Technology is applying it disruptive powers to decanting wine. Meet the iSommelier (no relation to Apple), possibly the new must-have piece of kit for wine lovers. Of course, the new generation carafe operates with a smartphone app. Its decantation process, which only takes a few minutes, will aerate your wine, soften its tannins and enhance its aromas.

Over the past two years, the world of wine has fully entered the 21st century by coming up with well-designed technological devices for amateurs and professionals alike. In France, wine fans invented what quickly became known as the “Nespresso for Wine”, the “D-Vine,” a machine which serves your favorite tipple by the glass. And Coravin, an American invention, has been talked about around the world because of its system of serving wine without pulling the cork (using a surgical needle).

In mid-November, producers and traders made their way to the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair. This is where iFavine, a French-based company which specializes in innovative wine equipment, chose to launch its latest invention: a smart decanter.

What is iSommelier?

Some wines can require several hours to soften their tannins and bring out their aromas. This can be a problem for both amateurs and professionals. The new technology incorporated into the iSommelier reinvents the aeration process, making it much shorter. The carafe has a tube in the middle through which concentrated and purified oxygen flows. The device’s extraction system removes all the impurities that come from the air (moisture, dust and odors).

In this way, the iSommelier takes just a few minutes to oxygenate the wine, bringing it to “a stage of maturity that would otherwise require years of cellaring”, iFavine says.

The carafe connects to your phone via the iFavine app which can be downloaded from Google Play or the AppStore.

The iSommelier is available in France, China, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and the US at a cost of 1,499 euros. It will soon be sold online in a range of colors at the brand’s online store (www.ifavine.com).

Download the Epicurio app on iTunes or Google Play now, to learn more about wines and purchase your very own bottle, today.