1. Straight tube small mouth old wine decanter
This type of decanter sometimes comes with a stopper, mainly for use when changing old wine bottles. Because the small mouth can control the amount of air entering, the straight tube shape allows the liquor to come into contact with the air as little as possible. Old wine has gone through the sedimentation of time, and can be consumed with just a few breaths. If exposed to a large amount of air, it can accelerate oxidation and lead to death.
Applicable to: aged liquor (generally aged for more than 30 years).
2. A boat shaped decanter with a large belly and wide mouth
This is the most common type in the market. The purpose of this decanter is to allow the wine to come into full contact with the air, accelerate oxidation, and thus release the aroma of the wine itself more quickly and weaken the converging tannins.
Suitable for: full-bodied red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Tempranillo.
3. Alien decanter
At first glance, these types of decanters look really nice and exquisite, but they are really not easy to clean. Many times, they are just a handicraft in your display cabinet.
4. Deep and long decanter
This type of decanter has a narrow bottom and a long neck, and is generally used for some medium to low bodied or full-bodied white wines. The deep and long shape can be placed in an ice bucket to cool down, while also allowing the wine to breathe.
Suitable for: low to medium bodied red wines such as Merlot, Pinot Noir, etc. It is also suitable for some full-bodied white wines (such as Chardonnay from Mont Hazel).