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how long should wine be left to breathe prior to drinking

Tasting and service

How long a wine should breathe?

SAQ answers your questions

Published on October 14, 2020

SAQ answers your questions

Question from a social media fan

“On average, how long should wine be left to breathe prior to drinking?”

Our expert replies

“First of all, it’s a myth that simply opening a bottle will enable it to breathe – the surface area exposed to air is simply too small. Young reds with lots of tannins will best benefit from aeration in a carafe to open their bouquets and calm their tannins. As for amount of time, it varies from 20 minutes to several hours for some wines. In terms of white wines, most are ready to pour as soon as they’re opened. Want to be sure? Simply ask an in-store SAQ advisor!”

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