Elaborate aeration

Elaborate aeration

WINE has been waiting a good while for this product to arrive in South Africa. Until now we have had to make do with a similar version that was not quite the real thing, but the Vinturi aerator finally arrived on our desks.

 

This is the bona fide version of decantwhile- you-pour design, and it simply looks more sturdy and professional than the other products.

It almost succeeds in pulling off elegance too, but mounted on its Perspex tower, it rather resembles an elaborate toy you'd expect to find in a chandelier-lit bar (but do watch this space for designs incorporating more sophistication). Which is not to say it's bad. It is not the aesthetics which sell this product after all, but rather the intrigue of a gadget that is a party trick and value-add in one. Guys should love this. The Vinturi operates from the stance that wine needs to breathe. Wine that has been allowed to breathe "opens up and releases its intended aromas and flavours".

No need for decanters, the manufacturers of Vinturi say, simply pour wine through the gadget and voila your enhanced wine can be enjoyed. But does it work?

The design features an oval-shaped aerator with air ducts near its centre, with a narrow vent that funnels at the base, manipulating the amount of air the wine is exposed to. Engineering of the device drew on science to allow for more air to be drawn into the wine as the liquid passes through the aerator. This rush of air can clearly be heard as the wine is poured through the Vinturi. A control glass of wine was poured to compare against a wine exposed to treatment in the Vinturi. These were tasted blind and the difference between the two glasses was clear. The control glass was quite closed, not showing any upfront aromas; the aerated wine, on the other hand, showed a marked improvement in bouquet. On the palate the aerated wine also proved to be smoother - which is exactly what the manufacturers promise. The Vinturi also includes filters for trapping sediment of older wines.

The Vinturi is available for both red and white wines and can be bought separately without the Vinturi Tower. The handheld Vinturi with table stand retails for R495 and the Vinturi Deluxe Aerator set (with tower) retails for R795. Visit www.vinturisa.co.za or tel 021 552 8960.

Got a gizmo worthy of review? Email Jeanri- Tine van Zyl at jeanri@ramsaymedia.co.za.