The Wine Glass Matters

Reasons Why The Wine Glass Matters

There are many reasons that the wine glass matters. First, the glass needs to be large enough to capture the aromas. See the picture above of the Bordeaux style red wine glass. Notice how little wine is in the large glass. That is important! Pour no more than a third of the glass at a time to allow plenty of room for it to capture the aromas. A Bordeaux glass means it is for cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and blends. You can teach yourself to recognize aromas by putting fruit and other things in a glass. Close your eyes and try to tell them apart. See the picture below. The last two are aromas that come from aging wine in oak barrels. And, the proper word is aroma for most wines. The word bouquet is reserved for older wines that have been aged in your cellar.

The Shape Matters

Wine glassed are designed and shaped to deliver the wine to the desired part of your mouth or palate. Science found its way into wine glasses. If you alter the shape, you send the wine to different parts of your mouth. And, that is why there are glasses for each of the most popular varietals. Riedel company makes excellent wine glasses. However, they are rather expensive. They make a great gift for special occasions. You can buy sets of four. At least, buy them a little at a time until you have about 8-12 each of chardonnay and Bordeaux styles. And, you buy the other shapes later if you desire. I like their Performance Series in the picture below. Also, they are from left to right intended for spirits/dessert, riesling, chardonnay, sparkling wine, syrah/shiraz, cabernet/merlot and pinot noir.

More Science On Why The Wine Glass Matters

Glass is microscopically pitted. Therefore, it helps aerate the wine when you swirl it. This is why expensive glasses exist. The swirling exposes more of the wine to the air inside the glass and allows the aroma to blossom. Swirling is an art. Practice with the base on a flat surface and swirl it. Also, practice while holding it. The latter takes more practice. Also, notice the wine dripping from the top. It is referred to as legs. And, the more legs you see, the more alcohol is in the wine. And, wash your glasses by hand carefully. Do not hold the stem. Wash with hot water only. Rinse thoroughly and air dry on a raised rack to allow the water to drip out. Do not put your glasses in a dishwasher! Use no soap, because the residue may alter the taste of the next wine.

Stemless Glasses

Stemless glasses are nice looking. And, they are easier to hold and swirl. However, they cause some issues. First, your hand is warm and will cause the wine to warm up. That will cause chilled wines to get warmer quickly. Also, red wines should be served at 60-65 degrees. Therefore, the same issue happens with reds. I don’t recommend them.

Note- NEVER pick up your wine glass when dining if the server wants to pour more wine into your glass. Etiquette says that the server needs to reach and pour without touching the glass. Also, you might accidentally drop the glass and that is definitely not good.

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