Who would have thought a simple glass could make a difference in whether you like a wine? Some would argue a glass is a glass is a glass. Well, it is, but as far as wine is concerned, the type of glass, the type of glass the glass is made of, and the shape of the glass are huge in terms of how the wine will taste. Here's five reasons why:
1. The Smell (or, in wine parlance, the nose): Just as aromas are important in food dishes, so is in wine. Suppose you're using a coffee cup for your nightly glass of white wine, well, not so much. Wine glass shapes are manufactured specifically to funnel aromas right to your nose so you get an olfactory picture of what's going on with the wine.
2. The Flavor: Wine glasses are designed so you get maximum flavor when the wine hits your tongue. Well-designed red wine glasses deliver a flavor punch right to the center of your tongue; white wine glasses hit your tongue where you can appreciate the zing that white wine delivers.
3. The Temperature: The glass wine stems prevent your hand from overheating the wine. (I know – stemless wine glasses are a thing (although there has been less of one lately for this reason).
4. The Look: You need to be able to see your wine – opaque glassware just doesn't do the trick. You can deduce a lot about a glass of wine just by looking at it. You can tell the age of the wine, how much oak is in the wine, and wine faults such as a lot of sulpher (it will be cloudy), so good visual capability is a big deal.
5. The Air: All wines need a little air, some more than others, particularly big red wines. Again, a well-crafted glass can make a huge difference in whether a wine tastes a little tight or just right.
Dissecting a Wine Glass
Since we're on the subject, the wine glass parts are critical to how a wine will taste:
The Bowl: The bowl's size and shape decide how much air will hit your wine – huge because it can either mellow out or boost flavors. Red wine benefits from big bowls because it allows oxygen to smooth out the wine. White wine doesn't have the same requirements, so smaller bowls are appropriate.
The Stem: Important for not overheating the wine (and they look cool).
The Base: Gives stability to the glass (keeps it from dumping said wine into your lap).
I decided the easiest way to advise what type of wine glass and how many is by budget and how much space you have to store glasses. Glasses can be expensive, and some would have you believe you need 10 different types.
Small Budget & Small Space:
Recommended Glassware:
Universal Wine Glass
You can get by comfortably with what is termed a universal wine glass. The bowl in the glass is big enough to accommodate red and white wine and sparkling. There are several very affordable options: you can go expensive or moderate. I recommend buying a few extra ones when you purchase – wine glasses are hard to match after the fact, and everyone has friends with slippery fingers.
Medium Budget & Medium Space
Champagne Flute
Red Wine Glass
White Wine Glass
Champagne flutes are a must if you drink sparkling wine in any quantity (I'm talking more than a bottle or two a month). To add even more complexity to the subject, there are three types of Champagne glasses: Flutes, Coupes, and Tulips. Flutes are tall and narrow to capture every last bubble; Coupes are shallow and wide, which is good for older vintages, but lose the bubbles quickly. Tulips are good for capturing both aromas and effervesces. My pick is a classic flute; they are elegant, easy to find, and replace since they are the easiest to break all wine glasses.
White wine glasses are typically smaller, particularly the bowl, and more slender than red wine glasses to help preserve the wine's cooler temperature and delicate aromas. The smaller bowl reduces the wine's exposure to air, which helps maintain its crispness and freshness. The narrower design also directs the wine to specific parts of your palate, enhancing white wines' acidity and bright, fruity flavors. There are two main white wine glasses: a smaller-looking version of a Universal wine glass designed for light-bodied white wine and a full-bodied white wine glass with a bigger bowl for bigger white wines such as oaked Chardonnays or Viognier. I recommend the smaller glass because I drink more light-bodied white wines.
Red wine glasses are generally taller, with bigger bowls than white wine glasses because red wine is, well, bigger and needs more air. There are three main red wine glasses: light-bodied red wine glasses for wines such as Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Nebbiolo; full-bodied wine glasses for wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot wines; and a medium-bodied glass for wines such as Malbec or Rosé. You may want to have two red wine glasses available if you regularly enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.
Big Budget & Gobs of Space
Champagne Flute
Full-bodied Red Wine Glass (Bordeaux)
Medium-bodied Red Wine Glass (Burgundy)
White Wine Glass (Light-Bodied)
Dessert Wine Glass
Again, I would advise sticking to a traditional Champagne flute. I would buy an extra two to six since they tend to break more easily than other glasses.
Full-bodied red wine glasses (sometimes referred to as Bordeaux glasses) are typically the largest wine glasses of the bunch, with good reason. These glasses have a larger surface area to let ethanol (alcohol) evaporate, they deliver more aromas, and the wider opening makes the wine taste smooth. The correct glass to serve big reds, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, makes a big difference. No one wants to end up with a snoot-full of alcohol.
Medium-bodied red wine glasses (sometimes called Burgundy glasses) have a bigger bowl than full-bodied red wine glasses. They're best for more aromatic red wines like Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Valpolicella. The bigger bowl does a better job of capturing these aromas that add to the flavor of the wines.
I've added dessert wine glasses to this budget. I would be lost without these glasses because I regularly serve Port and dessert wines. Dessert wine glasses are smaller with a short stem and compact bowl, made to handle the bold flavors and sweetness of dessert wines. Since these wines are intense, you don't need a big pour, and the narrow bowl helps balance the sweetness while concentrating the aromas. These types of glasses aim to enhance the layered flavors without going overboard. Perfect for sipping on Port, Sauternes, or Moscato after a meal.
What To Buy and Where To Buy It
Check out their wine glass offerings on Amazon or your favorite home goods store. Googling the wine glass descriptions in this blog (red wine glass, Bordeaux glass, etc.) should also give you a supply of resources to check out. I recommend allocating the biggest part of your budget to the glasses you'll use the most. You might also want to consider titanium glasses. They're expensive, but they do last. If your budget allows, some brands to consider are Riedel and Schott Zwieselt (my favorite).
Care and Feeding
After investing in your wine glasses, you must be prepared to baby them. We don't machine-wash our glasses, just as a rule. You can never totally remove the smell of the dishwashing tablets; the glasses are much more prone to breakage. Trust me, it will break your heart if you have to throw away the beautiful glasses you bought because the dishwasher decided to play handball. Wine glasses amplify aromas (that's part of their job), so use dishwashing soap sparingly and lots of warm water to rinse, or it will seem as if you're serving Dawn. In fact, some wine experts recommend washing your glasses with white vinegar. I don't recommend this method because your glasses never seem clean and bad if you're a germaphobe coming out of COVID-19.
I hope this helps you choose your glasses. It can be an investment, but with a little T&C, your glasses can be used for years.
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