Decanter

A decanter is a vessel used to hold the resulting decantation of a liquid, which contains sediment (such as wine). more...

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Liquid from another vessel is poured into the decanter in order to separate a small volume of liquid, containing the sediment, from a larger volume of "clear" liquid, which is free of such. In the process, the sediment is left in the original vessel, and the clear liquid is transferred to the decanter.

Wine decanters are frequently ornate in order to make an attractive vessel from which to serve the wine. Decanters always come with a stoppered lid, which may have a rod to aid decanting. Most decanters have a tall, upright shape and are made of glass, frequently lead crystal, so that one may see the process of decanting. Decanters have also been designed in various modernized shapes. Carafes are used for less expensive wines.

While only some red wines require decantation, all red wines, especially young ones, benefit from the oxygenation that occurs during the decanting process. A good decanting process involves the wine trickling down the walls of the decanter, imparting fuller flavour while taking the unwelcome edge off the wine.

Other beverages, such as cognac or single malt Scotch whiskies, are often stored and served in decanters, which generally have a stopper. A few expensive cognacs and malt whiskies are sold in showy decanters.

Even a costly decanter may not have a tight-fitting stopper, which is needed if a beverage is to be stored a for long period. Brandy or whisky will evaporate over a period of days or weeks—the alcohol evaporates before the water—and some people have been known to take over a year to consume a single bottle. Some practical-minded connoisseurs forego the pretty cut-crystal decanters in tony department stores and use an ordinary chemist's volumetric flask, which has a tight-fitting ground-glass stopper. (Unfortunately, it is harder to find practical labware than cut crystal, because department stores are more common than lab-supply stores.)

Read more at Wikipedia.org