We Tested the Best Wine Decanters—Here Are the Results

Best Overall

Le Chateau Wine Decanter

4.8

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Overall Rating: 5/5

Le Chateau’s finely engineered decanter is designed to perfectly hold one standard bottle (750 mL) of wine, with its wide base and asymmetrical spout for optimal aeration and precise, easy pouring. The 100% lead-free crystal piece is as visually stunning as it is functional, and with an 8.5-inch-wide base—it’s perfect for your biggest and oldest reds. According to Master Sommelier Larry O’Brien, a fine lip also minimizes dripping (a problem that can arise with pouring the last drops from a wide-based decanter).

During our testing, we found that the thick glass and angled lip make this a sturdy and aesthetically pleasing option. The tapered neck makes it easy to hold, and the wide mouth makes pouring the wine into the decanter effortless. In our tests, we did find this decanter to be on the heavier side, especially when filled with an entire bottle of wine. But its thick glass walls also make it less delicate and less prone to chipping. You won’t be afraid this decanter will shatter into a million pieces if it takes a tumble, but that also doesn’t mean you should be shoving it off counters for fun. Le Chateau's decanter was easily cleaned with warm and soapy water.

Material: Lead-free crystal | Capacity: 25 ounces | Dimensions (LxWxH): 10.3 x 10 x 12.3 inches

Best Value

Luigi Bormioli Crystal Crescendo Decanter

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Overall Rating: 4.8/5

For high quality, durability and aesthetically pleasing designs, Luigi Bormioli’s glassware ticks all the boxes—and this 68-ounce wine decanter is no exception. Hand-blown in Italy, the crystal glass decanter features a wide base and open-mouth design. Flamand notes that a wide base is among the first things she considers when shopping for wine decanters.

“I am looking for the shape, whatever the brand or the price,” she says. “The base of the decanter must be large in order to favor the oxygenation of the wine. Better surface of contact with wine [equates to better oxygenation].” Flamand also adds that the decanter’s neck should be narrow and easy to handle, fitting comfortably in your hand.

In our testing, we found the curvaceous design appealing, making for an elegant presentation—wine sits beautifully in this decanter. The dramatically tapered neck increases its aesthetic appeal while also allowing for a firm hold on the decanter. Despite its larger size, it’s fairly lightweight compared to similarly-sized models. The downside to its extra-wide base is the decanter can be a bit cumbersome to handle, especially when pouring the last of the wine out of the decanter. While it may be good to the last drop, we found during the test that because of the flat lip of this decanter, it led to some dripping down the side of the vessel.

We did appreciate that the wine opened up nicely during the test, and for a larger decanter, it was easily cleaned with warm and soapy water.

Material: Glass | Capacity: 68 ounces | Dimensions (LxWxH): 7 x 8.8 x 9.5 inches

Best Splurge

Riedel Ultra Wine Decanter

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Overall Rating: 4.9/5

Robert Daugherty, winemaker at Winc in Santa Barbara, California, picks the Riedel Ultra as his favorite wine decanter. “For Cab drinkers, it’s a must-have—not only does it have a wide base for maximum exposure to oxygen, [but] it’s also simple in design and elegant,” he says. “It’s one of those few items that doesn’t sacrifice functionality for beauty.”

Put to the test, we were initially impressed by the design. It’s made of lightweight crystal, making it both an aesthetically pleasing piece of glassware as well as a functional one. With a 43-ounce capacity, the handmade Riedel decanter very comfortably fits a full standard bottle, with plenty of room for the wine to breathe. Its wide base allows the wine to spread out, which is ideal for decanting younger wines. The decanter was easy to fill but does have a slightly narrower mouth. We also found that because of the straight lipped rim, there was a bit of dripping after pouring.

Made with the signature Riedel crystal, we found that it is best to wash this decanter by hand. We also discovered that because of its narrow neck, drying can take longer and if any water is left in the vessel, it may leave some condensation on the inside of the decanter.

Good to Know:
Daugherty offers a taste test idea for beginners: “Try [the] wine straight from the bottle first and analyze [it] in three parts: mouthfeel, aromas and flavors.” He adds, “Then, pour the rest into the decanter—let it sit for 15, 30 and 45 minutes, trying a glass at each stage.” He also notes that one should be able to detect differences along the way. If this seems like too much of a process, Daugherty’s default decanting time with reds is one hour before serving.

Material: Crystal | Capacity: 43 ounces | Dimensions (LxWxH): 7 x 7 x 9 inches

Related: The Best Wine Aerators

Most Durable

Spiegelau Authentis Decanter

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Overall Rating: 4.8/5

O’Brien is also a fan of wide decanter bases, particularly when it comes to big, bold wines. His favorite wine decanter for these bottles? The Spiegelau Authentis Decanter, which boasts a wide surface area, "for those very powerful wines in need of maximum aeration. It is also sturdy and durable,” he says, noting the model’s relative affordability for its quality. The lead-free, crystal wine decanter comes in two sizes: a 35.3-ounce one with a 9-inch wide base, and a 50.7-ounce one with a 9.5-inch base.

We were able to test the larger-sized decanter. In addition to its increased surface area, the Spiegelau boasts a longer neck and created a more dramatic effect when pouring wine into the vessel, which was done easily during our test thanks to the decanter’s tapered mouth. We found this larger decanter to be ideal for older wines and bigger reds. It poured easily into the glass with some dripping from the flat lip and was easily cleaned with warm and soapy water.

Good to Know:
As for how to get the most out of your new decanter, O’Brien offers this insight: “As sediment is rarely the issue for decanting, there is no need to delicately pour down the side of the decanter,” he says. “Depending on the wine, a greater or lesser degree of splashing and frothing in the middle of the decanter can be very beneficial.”

Material: Glass | Capacity: 35.3 ounces or 50.7 ounces | Dimensions (LxWxH): 9 x 9 x 11.5 inches or 9.5 x 9.5 x 12.5 inches

Best Aerating

Rabbit Pura Decanting System

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Overall Rating: 4.7/5

The Rabbit Pura decanter comes complete with its own aerating system, pulling double duty with its smart design. To use, simply pour a standard 750 mL bottle into the decanter to aerate, while the stainless steel stopper directs the wine down the sides of the decanter; let it decant for the desired time. Upon pouring, the mesh strainer will catch any sediment and prevent it from landing in your glass.

While testing, we found the built-in aerator to be on the smaller side—the wine needed to be poured in slowly to prevent overflow. When done this way, however, it created a beautiful wine sprinkler effect in the vessel. A perk we found with this built-in aerator, was that it also doubled as a filter, catching any sentiment in the wine. The aerator made quick work of opening up the wine. Getting the wine out of the decanter, however, can be a bit messy. Rabbit recommends leaving the aerator in place when pouring, this is where the filter comes in, which did lead to a fair amount of dripping while pouring into the glass.

We liked this modern take on the classic decanter, which, we found, also can cut down on decanting time. This is especially handy if you’re drinking in a hurry or just forgot to pop open the bottle of red a few hours before guests arrived. This 25-ounce decanter is made from lead-free crystal and is handwash-only. The aerating and filtering system can be a bit more difficult to clean, with tiny openings catching debris. However, you can make up for the slightly increased cleaning time by drastically cutting down on your decanting time.

Material: Lead-free crystal | Capacity: 25 ounces | Dimensions (LxWxH): 6.9 x 6.9 x 8 inches

Related: The Best Wine Glasses

Best with Stopper

BTäT Decanter with Stand

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Overall Rating: 4.7/5

This one-stop wonder comes with everything you need to clean and store your decanter. It also comes with a round cork stopper that makes this decanter perfect for enjoying white wines or older wines. These more delicate drinks require a shorter oxygen exposure than young red wines—often just 20 to 30 minutes—before they begin to lose their bright, vibrant character. 

When testing, we loved the extras, adding to the aesthetic of an otherwise classic decanter. The cork ball stopper gave the decanter a more youthful, modern look. The wide tapered mouth made it easy to pour wine into the decanter, and because the decanter is weighed well, it effortlessly poured wine into the glass. The decanter left little wine left in the bottom of the decanter, with little to no dripping from the lip and it opened up the wine nicely.

We found this decanter to be a perfect choice for the beginner wine drinker or someone looking for a more modern, youthful take on the sometimes stuffy piece of drinking equipment. However, we did find this well-valued set to have one major flaw. It is marketed as being made with lead-free crystal, however, the material felt more like plastic in the hand and, combined with a slightly wobbly base, this decanter loses points in the quality and refinement department.

Material: Lead-free crystal | Capacity: 60 ounces | Dimensions (LxWxH): 8.5 x 8.5 x 10 inches | What’s Included: Decanter, drying stand, stopper, brush, beads 

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