The Best Wine Decanters, Compared (2026)
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 23, 2026.
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A decanter does two jobs. It lets a young, tight red wine breathe so its aromas and texture open up, and it separates an older wine from the sediment that builds up in the bottle. It’s also one of the most elegant objects on a dinner table, which is why decanters are a favorite gift for wine lovers. But shape matters. A wide base aerates quickly, a slim body pours with control, and some designs are beautiful but awkward to clean.
This guide answers one question: which wine decanter is worth buying? We compared hands-on testing from Food & Wine and Serious Eats with manufacturer specifications. Food & Wine says it tested more than a dozen decanters with full-bodied reds, tasting at 15-minute intervals over an hour. We haven’t tested these decanters ourselves, and prices are as reported and change.
The short answer: the Riedel Wine Friendly Decanter is the easy everyday choice, praised by both Food & Wine and Serious Eats. For faster aeration and easier sediment handling, the Riedel Cabernet Decanter. For a splurge, Josephinenhütte’s Josephine or Zalto’s Denk’Art carafe.
Our picks at a glance
| Decanter | Capacity (reported) | Standout | Approx. price (F&W) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riedel Wine Friendly | 1,375 ml (F&W) | Hold by the base; ribbed neck catches drips | $36–60 | Everyday use |
| Riedel Cabernet | 37 oz (Serious Eats) | Sloping sides make sediment easy to catch | Check listing | Older reds |
| Spiegelau Style | Check listing | F&W best value | $40 | Value |
| Josephinenhütte Josephine | Check listing | F&W best splurge | $230 | Collectors |
| Zalto Denk’Art Carafe No. 150 | Check listing | F&W best oversized | $125 | Large formats |
| Rabbit Pura Decanting System | Check listing | F&W best for collectors | $65 | Sediment filtering |
| Luigi Bormioli Vinea | Check listing | F&W best for gifting | $83 | Gifts |
| Holcomb Birdie | Check listing | F&W best with aerator | $150 | Fast aeration |
Do you need a decanter?
Not for every bottle. Most everyday whites, rosés and light reds are ready to drink straight from the bottle. Decanting helps most with young, full-bodied reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Nebbiolo, which can taste tight or tannic when first opened, and with older reds that have thrown sediment. Food & Wine tested with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah for exactly that reason.
How to choose a decanter
Shape and surface area
Aeration depends on how much of the wine’s surface is exposed to air. A wide, flat base speeds it up, while a narrow body slows it down. Serious Eats notes the Riedel Wine Friendly’s modest width creates a pool with a relatively small surface area. That protects delicate wines through a dinner party, but it won’t aerate as quickly as a super-wide flared base.
Pouring control
A full decanter is heavy and easy to drip. Serious Eats put the Riedel Wine Friendly at the top of its group largely because it can be held by the base, where the weight of the wine is, rather than by the neck. That gives more control and takes less effort. Food & Wine likes its ribbed neck for catching drips before they reach the tablecloth.
Sediment
For older wines, look for a decanter with a gentle slope from neck to base so you can see sediment collect and stop pouring in time. Serious Eats found the Riedel Cabernet’s softly sloping sides let you pour the last drop without fully inverting it, which makes catching sediment easier. Food & Wine notes the Wine Friendly has no strainer or funnel. If sediment is a regular concern, a decanting system like the Rabbit Pura, Food & Wine’s pick for collectors, helps.
Material and care
Most quality decanters are crystal or crystal glass. Many, including the Riedel Wine Friendly per Food & Wine, are not dishwasher safe. Hand-wash with warm water, avoid soap residue, and use a decanter brush or cleaning beads for the base. Let it dry upside down on a stand so water doesn’t pool. Thin, hand-blown pieces are beautiful but fragile.
Size and storage
A decanter should comfortably hold a standard 750 ml bottle with room to swirl. Oversized carafes suit magnums and large dinners but take up cabinet space. Food & Wine notes the slim Riedel Wine Friendly fits in a fridge or ice bucket, which makes it versatile for chilled wines too.
The best wine decanters
1. Riedel Wine Friendly Decanter: best everyday decanter
Best for: most wine lovers and smaller kitchens.
Food & Wine calls this its best compact decanter and Serious Eats ranks it at the top of its tests. It’s a slim, vase-shaped piece made from machine-made crystal glass, about 11 to 12 inches tall and 0.81 pounds, with a capacity Food & Wine lists as 1,375 ml. You can pour it by the base for control, the ribbed neck catches drips, and it fits in a fridge or ice bucket for chilled wines. Food & Wine listed it at $60, on sale for $36.
It aerates more slowly than wide-based designs, has no sediment strainer, and isn’t dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Excellent pouring control
- Compact, fridge-friendly
- Affordable
Cons
- Slower aeration
- No strainer
- Hand-wash only
2. Riedel Cabernet Decanter: best for older reds
Best for: sediment-prone older wines and faster aeration.
Serious Eats describes the Cabernet as a thin, light decanter (1.64 pounds, 37 ounces) with softly sloping sides, a flared neck and a wide, stable base for spill-free decanting. The gentle slope lets you pour the last drop without inverting it fully and makes it easier to catch sediment without leaving much wine behind.
Serious Eats calls its look effective but plain.
Pros
- Easy sediment control
- Stable wide base
Cons
- Understated design
3. Spiegelau Style Crystal Decanter: best value
Best for: first-time buyers.
Food & Wine named the Spiegelau Style its best value decanter, listed at $40. Spiegelau is part of the Riedel family of glassmakers, so it’s a credible budget choice for someone starting out.
Check capacity and care instructions on the listing.
Pros
- Low price
- Reputable glassmaker
Cons
- Less distinctive design
4. Josephinenhütte Josephine Decanter: best splurge
Best for: collectors and design lovers.
Food & Wine named the hand-blown Josephine its best splurge decanter, at $230, and singled out the Josephine No. 9 carafe for design. It’s an heirloom-level piece for someone who already owns everything.
It’s expensive and delicate, so it’s not one to leave by the sink.
Pros
- Stunning hand-blown design
- Heirloom gift
Cons
- Expensive
- Fragile
5. Zalto Denk’Art Carafe No. 150: best oversized
Best for: large dinners and magnums.
Food & Wine picked Zalto’s Denk’Art Carafe No. 150 as its best oversized decanter, at $125. Zalto’s hand-blown glass is famously thin and light, and it pairs naturally with Zalto stemware. See our wine glasses guide.
Large and fragile, so you’ll need storage space and careful washing.
Pros
- Room for big bottles
- Elegant, light glass
Cons
- Fragile
- Takes up space
6. Rabbit Pura Decanting System: best for sediment
Best for: collectors opening older bottles.
Food & Wine named the Rabbit Pura its best decanter for collectors, at $65. A decanting system adds filtering to help keep sediment out of the glass, which suits anyone regularly opening aged wines.
It’s more functional than beautiful.
Pros
- Built for sediment
- Reasonable price
Cons
- More gadget than centerpiece
7. Luigi Bormioli Vinea and Holcomb Birdie: gifting and aeration
Best for: gift-givers and impatient drinkers.
Food & Wine picked the Luigi Bormioli Vinea, at $83, as its best decanter for gifting, and the Holcomb Birdie, at $150 from Nordstrom, as its best with a built-in aerator for faster results.
Aerator designs add parts to clean.
Pros
- Giftable
- Aerator speeds things up
Cons
- Extra cleaning
How to decant a wine
- For older wines, stand the bottle upright for a day so sediment settles.
- Open the bottle carefully and wipe the neck.
- Tilt the decanter and pour slowly down its side, ideally with a light behind the bottle’s shoulder.
- Stop when you see sediment reach the neck.
- Taste over time. Food & Wine tasted at 15-minute intervals over an hour to see how wines evolved, which is a good way to find your own sweet spot.
How long to decant
There’s no single rule. Young, tannic reds often benefit from 30 minutes to a couple of hours, while delicate older wines can fade if left too long, so decant those just before serving, mainly to remove sediment. The best approach is the one Food & Wine used in its testing: taste as you go and serve when you like it best.
Decanters as gifts
A decanter is one of the most giftable wine accessories. Pair one with a good bottle, a decanter brush and a drying stand for a complete gift. Our wine lover gifts guide and host gifts guide have more ideas, and a wine fridge is the upgrade for a serious collector.
Storing and displaying a decanter
Store decanters upright in a closed cabinet to keep out dust, or display a beautiful one on a bar cart away from direct sun and the edge of the shelf. Avoid stacking anything inside. If a decanter develops cloudiness, a soak in warm water with a little white vinegar, followed by a thorough rinse, usually helps.
FAQ
What is the best wine decanter?
The Riedel Wine Friendly is a top pick at both Food & Wine and Serious Eats for its pouring control and compact shape.
Do decanters make wine taste better?
They can soften young, tannic reds and remove sediment from older wines. Many everyday wines don’t need decanting.
Are crystal decanters dishwasher safe?
Many aren’t, including the Riedel Wine Friendly per Food & Wine. Hand-wash and dry upside down.
How do you clean a decanter?
Rinse with warm water, use a decanter brush or cleaning beads, avoid soap residue and air-dry upside down.
Is a wide or narrow decanter better?
Wide bases aerate faster. Narrower designs pour with more control and protect delicate wines.
The bottom line
For most people, the Riedel Wine Friendly is the decanter to buy: easy to pour, compact and affordable. Choose the Riedel Cabernet for older reds, the Spiegelau Style for value, and a Josephinenhütte or Zalto when you want an heirloom.
