Take the Vinturi Challenge: First up Barolo!

I remember the day that a Vinturi was given to me.  It was the answer to decanting.  No longer did we have to wait half an hour before the wine was drinkable.  All I had to do was pour the wine through this sleek-looking aerator and…Voila!  The wine was ready.  I am always a fan of cool wine gimmicks and I think it is neat to see people get creative with wine.  Some gimmicks work and others are just…well gimmicky.

About 7 years ago, my first Vinturi was stolen from the floor of the restaurant the first week I had it out.  I was going to try it with some of my regulars to see if the Vinturi really worked.  I guess the word was out, that sleek plastic rocket capsule-looking aerator was a hot commodity.   I remember trying it with an Argentinian Malbec and it seemed to soften the wine.  I also remember trying it with a Barbaresco and noticed that the tannins were much more milder.  What I didn’t do was try the wines side by side with the Vinturi, a decanter and straight from the bottle. (more…)