Double Decanting Wine: Does It Really Make a Difference?
What Is Double Decanting?
Double decanting is a term that we’ve heard a lot of on social media, particularly with clips of people using no-spill carafes to make it all look so simple without spillage. We at The Wined Up wanted to test one of these products in reality to better understand the product but more importantly to understand the benefits of double decanting. Double decanting involves pouring wine into a decanter to aerate it, then pouring it back into the bottle. But here’s the kicker: it’s a bit controversial. Some say it opens up the wine beautifully; others claim it’s like tossing your wine into a blender. Where do you land?
Trying Out a Wine Breather Carafe for Double Decanting Wine
This week on The Wined Up, Jason’s feeds were blowing up with videos of wine breather carafes—specifically the “Menu Original Glass Wine Breather Carafe” at a whopping $138. That’s no pocket change, so naturally, we turned to Amazon for a dupe. Enter the Kunlongsky Wine Rapid Decanter, which does the same trick for $34.40. The big question: is it just a gadget, or does it actually work?
How Does the Wine Breather Work?
It’s actually quite simple to use:
1. Attach the wine breather to your bottle with its handy rubber seal
2. Flip it upside down, letting the wine cascade into the carafe in a waterfall effect
3. Flip it back, pouring the aerated wine neatly (hopefully!) into the bottle
Sounds straightforward, but does it live up to the hype? We gave it a go with a 2018 Barossa Shiraz, and the results were… well, let’s just say they were worth talking about.
Does Double Decanting Improve Wine?
Let’s break it down:
- The Smell Test: The non-decanted Shiraz smelled of vanilla and cream. After double decanting, the fruit notes popped out, making the wine feel more balanced.
- The Taste Test: Before decanting, the Shiraz hit hard with its tannins—a Mike Tyson punch, if you will. After decanting, it softened—still bold, but more like Jake Paul in the ring.
The verdict? Double decanting did improve the wine, making it less aggressive and more enjoyable. But here’s the kicker: it’s all about personal preference. Some love the journey of wine opening up over time; others just want to fast-track to the good stuff.
Pros and Cons of Double Decanting Tools
Pros
- Speed: Perfect for when you’re time-poor but want a well-aerated wine.
- Convenience: Less messy than using a traditional funnel and decanter combo.
- Showmanship: The waterfall effect is pure Instagram fodder.
Cons:
- Gadget Overload: Let’s be honest, whipping this out at a dinner party might earn you the title of “wine wanker.”
- Sediment Issues: Our test run revealed sediment being poured back into the bottle—not ideal.
- Price: Even at $34, it’s an investment for something you might not use daily.
What About Multiple Decanting?
We took it a step further and tried decanting the wine four times. Did it improve? Honestly, the differences became less noticeable with each round. While the wine was slightly more open and smooth, the impact was subtle. So, unless you’re chasing perfection, one round of double decanting is plenty.
Is Double Decanting Worth It?
The short answer: maybe. If you’re curious and have loose change, go for it. It’s fun, and it does make a difference. But if you’re the patient type who loves watching wine evolve naturally in the glass, you can probably skip it.
Final Thoughts
Double decanting is like speed dating for wine—quick, exciting, and sometimes surprising. Whether you use a high-end wine breather or an affordable Amazon dupe, it’s a handy trick to have up your sleeve. But at the end of the day, the best wine experience is the one you enjoy, whether it’s slow and steady or fast and furious.
Have you tried double decanting? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click here to watch the full episode where The Wined Up Podcast experiments with double decanting as part of their discussion on Wines for Summer 2025.
A short video summarising double decanting is also below: