Peppery! Toasty! Floral! Decanter or carafe? To aerate, or not to aerate? Wine comes with its own language, norms, and accessories that, frankly, can be intimidating. Case in point: I love wine, but I absolutely freeze when a waiter picks me for the first taste (the pressure). But at a recent book club—code for wine night—my friend spent the evening refilling our glasses from a gorgeous carafe, and the whole thing felt sophisticated and knowledgable. So before we left, I offered to host next month—and then I impulse ordered the Üllo Original Wine Purifier + Carafe on my way home.
My immediate next move was tapping Scott Taylor, sommelier and beverage director at Harris’ in San Francisco, for all the insights. Aside from making you feel très chic, what do wine purifiers and carafes actually do? The bottom line: These accoutrements actually make a difference—and they’re worth investing in, no matter what kind of wine-o you are. The Üllo two-in-one package is on sale for just $100 this week, so now’s a great time to upgrade your accessories *and* improve your wine fluency.
Üllo Original Wine Purifier + Carafe — $100.00
Originally $140, on sale for $100
Pros:
- Easy for anyone to use
- Made from hand-blown, lead-free crystal which is ideal because it’s non-porous and can keep sediment from collecting and altering the taste of your wine
- Brings out wine’s flavor and removes its impurities, such as excess sulfites, which have been linked to increased hangover-like symptoms like headaches
- Dishwasher-friendly
- Looks totally chic on your table
Cons:
- Pricey when not on sale
- Filters are disposable and can only be used a few times
The case for using a carafe
Did you know that “carafe” and “decanter” can be used interchangeably? (And just like that, you’re one step closer to fluent.) “Pouring wine into a carafe or decanter can be a very important step towards optimizing the potential of the wine,” Taylor says. “Aerating the wine (allowing oxygen to get in) can cause the wine to open up, bringing a lot of the flavors and aromas out to the forefront where they may have been masked by things such as alcohol, sulfur, and bacteria.”
When it comes to the make and model of your carafe, Taylor recommends clear, high-quality glass or crystal. “Crystal makes for good decanters or carafes because it is non-porous, keeping any sediment from collecting in the container that could potentially alter your wine in a negative way,” he says. The Üllo carafe passes his test with its ultra-transparent, artisanal crystal that’s hand-blown and lead-free.
Wine purifiers 101
Next up on the lesson plan: purifiers. “A wine purifier removes impurities, along with naturally occurring undesirables such as sulfites and histamines,” Taylor says. Sulfites are chemical compounds that present themselves during the wine fermentation process, he says. They can help preserve wine, keeping it from oxidizing prematurely (which causes it to spoil) and preventing unwanted bacterial growth. “Excess levels of sulfites have been attributed to itching, headaches, and hangover-like symptoms,” he says. Hard pass.
Histamines are naturally occurring chemicals that your immune system produces—and alongside wine, they’re found in some common foods like spinach, eggplant, cheese, nuts, and chocolate. While you likely can’t stay away from histamines altogether, it’s a good idea to try limit excess consumption of them, Taylor says.
The Üllo purifier works on any white, red, or rosé by using filters that help remove only the artificial sulfite preservatives and none of the natural compounds that make wine taste and smell like, well, wine. The purifying attachment fits easily on any individual wine glass and any of Üllo’s carafes. In addition to its purifying powers, a simple on-off switch gives you the option to selectively aerate your wine.
You may have heard that wine purifiers are the secret to hangover-free drinking. While high levels of sulfites and histamines can lead to unpleasant physical symptoms, Taylor notes that this is, unfortunately, a myth—alcohol content and dehydration are in fact the culprits. So go easy on your intake, and don’t forget to tank up with water. As for me, I’ll be at home memorizing my wine lingo, role playing scenarios with an imaginary waiter, and practicing my carafe pours—just in time for book club.
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