Skip to main content
CraftJacks

Hyperdecanting Will Improve Your Red Wine (including Two Buck Chuck)

Oenophiliacs beware, we are destroying wine here. Or are we? For your next wine tasting party, try Hyperdecanting. Better yet, try hyperdecanting a two buck chuck to improve its flavor.

Vitamix Blender and a bottle of Charles Shaw Wine waiting to be hyperdecanted
Add wine to blender and turn on to hyperdecant!

How do I decant wine without a decanter?

By hyperdecanting it, otherwise known as pouring the wine into a blender. Hyperdecanting wine is a way to change your wine tasting experience. It is a way to (maybe?) change your cheap red wine into a good red wine.

Well, maybe not good wine, but it will certainly help a two buck chuck earn some points. In fact, after hyperdecanting, you won’t feel shamed for serving it at your next wine tasting.

First, a little background.

skip to the hyperdecanting process

What is decanting?

Decanting is just the process of pouring the wine out of it’s bottle into another container. That could be a decanter, a carafe, or even another wine bottle. Or a glass, which conveniently is the best place for wine. So I’m told.

Why decant?

The first reason is to separate out any sediment or dregs that have collected over time. Beyond the aesthetics and visual appeal of the wine in your favorite goblet, there are various arguments about the effect that sediment has on flavor. To be clear, though a bit gritty, sediment is not harmful.

The second reason is to aerate the wine. As the wine takes in oxygen, cleverly called the breathing process, it helps open up the flavor of the wine, unlocking and releasing aromas of fruits and spices: black cherry, peppercorn, etc.

What type of wine should I decant?

Preferably red wine. Cabernet, Syrah, Barolo, and some red blends lend themselves well to decantation. Essentially, bold red wines that are rich with tannins work best. The decanting process helps reduce the drying effects of the tannins.

Can I hyperdecant white wine?

Yes. Although, white wines are aged for shorter periods, and as such, decanting seems to be less necessary.

There is benefit to hyperdecanting a chilled white wine. Blending it will help warm it up, especially true if using a Vitamix. This is handy if you need to serve the wine immediately, as cold wine doesn’t allow for maximum aromatics.

Does bottle age matter?

There is some thought that more mature wines need less decanting as mature wines will lose their flavor as they are exposed to the breathing process. Your mileage may vary.

As for my experiment, I used a Vitamix, which is anything but delicate. So, typical bottle age rules did not apply.

Besides, we are livening up a two buck chuck, not a jeroboam of 1945 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild.

Can I use an expensive vintage wine?

Sure. However, the thought is that young wines blossom from aeration, where as premium, old vintage wines don’t need the same treatment. That being said, it’s probably best to start with a cheap red wine and work your way up.

As a reminder, the goal of the experiment is to make your two buck chuck pass muster during your wine tasting. If you can convince your friends that you are serving a 90-point wine due to hyperdecanting, then you can save yourself some serious coin. Even professionals can’t always agree with judging the quality of wine.

Organic grapes in the two buck chuck
TJ's pushing organic wine

Trader Joe's steps up their game by offering organic two buck chuck. Would Charles Shaw be proud? I don't know. But I do know that organic grapes costs more, yet the price of these Charles Shaw two buck chucks haven't risen dramatically. Something doesn't add up.

The resealable cork is a tasteful and welcome addition to these wine bottles.

Why does red wine need to be aerated?

Aeration helps remove undesirable aromas, thus "improving" the taste perception of the wine.

Can you put wine in a blender?

Yes! That is exactly what hyperdecanting is! It's just a fancy word for aerating your wine in a blender.

What is hyperdecanting?

It’s simply just the process of using a blender to aerate the wine. The main purpose of hyperdecanting is save time. Sure, traditionalists will mock this approach, but if you’re reading, I’m guessing you aren’t one.

Proper decanting steps include keeping the bottle upright for a period of time before decanting or using a light to determine if any sediment is being transferred. We don’t care about those one bit. So set aside your red wine decanter set, pull out your Vitamix, and fire it up.

The process of hyperdecanting wine

  1. Plug in the blender
  2. Uncork the wine
  3. Pour the wine in the blender
  4. Pick a high setting
  5. Blend for 1-2 minutes
  6. Let the froth settle
  7. Pour into glasses, goblets, or chalices (the gaudier the better)
  8. Drink and enjoy
Two Buck Chuck ready to by Hyperdecanted in a Vitamix
Let's get started

Empty bottle, Vitamix ready to go, I think we are good. Start blending.

Hyperdecanting has created a ton of wine froth
Maximum froth!

One to two minutes of blending the wine will create a ton of froth. You will need to let it settle before doing anything else.

Let the wine settle after blending
Letting the froth settle

Give it a few minutes to let the wine settle. If not, you will probably have more of a mess on your hands than you want.

Now is the fun part, pour it into your favorite glass (or goblet, chalice, etc. if you're into that sorta thing) and enjoy.

Hyperdecanting results

Perhaps it was just some confirmation bias, but I am going to side with the hyperdecanted wine tasting better. I will have to repeat the experiment again with a more independent judge.

The hyperdecanted wine did taste a bit better.
Completely subjective results, but I thought it tasted better

What won’t hyperdecanting do for a two buck chuck?

First off, it’s not like freeze drying food. You should consume the wine immediately, or shortly thereafter.

It won’t turn a cheap red wine into a good red wine. Let’s face it, you couldn’t slide your hyperdecanted two buck chuck past an actual sommelier. But, there is still plenty of room to impress your friends at your next wine tasting party.

For an optimal wine tasting experience

Try a good cheese pairing, say … a rich mahón with some jamón serrano.

As an aside, I’m told that mahón is the "cheddar" of Spain, and, not a bad gift for your cheese of the month club.

Also, if you actually spring for a jeroboam of 1945 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, please please please opt for the Reserva Jamón Ibérico De Bellota.

No need to thank me.

How big is a jeroboam?

A jeroboam is a wine bottle that contains between 4 bottles (3 liters) and 6 bottles (4.5 liters) as it depending on the type of wine.

Tired of Hyperdecanting? Take your wine night up a notch

Maybe it's the holiday season, maybe you are looking for a change - either way, you could try infusing your own vodka. It's a fun way to spice up boring vodka.