Wine Glasses
Wine glasses are an integral part of drinking and enjoying wine. While choosing the right wine glass beyond red and white wine glasses may seem to some pedantic, there is good reason to pay attention to the appropriate wine glasses. The wine glass can in effect have a distinct impact on flavour and the way wine is consumed, so the next time you choose a glass to drink your wine, pay attention to the wine glasses.
If you travel to the expert (and very expensive) end of the wine glass scale, you will find there is a different glass for almost every different type of commonly available wine. This means 20 or more glasses specifically and scientifically designed for the different wines hiding in your fridge or cellar.
Even the task of setting out the correct wines with the appropriate glass would take most average wine drinkers a few minutes with an instruction manual. However, not all of us have the scope for this kind of behaviour, so with that in mind, we have identified a few tips to help you choose and understand the reasons for using a particular wine glass.
Use Thin, Clear Glass - Part of wine tasting is appreciating colour, and it is hard to do this with thick or patterned glasses. Crystal glasses are typically the best.
Stemware - Holding the glass by the stem stops your hands warming the wine, so be aware of that of you are a slow drinker.
Wide Bowls For Reds - The wider bowl of the red wine glass allows the wine access to oxygen and helps release the aromas and flavours of the wine. It also allows plenty of room for you to immerse your nose in the aromas.
Narrower Openings For Whites - This allows the fragrance of the relatively lighter white wines to concentrate more so that you can take full advantage. The typically smaller bowl serves to keep the wine cooler, and the more delicate the white, the narrower the glass should be. The generic tulip-shaped glasses are satisfactory for most average wine drinkers.
Long Flutes For Sparkling Wine and Champagne - Other than looking the part, these have a scientific purpose for the wine too. The longer glass serves to keep the wine bubbly and fresh for longer as the bubbles have further to travel before escaping. The glass also directs the wine to the appropriate area on the tongue, so always serve sparkling wine in this type of wine glass.
