Month: July 2022

We understand: there is most likely no wrong way to drink wine. But are you getting the most out of that glass? We compiled the six common errors you might be committing – and how to correct them, so you make the most of a good bottle.

Serving Red Wine Too Warm and White Wine Too Cold

Don’t be afraid to serve wine at the appropriate temperature. Reds are frequently served too warm and whites too cold, resulting in a loss of the wine’s complexity and aromas. Red wines should be served chilled, ideally between 12 and 18 degrees Celsius.

White wines should be served at temperatures ranging from 8 to 12 degrees. Here’s how to get them there: Place a bottle of red in the refrigerator for 20 minutes before opening; remove a bottle of white from the refrigerator 20 minutes before opening. (Sparkling wines can be stored and served cold, at 5 to 10 degrees Celsius.)

Holding a Wine Glass by the Bowl

Hold a wine glass by the stem. This will keep your hand’s heat from undoing all of your efforts to get the wine to the proper temperature and warming it up too quickly.

Swirling Too Much

Swirl the wine in your glass a little to open up the wine and let the aromas flood out, says wine expert Mark Oldman. But doing it too much will oxidise the wine too much, ruining it and making it taste bitter.

Not Letting It Breathe

Decanters serve a purpose other than decoration. Pouring a bottle of red or white wine into a decanter accomplishes two things: The process begins by removing the sediment. While older red wines are perfectly fine to drink, the small particles aren’t exactly the most appetizing things to consume.

Second, decanting aerates the wine, allowing more flavors and aromas to emerge. Have you ever enjoyed the taste of a wine a day or two after you opened it? That’s aeration in action. In general, full-bodied, younger reds can be decanted for an hour before serving. Decanting time for older, more delicate wines is approximately 30 minutes.

Pouring Too Much Wine in a Glass

When you’re hosting a party or enjoying a glass at home, it’s easy to get carried away and overfill your glass. Don’t make this rookie mistake. We’re not saying you can’t have a second glass of wine, but smaller pours will allow you to fully appreciate each glass – and each sip.

Simply pour the wine to the widest part of the glass. This allows the greatest surface area for your wine to aerate while you swirl it.

If you don’t feel comfortable swirling wine mid-air, you can always place the glass on a surface and make small circles with your hand.

Storing Wine in Warm Places

Yes, even before you’re ready to drink your vino, temperature matters. Some wine newbies will store wine on the countertop, near a window, or worst of all, on top of the refrigerator.

We’re not saying that you need to invest in a fancy wine cooler in order to enjoy a glass of wine. We’re simply suggesting that you find a cool, dark place with a relatively consistent temperature to store bottles that are waiting to be opened.

The back of a closet is a good place to keep unopened bottles. It’s usually the darkest part of the house and doesn’t experience drastic temperature changes. The back of the pantry is also an excellent location. Remember to store wine on its side before opening it to avoid drying out the cork. However, once opened, store wine upright to reduce the amount of surface area exposed to oxygen.

If you’ve made any of these common wine mistakes, don’t worry – this is a judgement-free zone. However, by correcting these errors, you will be able to fully enjoy your wine.

Founded in 1945, Duralex has been manufacturing tempered glassware and tabletop products for over 80 years in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin in the very heart of France.

Using a technique developed in the 1930s by Saint-Gobain, moulded glass is heated to 600 degrees Celsius, then cooled very quickly, giving it an impact resistance twice superior to ordinary glass.

As a result of their commitment to innovation and quality, they have achieved global recognition and remain the top choice when it comes to durable, chip-resistant glass products.

The Secret of Duralex Glass’ Resistance

Duralex glass, heated to a temperature of 700°C, is suddenly cooled by ventilation of cold air throughout. This tempering operation improves its resistance to mechanical and thermal shocks. The glass is 2.5 times more resistant than conventional (non-tempered) glass and can withstand a 130°C thermal shock. When broken, tempered glass shatters into a multitude of small, non-sharp pieces.

Not only is the glass 100% recyclable, it is also non-porous hygienic.

What are the benefits of Duralex Tempered Glass?

• Impact and chip resistant, extremely durable – Duralex tempered glass is 2.5 times stronger than ordinary glass.
• Shock resistant – Duralex is manufactured to withstand sudden temperature extremes from -20°C to 100°C and is suitable for hot or cold liquids.
• Safety – If broken, Duralex shatters into small pieces, reducing the risk of injury.
• Hygienic – Nonporous Duralex glass does not absorb liquid.
• Stackable – The Duralex glasses and bowls are stackable for convenient and space-saving storage.
• Top quality – Constant quality control guarantees excellence and built-in durability, ensuring that Duralex products will maintain their look for many years.
• Microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe – Adaptable modern glassware can go directly from the freezer to the microwave. Dishwasher Safe.
• Made in France – Since 1945

The video below demonstrates how tough Duralex glass is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE-05XRHWwg&t=8s

Duralex remains a strong, reliable and endearing brand which has conquered the hearts of millions of consumers.

Crystal Direct is proud to be the official distributor of Duralex products nationwide.

Shop the brand here.

Choosing the right wine glass can be a matter of personal preference. However, those in the winemaking industry will tell you that either one glass fits all or a separate wine glass is required for each blend and grape variety.

We have seen an increase in wine glass shapes over the last ten years, ranging from simple and inexpensive to indulgent and extravagant, which can make the choice quite overwhelming.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key decisions you’ll need to make when looking for the perfect wine glass for you.

Why Is It Important to Choose the Right Wine Glass?

The style, shape, and thickness of a wine glass can have a significant impact on how the wine is presented and tastes. While many winemakers would argue that the wine is the most important aspect and that no glassware can improve a poorly made blend, having the right glass can improve your appreciation and enjoyment of any wine.

All wines, regardless of type (red, white, rosé, sparkling, or fortified), contain important aromas that play an important role in the overall character of the wine.

Exploring the aromas of your wine is enhanced by choosing the right wine glass.

3 Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Wine Glass

1. Bowl shape
2. Rim thickness
3. Stem or no stem

The bowl shape

The shape of the bowl influences how much air gets to the wine, which influences the aroma and taste.

Smaller bowls make it more difficult for the aroma to escape, keeping the delicate flavours of white wine within the glass. When tasting from a smaller bowl glass, you will notice more aromas travelling towards your nose, which you may miss if you use a larger bowl.

Red wines typically have stronger aromas that require more aeration to release the flavours. For this reason, a larger bowl allows more oxygen to reach the wine. Fuller-bodied wines, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bordeaux blends, are traditionally served in larger bowl shapes.

Champagne and sparkling wines are best served in a narrow flute to preserve the bubbles that would otherwise be lost in a wider Champagne coupe. However, some argue that without the air space at the top of the glass, a flute will not aid in the development of more complex aromas in an older Champagne. For many, choosing a flute, coupe, or otherwise remains a matter of personal preference.

Rim thickness

The thickness of the glass at the rim can obstruct the smooth flow of wine from glass to mouth. A thin-cut rim with no lip allows the wine to reach your taste buds more smoothly than a thicker glass with a rolled lip.

Thinner glasses may be more fragile, which should be considered when storing and durability.

Stem vs Stemless

Stemmed glassware is the traditional wine glass choice. However, it is not all for show. The temperature of a wine can influence how its aromas and acidity are perceived. Carrying the glass by its stem can prevent the temperature of the wine from rising. This is especially important for those who enjoy white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, which are best served chilled or lightly chilled.

The heat of your hands can cause the temperature of the glass to rise, which is less of an issue with red wine than with white wine. Red wines are best enjoyed at temperatures ranging from 13 to 18 degrees Celsius.

Tumblers provide more stability than stemmed wine glasses and may be a more practical solution for presentation and storage.

Is it better to have one glass for each grape or one glass for all?

Not everyone can store different glasses for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir but they may be able to store a red and a white wine glass.

Alternatively, choosing an all-round wine glass – one with a shape that complements a variety of wine styles – may be more beneficial.

Decanting, when done correctly, can elevate your wine-drinking experience to a whole new level. But, what does decanting do to your wine? What’s the right way to do it? We’ve got all the answers.

What is Wine Decanting?

Decanting wine means slowly pouring the wine from its bottle into a different container, without disturbing the sediment at the bottom. You do this mainly to separate the sediment at the bottom of the bottle from the clear wine, and to aerate the wine before drinking it.

Removing the sediment that reaches the glass is especially apparent with older, ‘vintage’ wines. Unwanted sediment will accumulate in the bottle over time, mostly in red wines rather than white. Very occasionally, pieces of crumbling cork can also be found in wines, so removing these in the decanting process is also vitally important.

Decanters often have an easy-pour neck and come in all shapes and sizes. The most common shapes are swan, duck, cornett and the standard decanters which come in small, medium, and large sizes.

Benefits of Wine Decanting

Decanting has three main benefits:

• Sediment removal: Decanting is primarily used to separate the wine from the sediments that settle at the bottom of the bottle. Sediment is not harmful, but it tastes unpleasant. Sediment might also make some of the wine’s flavours taste duller.
• Aeration: When you pour the wine into a decanter, the liquid is introduced to oxygen, and various changes occur. Oxidation allows the wine’s aroma and flavour to open up making it a great tasting experience for wine drinkers!
• Removing broken cork pieces from the wine: If you notice that the cork has broken, slowly pouring the wine in a decanter will retain the cork pieces in the neck of the bottle.

How to Decant Wine

Decanting wine requires a light hand and some patience. Here’s how to go about it.

1. If your bottle of wine has been stored horizontally, remove it from storage and sit it upright for a full day prior to decanting. This allows the sediment to settle at the bottom of the bottle.
2. Open your new bottle of wine using a corkscrew.
3. Very slowly, with a steady hand, pour from the bottle into the decanter and keep an eye on the clarity of the wine as it leaves the bottle and enters the neck of the decanter. The older the wine, the more likely it is that you’ll eventually see some sediment appearing and if, and when this occurs, stop pouring immediately. Ideally, this is where you should use a funnel to trap the sediment before entering the decanter.
4. Allow the now-decanted wine to stand for 2 hours; this will allow the wine to reach room temperature, ideal for red wine.

Which Wines Need Decanting?

Most types of wine, from young to old, red to white, and even rosés, can be decanted. In fact, almost all wines benefit from a few seconds of decanting, if only for aeration. Young, strong red wines, on the other hand, require decanting because their tannins are more intense.

Wines that should absolutely be decanted include:

1. Malbec
2. Shiraz (Syrah)
3. Cabernet Sauvignon
4. Bordeaux
5. Burgundy

Decanting Without a Wine Decanter

You can easily decant wine without a decanter.

Here are a few ways to do that:

• Use your wine glass: Swirling your wine in the glass is an effective and easy way to accelerate the oxidation process.
• Use a carafe: All you need to do is to pour the wine into another vessel so it can breathe. So, if you don’t have a wine decanter, a glass carafe will do the same job and enhance the wine’s aroma.
• Use a wine aerator: A wine aerator (like the Venturi wine aerator) is a little device through which you pour the wine into your wine glass. When the wine goes through the aerator, it is exposed to a stream of oxygen which increases its contact with the air.
• Use a blender: Blending wine might sound taboo to most wine lovers. Even though it is not the most careful decanting method, it works surprisingly well.

So there you have it. Everything you need to know about wine decanting. Decanting has become an essential part of the wine experience, and besides the extra flair it brings to the serving process, it’ll also take your drinking experience to the next level.

We have a wide range of wine decanters. But if we had to pick, these would be our favourites!

For the entertainer: Crystalex Xtra Wine Decanter 1400ml

For the artist: RCR Invino Wine Decanter 2l

For the traditional: Bee Glass Ship Decanter 1800ml

For the extravagant: Crane Crystal Roller Decanter 1800ml

For the ageless: RCR Timeless Wine Decanter 900ml