Wine Aerators

Filed in archive Wine Accessories on February 23, 2010

Patience is a virtue, but not one of mine. I love my red wine, but sometimes I just don't want to wait for it to air out after I opened it. Why can't I drink it right now?!

Someone else must have had the same impatient thoughts as me, because now you can buy a spiffy little wine aerator to make your red wine instantly drinkable. An aerator is a little fist-sized device that you pour your wine through. It forces air bubbles into the wine, mixing and breathing it almost instantly. Your wine will open up all its aromas and flavors in a matter of seconds. (Some people claim aerators are even better than just letting your wine breathe naturally.)

Aerators started showing up in classy restaurants a few years ago. I first saw one at a churrascaria. After ordering a robust syrah our waiter demonstrated their new aerator. I even asked where I could buy one and he wrote down the brand and website.

A year or so later I visited the same restaurant, promptly ordered a bottle of wine, and waited for the aerator. None came. I asked this waiter why they didn't bright it out. He told me that they stopped using them only a month after they bought them. The diners complained that they ruined the experience. See, the aerator makes a peculiar sucking noise, like the last bit of water draining out of your bath tub. It's not loud and only lasts a second but fine-dining restaurants across the country stopped using the unique accessory.

So if you enjoy red wine and a silly noise won't ruin your evening, go out and get an aerator, they cost about $20 bucks.