White Wine Aerator
If you have done any research at all on wine aerators you will probably have realized that they are most useful with red wine. This is because red wine is generally full bodied and more likely to contain sediment and be heavier on the palate than white wine. So does this mean a white wine aerator isn’t really required, or should you have one for white wine anyway, to ensure you get the most out of it?
In truth the opinion on aerating white wine is divided. Some people will say that white wine should definitely be aerated in much the same way as red wine. But others will say that aerating it makes little difference. It is up to you to experiment with one or two aerators to see whether you can see any appreciable difference. In addition it might depend on the aerator you use and also on the wine.
Should you use the same aerator you use for red wine?
Since wine aerators can be washed through quite easily, there is no reason why you cannot use the same aerator for both types of wines. Just be sure you do wash it through; ideally it might be better to run the white wine through first and do the red wine afterwards, once you have washed it out.
Can you buy a specific white wine aerator?
Yes you can, and some wine aficionados certainly have one for each type of wine. In some cases it is said that the white wine aerator will act slightly differently, perhaps letting through a different quantity of air to get the prime result with white wine. On the other hand there could be little difference in them; it is up to you to form your own opinion on this.
However if you know someone who loves their wine they would no doubt appreciate a gift of matching red and white wine aerators to use whenever they fancy a glass of wine!
Experiment with different wines and do a before and after test
This is really the best way to figure out whether a wine aerator will be ideal for white wines. You can pour one glass of wine to taste and then pour another one through the aerator to try separately. How different does it taste? Is there an appreciable difference, enough to perhaps invest in a completely separate aerator for your white wine instead of using the same one you use for your red wine?
You may find it is possible that some wines show more of a difference being poured through an aerator than others, so don’t stop at one. You might decide to aerate certain types of white wine rather than pouring them all through whenever you want a glass or two. It’s up to you to decide.
The good news is that you can get specific aerators for white wine if you want to, so you always have the option to invest in a white wine aerator.
