Soiree bottle-top Wine Decanter & Aerator

Call me a skeptic, but I really didn't think we would taste a difference in our wine after using the Soiree Aerator, but after reading all the glowing reviews on the internet I figured, "What the heck?" So I ordered it, popped open a bottle of Cabernet and gave it a shot. WOW! It's amazing. So I introduced the concept to my VERY skeptical husband, I did a blind taste test on him and has declared that all wine will now be served through the Soiree in our house. He's actually begun to drink MORE wine, in fact. Over the past few weeks we've done a few more blind taste tests and every time we have picked the aerated wine from the Soiree over the bottle. It removes the harshness from a young wine, the 'vinyl' taste (that's my take on it, anyway,) and leaves a fruity, smooth finish.2/25/2011 Update - Like many others, we shattered our first one. It was so indispensible to us that the next one was ordered within an hour of the disaster. Unfortunately, the Soiree is made of very delicate blown glass that breaks easily, so we're more careful with ours now. The only two negatives I have about the replacement are 1.) the replacement didn't have the larger rubber stopper our first one had (we may have ordered a different model?) but we never used that one anyway and 2.) the replacement's rubber flange was pushed too far up on the neck, so it wouldn't catch into the mouth of the wine bottle (almost broke the replacement 1st time we used it as it fell right out of the bottle!) While it didn't make it unusable, it did prevent the Soiree from making a seal in the bottle neck so we'd have to hold it on with one hand while we poured with the other. As this was one of the reasons I'd selected the Soiree over the Venturi, I almost sent it back for another replacement but the hubby was finally able to work it off so we could move it further down. With the glass being so delicate, I was worried we'd crush the neck working the rubber connector off, but the hubby is a miracle worker and persisted.

In my initial negative review I complained about the Soiree not properly fitting most bottles and falling off. Soiree then offered to send me a new one. I had not asked for or expected this, and certainly would not alter my review only because of that - even though one has to admit that this is exceptional custoumer service. However, they claimed that they revised the design. And right they were. Thus my new review:The "new" Soiree now works as advertides. It now fit all the bottles I have tried it with. I can comfortably pour the bottle updside down without having to worry that the aerator could fall off. Out of the box, the new Soiree worked with Californain, South American, French, Italian and Spanish wine bottles. They also ship two alternative rubber rings to make it fit for different bottles. However, I did not need them yet.The aeration really makes a difference. I can highly recommend it, especially at this price point.For reference, here is the old review:I bought this based on a ton of positive reviews, and I am kind of sad to write a negative review. Unfortunately, the Soiree did not fit most of my bottles - especially those from Spain, as well as other European and South American countries, vintage and current.While the aeration works decently if you hold the bottle straight down, you have to be careful to hold the aerator as well due to the loose fit on most bottles. This makes serving the wine somewhat cumbersome and unelegant. I could live with that, but finally, when handing the bottle to someone, the loose Soiree aerator just tumbled down and burst into a million shards. No one is throwing red wine bottles across a dinner table. This happened during a normal movement, because for a second, I forgot that the Soiree is - as almost always - totally loose...While this is my fault in the first place, I am reluctand to buy a new one since I really blame this on its inability to fit the bottles. Too bad. I liked its filigrane design, the stand, and the idea.

This purchase of the Soiree Aerator is as a replacement for one I accidentally dropped in the sink and broke. We have used the Soiree Aerator for several years now and really love it. When opening a bottle of red wine, we pour about an inch in one glass without the Soiree and then pour an inch in another identical glass using the Soiree. We are always amazed at the difference between glasses in the nose bouquet of the wine and the taste. Sometimes aerating the wine diminishes the nose, but enhances the mouth-feel and flavor, and vice-versa. The taste and smell of the wine depend on how the wine is made and on how well it reacts to being aerated. We also have a Vinturi Aerator. We much prefer the Soiree as it easily attaches to the bottle neck and requires only one hand to pour. (With the Vinturi, you hold the aerator over the glass with one hand and use the other to pour.) The Soiree Aerator does not drip wine and it does a wonderful job of aerating the wine in and around the glass bulb while pouring. It's easy to aim the tip of the Soiree into the glass and fun to watch the wine as it swirls through the bulb. We highly recommend using the Soiree Aerator to enhance red wine, for its ease of use and as a conversation piece. Your guests will love it too! BTW, we find the Soiree works best with the bottle fully inverted.

I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed with this aerator. We attended a party at a friend's house and they had a bottle-top aerator. Coolest thing ever (in the wine drinking category of "cool things"). So I searched the internet but couldn't find the one they had. I decided to go with this one. Pros: it does what it's supposed to do (oxygenates the wine one glass at a time); comes with two rubber inserts (one for cork bottles, the other for twist-cap bottles - although I should say we use the cork bottle insert with our twist-cap bottles without any problem); includes a nice little stand when you're not using it; it looks good and the glass is quality made. So why only three stars? It takes FOREVER to pour a glass of wine (we have only used this for reds). Now I know it has to aerate the wine, but this little baby is ridiculous. That said, we use it every day and will continue to use it because it is a good product.

Looks just the thing as I have not yet used it, but bought it for a Christmas gift. It appears to be identical to the one my son uses so here's hoping.

Ich habe es meinem Freund geschenkt und er erfreut sich wie ein kleines Kind daran!Es sieht wunderschön aus, Unterschiede merke ich nicht am Wein (bin aber auch kein echter Kenner), aber es macht was "her" :-)Ich würde es wieder kaufen!

Brought this as a Christmas present that was a novelty for my son. It was well packed and contained instructions for its use.

This makes a difference to the taste of red wine - for the better

...und originell. Und er wirkt so, wie er soll. Lüftet den Wein und sieht auch nocht gut aus. Umschütten nicht mehr nötig.