In English, people often confuse the words carafe (glass water bottle) and decanter (decanter). Because these two vessels can be used to hold liquids such as wine, and both can be used to decanter, and both have a classical and beautiful curved bottle shape. However, both types of vessels have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Precipitates form during wine aging. The pigments and tannins in red wine combine to form fine particles. White wines are low in pigment and tannin, so there is little precipitation. Although harmless to the body, these deposits can affect the appearance of wine, making it taste bitter and grainy. Therefore, when drinking red wine, especially those with older years, it is usually necessary to decante.

Decanting has two most important functions: exposure to oxygen and release of closed aromas. These two steps allow the aromas in the wine to be released and the taste to be more supple. Decantation can elevate the taste of lighter-bodied white and rosé wines by volatilizing harsh components, such as alcohol. When pouring wine into a carafe and decanter, the wine is exposed to more oxygen, and the design of the decanter allows the wine to be exposed to a large area of oxygen and remove sediment while pouring, so it is suitable for port and red wine. . White and rosé wines are best served in carafe.

Wine "breathes" when poured into a decanter or carafe. Both vessels are shaped to remove sediment and hold wine. The decanter is usually a "long neck and big belly", the bottom is large to facilitate the wine to contact more oxygen, the neck is long and the shoulder width is to further filter out the sediment. A carafe is usually taller and narrower than a decanter, so the wine doesn't have as much oxygen contact as a decanter when pouring it. Some carafes are marked with graduations and are usually used in bars and restaurants.

Today, glass, lead crystal and other bottles are used to store or decanter wine. Because people began to pay attention to the visual beauty of wine, they poured wine into glass or crystal glass to appreciate its wonderful colors.

The materials of decanter and carafe are different, including glass, ceramics, lead crystal glass, etc. Over the centuries, many people have used these vessels to sober up. However, a 1991 study, published in the prestigious medical journal "The Lancet", showed that long-term use of lead crystal glassware to hold liquids could lead to soluble lead in the liquids. It is well known that lead is harmful to the body, especially for pregnant women and fetuses. Although it is not advisable to use other materials to store wine or liquids, although some people only use lead crystal glassware to serve wine.