Best Wine Aerators

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An aerator pushes air into wine as you pour, so a tight young red tastes softer and smells more open in seconds instead of an hour in a decanter. Here are the ones worth buying, and when you should leave the aerator in the drawer.

At a glance

Pick	Product	In one line
Best overall	Vinturi Red Wine Aerator	The original handheld aerator, still the benchmark	Price →
Best on-bottle	Vintorio Wine Aerator Pourer	Sits in the bottle neck, no extra hand needed	Price →
Best for sediment	Rabbit Wine Aerator Shower Funnel	Aerates and strains sediment into a decanter	Price →
Best electric	Aervana Electric Wine Aerator	Button-press dispenser that aerates as it pours	Price →

Aeration helps most with young, tannic reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Nebbiolo, Tannat. It does little for light whites and can flatten old wines, which are fragile. If a wine is older than about 15 years, I decant it gently for sediment and skip the aerator.

My picks

Style reference photo for Vinturi Red Wine Aerator

Style referenceSee it on Amazon

Reference photo: Denis Sousa / Unsplash. See the exact model on Amazon.

Best overall

Vinturi Red Wine Aerator

Type: Handheld, pour-through
Best for: Young tannic reds
Cleaning: Rinse with warm water

The Vinturi is the aerator that created the category, and it still does the job well. You hold it over the glass and pour through it, so you control exactly how much wine gets aerated. Guests notice the difference on a young Cabernet straight away.

Watch outIt needs two hands, and the stand is worth having to catch drips.

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Style reference photo for Vintorio Wine Aerator Pourer

Style referenceSee it on Amazon

Reference photo: Terry Vlisidis / Unsplash. See the exact model on Amazon.

Best on-bottle

Vintorio Wine Aerator Pourer

Type: In-bottle pourer
Best for: Everyday reds at the table
Cleaning: Rinse after use

This one lives in the neck of the bottle, so you aerate as you pour and keep one hand free. It also pours cleanly without dripping on the tablecloth, which matters more than people think when you serve at the table.

Watch outPour at a steady, moderate pace. Pouring too fast reduces the effect.

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Style reference photo for Rabbit Wine Aerator Shower Funnel

Style referenceSee it on Amazon

Reference photo: Theme Photos / Unsplash. See the exact model on Amazon.

Best for sediment

Rabbit Wine Aerator Shower Funnel

Type: Funnel for decanters
Best for: Unfiltered or older-style reds
Cleaning: Rinse the mesh well

The funnel spreads wine over the walls of the decanter, which aerates it, and the mesh catches sediment and bits of cork. It is a simple tool that makes decanting at home look and work like it does in a restaurant.

Watch outYou need a decanter for it to make sense.

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Style reference photo for Aervana Electric Wine Aerator

Style referenceSee it on Amazon

Reference photo: Saman Taheri / Unsplash. See the exact model on Amazon.

Best electric

Aervana Electric Wine Aerator

Type: Electric dispenser
Best for: Hosting and parties
Power: Battery / rechargeable

An electric aerator sits on top of the bottle and dispenses wine at the press of a button. It is a good gift and makes pouring for a group easy, especially for guests who are not confident with a bottle.

Watch outMore parts to clean and charge. For pure results, a good handheld aerator is just as effective.

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A note from the floor

Taste first, aerate second. I always pour a small taste before I decide. If the wine already tastes open and fruity, aerating it can make it fade faster. If it feels hard and closed, that is when the aerator earns its place.

How to choose

Choose a handheld aerator if you want the most control and drink mostly young reds. Choose an on-bottle pourer if you want convenience at the dinner table. Choose a funnel if you already own a decanter. Choose electric mainly as a gift or for hosting.

Questions guests ask me

Is an aerator the same as a decanter?

No. Both add oxygen, but an aerator does it in seconds, glass by glass. A decanter works over 30 minutes to a couple of hours and also lets you separate sediment from older wines.

Should I aerate white wine?

Usually not. Most whites are about freshness and aroma. A few rich whites, like oaked Chardonnay or white Burgundy, can benefit from a little air, but a big swirl in the glass is often enough.

Can you over-aerate wine?

Yes, especially with older or delicate wines. Too much air makes the aromas fade and the wine taste flat.

Written by Márcio

Wine gear chosen from real restaurant service, not from a spec sheet. About SommShelf.