Written by: Tim Edison

Updated: January 9, 2024

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3 Best Wine Aerators [Essential Picks for 2023]

man using a wine aerator

There are so many wine aerators on the market these days that it's difficult to wade through all the write ups and reviews.

That's why I've put together this list of the ultimate wine aerators to make the choice easier for you.


I used to be pretty skeptical when it came to wine aerators and always preferred to simply use a standard decanter to let my wine breathe.

However, after trying over 10 of them over the years, I have to admit that wine aerators can be a lot more convenient, and are often able to "open up" wines just as well as traditional decanters. 


The Top 3 Wine Aerators

Below you will find a list of the 3 best wine aerators, for each of which we give a detailed explanation of why they deserve the accolade.


1. Vintorio Wine Aerator Pourer - 5/5 ( Our #1 Choice)

Features:

 Double air intake system
 Removable splash guard
 100% dishwasher safe


Best things:

 Top in terms of flavor and aroma.

 Small & sturdy enough so that it won't break.

Downsides:

 Does not come with a stand



2. Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator - 4.7 / 5

vinturi aerator review

Features:

 Available in multiple colors & sizes.
 Comes with no-drip stand.
 Patent-pending design.


Best things:

 Well-renowned brand when it comes to wine aerators. 

 Sturdy and oval design makes it one of the most reliable aerators.

Downsides:

 Quality issues.
 Spills & creates a mess.



3. Soiree Wine Aerator Decanter - 4.6 / 5

Features:

5-ring rubber gasket - Fits almost any bottle.
 Includes drying rack & stand


Best things:

 The design looks great and unique.

  Great gift for Weddings, birthdays or any occasion.

Downsides:

 This Aerator is fragile.
 Effect on aerating wine under-performs compared to other brands.

Soiree wine aerator review


Why Aerate Your Wine?

As I alluded to earlier, before I started getting into wine I used to always be a little bit skeptical when people spoke about "letting wine breathe", or "using a wine aerator" prior to drinking the wine.

I would generally never have the patience for it. I'd basically want to drink the wine as soon as I poured it into the glass and for me "letting the wine breathe" was something that only wine snobs were concerned about.

However, over the years, and as I've started to get more into wine, I have started to see the benefit of letting wines breathe.

It can really  make a huge difference in the overall experience of the wine that you're drinking. In fact, the difference can be so great at times, that you'd think you're drinking an entirely bottle of wine.

The concept of "aerating wine" or "letting wine breathe" is simply the process of maximizing the wine's exposure to the surrounding air, thereby oxidizing your wine.

So why should you aerate or let your wines breathe?

  • Oxygenation of the wine opens up the wine aromas 
  • Flavor profile softens and mellows out a bit
  • Overall characteristics of the wine will improve

For more information on the importance of letting your wines breathe, please see the video below.


Why Use an Aerator Instead of a Traditional Decanter?

So now that we know why it's important to let our wines breathe before we drink them, let's look at a couple of ways we can achieve this.

The traditional way would be to pour your bottle into a decanter, and let your wine sit there for around 30 minutes.

This ensures that there is ample time for your wine to get exposed to air particles, so that the wine opens up and is able to reach its full potential. This is certainly how I used to let my wines breathe before I ever owned a wine aerator.

There are two main disadvantages of aerating your wine through the use of a traditional decanter.

  • It is time consuming (ie. you will have to wait 30 minutes or more)
  • You run the risk of having to throw your wine away since you'll most likely pour the entire bottle into a decanter and may not end up finishing all.

The above two reasons are why I eventually switched over from a traditional decanter to a wine aerator.

Besides overcoming the above drawbacks, the best wine aerators have a number of other benefits.

  • They allow you to aerator by the glass thereby allowing you keep the rest of the bottle for later.
  • They aerate instantly. As soon as the wine has passed through the aerator, it is ready for consumption.
  • They are much easier to transport meaning that you can take them wherever you may go.
  • They are generally better value than traditional decanters.


What Types of Wine Aerators Are There?

Ever since wine aerators started to get popular within the realm of wine accessories, countless numbers of designs have hit the market, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Having said that, there are three designs that work better than the others.


1. The Aerator Pourer

The aerator pourer is a type of aerator that you attache straight to the bottle and aeration takes place as soon as you pour yourself a glass.

This is my favorite type of aerator, as it creates the least amount of mess and has the same amount of impact in terms of aerating your wine.

The Vintorio Wine Aerator that I have ranked #1 above is an aerator of this type, and is in my opinion the best of its kind.

Advantages
  • No mess. Since the aerator generally attaches directly onto the bottle you won't have issues with spillage.
  • Lightweight. These types of aerators are typically smaller and very light-weight. This allows you to take them with you wherever you go, and prevents them from taking up too much space.
Disadvantages
  • Some designs aren't as effective. A number of pouring aerators aren't as effective in aerating your wine. Keep an eye out for the ones that don't show "bubbles" in the wine, since these devices are simply pourers but won't do actually help aerate your wine.
  • Can be more fragile. Some designs can be more fragile and can therefore crack, or break when they are put under too much stress. 

Our Recommendation

Vintorio Wine Aerator and Pourer

  • Amazing value
  • Over 500,000 satisfied owners worldwide
  • Leak free pouring



2. The Traditional Aerator

This is probably the most common type of aerator you will find. It's the one that was made famous by Vinturi, and since then a whole host of other manufacturers have tried to follow their footsteps.

I've tried a number of others, but in my opinion the Vinturi is still best. You simply hold the aerator above your wine glass, and pour the wine into the aerator.

As the wine passes through the aerator, the wine gets oxygenated and then pours into your glass.

Advantages
  • Extremely sturdy. These types of aerators are generally the strongest. They are usually made of thick acrylic and come in an oval shape that is unlikely to break during use.
  • Great gift. In my opinion, these are probably the most aesthetically pleasing out of the three main types of aerators. As a result, they make a great gift for weddings, birthdays, or any other type of occasion.


Disadvantages
  • Can be messy. Unfortunately these types of aerators are just plain messy. They don't attach to the bottle. Instead you hold them above your glass as you pour the wine through it. This leaves a lot of scope for error and splashing, and therefore often results in a mess.
  • Inconsistent quality. I'm not sure what it is, but a number of customers have experienced inconsistent quality with these types of models and find that it doesn't work as well with all wines.



3. The Oval Aerator

This type of aerator is the newest of the three. This type of aerator attaches directly to the bottle, after which the wine passes through an oval shaped dome before it pours into the glass.

The oval shaped dome ensures that the surface area of the wine increases which results in more exposure of the wine to the air.

The first company to come up with this design was Soiree, although a number of other suppliers have since entered the market as well.

Advantages
  • Looks fancy. These types of aerators look the most fancy, and therefore make a pretty cool gift.


Disadvantages
  • Quite fragile. As you can imagine, this type of aerator is rather fragile. The design itself means that any sort of pressure on the device will result in cracking. It is not recommended to travel with this type of aerator.
  • Awkward to use. With these types of aerators, you have to hold the bottle completely upside down in order for it to function properly. This can feel rather awkward, not to mention that you run the risk of the aerator coming undone and the wine spilling all over the counter.



What to Consider When Buying a Wine Aerator

Before pulling the trigger and purchasing a wine aerator, I'd recommend that you take the following factors into account before you make your final decision.

The best wine aerator might mean one thing for one person, but something completely different to the other.

  • What's your budget? How much money are you willing to spend on an aerator?Most aerators are pretty affordable these days and will come with a price tag of around $20, but there are also a number of more expensive variants available on the market (this does not mean, however, that they perform better).It's important that you choose a budget that you're comfortable with, however, bear in mind that at the end of the day the right wine aerator should actually help you save money by making cheaper wine taste better.
  • Are you buying it for yourself or as a gift? If you are buying an aerator for yourself you might want to go for something that is more functional and doesn't have all the bells & whistles. On the other hand, if you're buying a gift for someone, you might want to go for an aerator that is both functional but also has nice packaging included.
  • Are you going to travel with it, or will you keep it at home? If you're intending to travel with your aerator, or you want to take it elsewhere, you might want to go for one that is more sturdy. Putting your aerator in your suitcase lends it to potentially breaking, so the more sturdy your aerator, the better.
  • Warranties and guarantees. Last but not least, you'll want to weigh up the guarantees that the various suppliers of wine aerators are giving. The last thing you want to happen is for your wine aerator to not be exactly what you wanted, and not being able to return it. Thankfully most aerators will offer at least a 30-day money back guarantee, but a number of them offer a Lifetime 100% Satisfaction guarantee. I would keep an eye out for those so that you can be sure that if there's ever an issue, you'll be able to get your money back in full.

Detailed Reviews of the Best Wine Aerators

Below you will find more detailed reviews of each of the top 3 wine aerators that I selected earlier.


Vintorio Wine Aerator & Pourer Including Bottle Stopper


As I mentioned before, this is by far my favorite wine aerator. The Vintorio has been around for years and is trusted by wine lovers worldwide.

I ran a blind test on three wines with it myself, and it was obvious to me that the wines that passed through the Vintorio tasted better than those that hadn't.

It comes with great packaging, which makes it a great gift, and an added bottle stopper which allows you to seal off your wine if you haven't finished everything in one go.


What features does it have?

  • Double air intake system. This system ensures maximum exposure to oxygen ensuring that your wine is fully aerated as it enters the glass.
  • Removable splash guard. The aerator contains a splash guard that ensures there is no mess when pouring wine, which can be removed before cleaning.
  • 100% dishwasher safe. Unlike other aerators, the Vintorio can be washed in the dishwasher making it easy and convenient to clean.

What's good about it?

The best thing about the Vintorio is probably that it does what it is meant to do - aerate your wine.

In a number of tests I have done between aerators, the wine aerated by the Vintorio constantly comes out on top in terms of flavor and aroma.

Secondly, it also makes a great gift. It has some of the nicest packaging (a magnetic buckle box) out there, comes with detailed instructions on how to use it, and comes with a Lifetime 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If that doesn't show confidence on behalf of the suppliers, I don't know what will. 

Lastly, it's small enough for you to take with you on your travels or elsewhere and is sturdy enough so that it won't break.

I can't recall how many times I've taken this with me while camping, going to picnics, or when grilling with our neighbors. 


What could be improved?

Although this is by far the best wine aerator on the market today, there is one little thing that I would improve - it does not come with a stand.

Once your done using the aerator, you'll either want to put it straight into the dishwasher, or rinse it under the tap, otherwise you'll run the risk of wine stains.

Although not a big deal, a wine stand would have been a nice added feature, but at the same time would have made the whole package more bulky.

It looks like not including a stand is a trade-off that the suppliers have consciously made and probably for good reason.

Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator

Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator


If you're looking to go for the more traditional type of wine aerator, the Vinturi is definitely the model you want to go for.

It was the first of it's kind when it came to the wine aerator as we know it, and although a number of competitors have since tried to imitate this model, the Vinturi is still by far the best. 

It's the biggest name out there for wine aerators, and the model also comes with a little travel pouch which is handy if you're on-the-go or if you intend to take the aerator elsewhere.

What features does it have?

  • Available in multiple colors. The Vinturi is available in multiple colors and sizes, making it likely that you will find the option that suits you.
  • Comes with no-drip stand. The aerator comes with a no-drip stand in which you can place the aerator before you pour the wine.
  • Patent-pending design. Although there are a number of copy-cats that have tried to copy Vinturi's design, they currently have a patent pending on their design.

What's good about it?

The Vinturi is probably the most well-renowned brand when it comes to wine aerators, and this is not without reason. They were probably the first to develop this type of wine aerator, and it is one that does the job very satisfactorily. 

The sturdy and oval design makes it one of the most reliable aerators out there, without you having to worry that it will break upon use, or when you take it with you on your travels.

What could be improved?

The main problem I have with this aerator is that it tends to create  a mess when you use it.

Instead of it attaching directly to the bottle, you have to hold it above your wine glass as you pour wine through the aerator.

More often than not, this results in some wine splashing elsewhere. Unfortunately, this is something that isn't a quick fix, but rather has to do with the design of the aerator.

Some customers have also complained that the quality of this model can be very inconsistent.

While some people are extremely happy, others have mentioned that the aerator doesn't quite perform as well as they had expected.


Soiree Wine Aerator Decanter


The Soiree is a great choice if your looking for an aerator that is a bit more unique than the Vintorio or Vinturi.

The oval shaped acrylic aerator will certainly raise some eyebrows when you put it to use, and people will naturally ask questions since it's not immediately apparent that the Soiree is an aerator.

At the same time, the Soiree probably looks the most fancy, so if this is the type of reaction you are going after, then I would recommend the Soiree.

What features does it have?

  • 5-ring gasket. The Soiree Wine Aerator includes a 5-ring rubber gasket that will fit in almost any bottle.
  • Includes drying rack & stand. The aerator comes with a drying rack and stand, which is a great place to put the aerator after you have used it.

What's good about it?

The design of the Soiree Wine Aerator is one of the more unique ones around. It just looks great. As a result, it makes for a great gift for weddings, birthdays, or any other occasion. 

It also tends to raise eyebrows when you use it. As a result of its unique design, people often wonder what it is, making it a cool gadget to own.

What could be improved?

What the Soiree has in looks, it lacks in functionality. Not only is the aerator rather fragile, some customers have also complained that it's effect on aerating wine under-performs versus some of the other brands out there.

If you're looking for more of a gimmicky aerator, I would recommend the Soiree. If not, I would recommend either of the two aerators that I recommended above.

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About the Author Tim Edison


Tim started Wine Turtle way back in 2015.
These days he contributes to Wine Turtle (and other renowned wine publications) while continuing his wine education.
Tim's wine of the month is the Coates & Seely Reserve Brut NV (from Hampshire, England).



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    1. Hi Ravi – it depends on what you mean by innovative? I’d say the market is fairly big but there is a lot of competition out there as well. What did you have in mind?

      1. I am designing a wine aerator at price range of $1 to $2.
        I am also planning a new wine cup design, again in the same price range. So far all wine aerators in the market are every expensive. Low cost aerator would succeed I believe.

        1. Potentially, but people are also looking for quality. If it costs $1 to $2 it might be very cheap, but if it doesn’t actually do a good job, people may have a problem with it.

  1. Hi,
    I am looking for people who design wine aerator to be attached on the bottle top something very aesthetically and maybe smaller than wine master model . I think the market is great for restaurants. Imagine to drink wine aerated.

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