Those who are just beginning to serve wine at dinner parties they're hosting in their homes are often confused by the variety of accessories available for serving wine. It can be difficult to tell what is essential and what's a gimmick, so those new to serving wine are urged to stick to the basics. As their knowledge base grows, they'll naturally discover those accessories that work for them.
Wine glasses, or course, should be a part of anyone's collection of wine accessories, but it isn't necessary to start out with several different sets of glasses for different types of wine. Red and white glasses are all that are really needed unless the host is planning on serving dessert wines. Red wine glasses are narrow with a small bowl while white wine glasses are shallower with a wider bowl.
This is because white wine requires a bit more oxidation than red wine in order to be at its best when consumed. The wider bowl exposes a greater amount of the wine to the air. Because dessert wines are highly concentrated, they are generally served in much small glasses than either red or white wine. If a host only serves dessert wines on very rare occasions, red wine glasses can be used, but it should be kept in mind that these glasses should not be completely filled.
Decanters provide aesthetic appeal to the table but aren't really necessary except for those who serve old wines that may have developed sediment. Some hosts use these to allow wine to breathe before serving, but most modern wines don't require breathing times of longer than five or ten minutes. Ornate glass decanters can add a luxurious note to a well-dressed dinner table, however, but it should be kept in mind that diners who are knowledgeable about wine generally prefer being served directly from the bottle so that they can see the label.
Wine holders designed to be attached to walls or placed on the counter are not necessary. In fact, they provide one of the worst places to store wine. exposure to light can harm wine, so even those who don't have actual wine cellars Pennsylvania should find a dark cupboard in which to keep their wine until the time comes to serve it at dinner.