Gadget Review # 3: The Vinturi White Wine Aerator
May 16, 2009
The Claims:
1) White wine displays the same improvements with aeration as red wine
(a better bouquet, enhanced flavors, creamier mouth feel, and a smoother finish)
2) This product may not deliver desired results if used with red wine
Once in a blue moon someone has a vision that changes scientific thought forever. Newton with gravity, Einstein with E=mc², and now Rio Sabadicci with his Vinturi white wine aerator. An aerator for white wine?? Let’s be serious. Finally I have a gadget that will fail on all counts….or do I? OK, so perhaps I exaggerate, but I would be a wealthy man if I had a dollar for each time I told someone you do not need to decant white wine. This is a widespread belief, and my thinking has been permanently altered. I hang my head low as I tell you that I desperately wanted this product to fail my tests – and in the end it passed with flying colors.
Test #1:
So here was my methodology and I encourage any one of you disbelievers to try the same tests or some version thereof. I picked a young white wine that was known for being somewhat complex and I poured 5 
blind samples. The first was straight from the bottle, the second was poured through the Vinturi. To test whether a 2nd aerator is really necessary I poured the 3rd and 4th samples through the Soiree and the Respirer red wine aerators. Lastly, I poured a sample to a decanter and then to a glass.
The best tasting sample was absolutely the Vinturi, in fact no other sample came close. It was far more open. It had a revealing nose, many layers of citrus fruit were immediately evident. It was softer, creamier, flat out more delicious. The Soiree came in a distant second place. The 3rd place went to the Respirer. The 4th and 5th place were essentially the same, poured from the bottle and poured first from decanter then to a glass. Keep in mind that the decanter sample did not spend time in the decanter before this initial taste test, I had poured it to test as time went on so that I could compare all samples to simply using a decanter. Not surprisingly as time went on the decanted sample was better than the bottle sample but all other results remained the same. The Vinturi sample remained the best tasting sample, testing every 30 minutes over two hours and I repeat that no other sample came close to matching what the Vinturi white wine aerator was capable of. I paired this wine with my hat. I never ate my hat with wine before; with or without wine I find it quite distasteful.
Test #2:
I already know that my red wine aerators did not hold a candle to the Vinturi, but how well will it aerate red wine? I still can’t accept that I must keep 2 aerators with me at all times. I chose a young, well structured red wine and poured 3 blind samples. I used all three aerators for this test. The Soiree and the Respirer yielded similar results…the Vinturi was in this test a definitive third place. Hmmmmm, I find this result even harder to believe, yet it is undeniable.
The Results:
1) White wine displays the same improvements with aeration as red wine
Absolutely, positively true.
2) This product may not deliver desired results if used with red wine
This aerator did not damage the wine that went through it; it just didn’t aerate it well enough. I hate to admit it, but this claim is true also.
In conclusion, Vinturi should be proud. This item works well, and it delivers as promised. Once again there is a noise associated with the use of this that is similar to the Respirer, so subtlety is not its strong point, but this is the only potential negative. The suggested retail price for the Vinturi is $39.95
As this is a unique product (specifically for white wines), I would give it a proper spot at my wine bar – it is a must have if you ever drink or serve white wine. I have a new answer to the question, “Should I decant white wine?”- It is “Yes, but I would use a Vinturi white wine aerator…”
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Comments
4 Responses to “Gadget Review # 3: The Vinturi White Wine Aerator”
Got something to say?
[...] but don’t short change yourself by keeping this on ice. I also recommend trying this with the Vinturi white wine aerator, as complex as this bottle is – it is the perfect bottle to taste huge [...]
I’ve held a white and red (black) Vinturi side by side. Other than color of the plastic there seems to be no difference. I thought the ‘carburetor’ holes might be a smaller gauge on the white, but not so. What about the pink one? – for Rose?
I like the Soiree, because you insert it in the bottle and its easy to pour with. Respire, Vinturi, Decantus are all awkward to hold / pour through, and the the aeration can be too aggressive for the structure of thinner skinned varietals ( pinot, gamay, etc.)
Traditional decanting and time are still the best though.
I have not tested the red & white Vinturi side by side (although I have used both and found the white wine aerator to be not too effective on red wine). A visual inspection doesn’t “cut the mustard” in my book. The pink edition is NOT for Rose, it is the same as the black (for red wine), but 5% of all proceeds from this edition are donated to “Living Beyond Breast Cancer” – hence the pink.
If you read my review of the Soiree you will see that i like the conveinence of it as well. However, the Vinturi has a distinct advantage also. I bought my father-in-law a Vinturi because he was too timid to upturn the bottle as the Soiree requires, it doesn’t do anything if you are too gentle. The Vinturi is foolproof albeit slightly clumsier.
Yes, tradional time and decanting ARE best – now you convince America
Gamay? Really?? It is true that these devices can be rough on more delicate wines. I make mention of this in my Soiree review. That being said, if I had a quarter for every bottle of Gamay I’ve ruined with my incomplete review, I’d have…a quarter…and you’d be the one who sent it to me
So here is my revision…
Drink more Gamay…put down the Friggin’ Vinturi when you do it!
BTW – Thanks for the comment
Have you tried testing the red aerator and white aerator on the same white wine? If it doesn’t aerate it too much it could just warrant the red version.
I’m just curious because I have a red being shipped to me and I’m hopeful I don’t have to buy another one (good price on wine woot).
Thanks.