What does it mean to let a wine breathe?
You’ve probably watched someone open a bottle of wine and instead of pouring into your glass for consumption, letting it sit in order for it to “breathe”. Is it necessary? For some wines, the answer is Yes! Allowing a wine to breathe simply means contacting it with some air for a period of time. This can be accomplished either by pouring the bottle into a decanter or simply pouring the wine into glasses, allowing a lot of air space. Sometimes a wine is described as “closed” immediately upon opening meaning the flavors are somewhat masked. Red wines that are a bit tannic can benefit from breathing because the air contact will soften the tannins. Be careful not to let an older wine breathe too long because it can deteriorate quite rapidly. And how long should you let a wine breathe? The answer, of course, depends on the wine; experimentation is key. If the wine tastes good immediately upon opening, by all means, drink it right away. But if the wine tastes harsh or lacking in flavor, pour
