Vinesugar : Wine Glossary and Terminology

Wine Glossary Terms: D

decanting: Decanting is the act of pouring the wine from the original bottle into a carafe or other glass container. The reasons for doing so are for two main reasons. One, if you're drinking an unfiltered wine, this is the best way to filter off sediment before serving it. Secondly, decanting also allows the wine to "breathe" through aeration. This helps oxidize the wine releasing it's aromas and flavors.
dry: Dryness is a function of the residual sugar in the finished wine - the drier the wine, the less sugar it contains. Most table wines are dry.