Every wine offers its own unique blend of flavors, aromas and structures. Wine glasses, or stemware, should serve as flavor enhancers, and are just as unique as the wines they hold. The immense array of stemware today can be baffling, but knowing a few important rules can make this choice easy.
First, the wine glass should be thin and clear. Colored or decoratively chiseled wine glasses or frosted or solid glasses, made of pewter or silver, will hinder your ability to appreciate the beauty inherent in the color of your wine. It is preferable to use a polished or cut rim, rather than a beaded or rolled one, as this will allow the wine to slide easily across your lips, making your experience more enjoyable. Wine glasses also vary in size: look for one that allows for a three to five ounce pour, yet leaves room for swirling.
The shape of the glass is the most critical of choices you will have to make. Good stemware tapers in at the top, so that the aperture is narrower than the bowl, allowing the swirling action to release the aromas towards the nose. Finally, a long stem allows you to swirl the wine without leaving finger-prints and to drink and enjoy your wine slowly, without your hands’ heat raising the temperature of the wine.
Traditional red wine glasses come in many sizes, but tend to have a rounded bowl that tapers toward a narrower lip. The wide bowl allows the aromas to concentrate, delivering an enhanced sensory experience, while also giving the wine the space needed to release its complex aromas and flavors. The Bordeaux glass has a wide bowl and tall stature that is perfect for robust red wines, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz that need air after long bottled periods. Soft reds, such as Pinot Noir and Merlot, hold best in a big bowl that narrows slightly at the opening, such as a shorter Burgundy glass.
Like those used for reds, glasses used for white wines encompass a huge range of styles and sizes. A narrower bowl is best to keep the temperature cooler longer while a narrower opening will help the lighter aromas waft out. For full-bodied aged whites, like oak-aged Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon, a Bordeaux glass with a roomy bowl and a narrow opening will allow the rich flavors and aromatic components to open up and be fully appreciated.
Delicate and sweeter white wines, like Riesling, Pinot Grigio and Gewurztiminer, are best served in smaller glasses with a narrow bowl and opening, allowing the wine onto the tip of the tongue where the sweetness and subtle flavors can be best enjoyed.
Champagnes, and other sparkling wines, are best served in tall, slender glasses known as flutes. The shape provides space for the bubbles to circulate, but its narrow stem also allows you to hold the glass without raising the champagne’s temperature.
“When it comes to glasses, many people get overwhelmed quickly. There are too many rules to follow; it can seem confusing. Honestly, figure out what type of wine you like best and buy the glass that best complements it,” suggests Sommelier xxx of xx Wines in xx, xx.
The right stemware can enhance and make your wine tasting experience more enjoyable. Learning a little bit about the correct glass to use for each wine will ensure the best tasting possible. Stop into any Wine Masters retail location to ask the Certified Sommelier for more information on glasses. For a complete list of locations, click here.
