of it).

However you should take this as a general guide rather than a specific figure. Different wines can vary depending on the ingredients and how they are made. Most red wines are more or less the same though, varying from around 85 calories to 95 calories in a glass.

Typically speaking a measure of wine will be around 125ml. It is useful to measure this in a glass rather than assuming you have the right amount, as wine glasses can vary a lot in size. You might think you are drinking 85 calories worth of red wine, but if you have a big wine glass you could be drinking a lot more than that.

For your information rose wine is generally around the same as red wine too, so if you are considering moving on to a rose from time to time you should work on the same amount of calories as a rough guide.

What about a bottle?

If you want to know how many calories in red wine bottles, you should figure out how many lots of 125ml are in a standard bottle. Most bottles are 750ml, meaning you will get six glasses from it. As you can see it is easy for the calories to add up if you end up drinking two or three glasses throughout the evening.

Do the calories depend on the grape variety used to make the red wine?

Actually yes they do. For example a cabernet sauvignon is usually about 90 calories per 125ml glass. In contrast a burgundy is more like 95 calories for the same measure. However there is such a slight difference between the two that you would not ruin your diet if you had a burgundy every now and then instead of a cabernet sauvignon.

It is certainly a good idea to know about the calorific values of wine because it will enable you to plan your diet more effectively. Most people are aware that red wine in moderation is good for you. So when you want to know how many calories in red wine, make sure you refer to the information above and use it to ensure you don’t drink more calories than you think you should!

A New Contributor for the Wine Weaver Website

The Wine Weaver is one of the most popular and successful wine aerators on the market today. It brings out every single aspect from every bottle of wine you could ever want to drink. Re-usable, easy to wash and easy to look after, the Wine Weaver is second to none when it comes to buying an affordable and attractive wine aerator.

It should not come as a surprise therefore to find out that the Sommelier of the Year 2010, Christopher Delalonde MS (Master Sommelier), has agreed to get involved with the Wine Weaver website. He will be contributing articles and content on a regular basis, and we are delighted to welcome him. It will be particularly exciting to benefit from his many years of experience in the sommelier profession – one which requires a deep knowledge of wine and all its varieties.

When did Christopher’s career begin?

You can trace the beginnings of Christopher’s career as a sommelier back to July 1992. This was when his apprenticeship began under Philippe Faure-Brac in Paris. This experience formed the foundation of the outstanding career that was to follow.

What are some of the highlights of his career so far?

In a career where Christopher has already managed to achieve so much, it is difficult to pick out a variety of highlights. However he has enjoyed some time as the assistant head sommelier at The Square in London, as well as spending some time working for Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s in London. As you can imagine, Christopher has gained an immense amount of knowledge during his career.

How much does he know about wine?

When it comes to knowledge and appreciation of wine, Christopher knows virtually all there is to know about it. However he does still pursue his passion and interest in wine in a variety of different ways.

For example he achieved the level of Advanced Sommelier in 2005 and then went on to achieve the Master Sommelier degree in 2009. He has also taken part in a tour of New World’s Wineries in Chile, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia.

It is clear that Christopher has a real passion for wine and its many varieties. His wine tour taught him much about grape varieties and the variations in weather that can make all the difference to the finished product. The Sommelier of the Year Award of 2010 has not come easily – it has been won with many years of dedication and experience. You can see why we are so delighted that Christopher has decided to work with us at Wine Weaver to share his knowledge and experience with everyone who visits the site.

Make sure you keep in touch with the latest developments on the Wine Weaver website by visiting us on a regular basis. We’ll soon have the first contribution from Christopher Delalonde to share with you, which is something we are all looking forward to. He could help you learn more about wine and appreciate it in a whole new way.