In the last decade or so, various wine glass shapes have hit the market perfect for each wine type. Perhaps you want to enjoy your favorite wine in a glass specifically designed for it or host an incredible wine tasting event with appropriate glasses. Either way, it’s crucial to find the perfect glass to enjoy the full experience.
Size Matters
Whether your wine is red, white, or rosé, aromas play a vital role in wine glass selection. The smaller the bowl, the more difficult it is for those smells to escape. Wine glasses with a larger bowl, however, provide more oxygen to interact with the wine. Additionally, they lend themselves to a simpler swirl, which looks cool and circulates air through the wine, and helps it open up its authentic flavors.
Variety Specific versus Basic Red or White
In the last century, specific glasses have been introduced for almost every primary grape variety. Each wine style has unique characteristics as far as corrosiveness, natural product articulation, tannin, and liquor. Distinctive glass shapes heighten or smooth those attributes.
If you prefer to keep your wine glass selection straightforward, you can use a standard Cabernet wine glass for every red wine and a Chardonnay glass for white wines. However, if you’re looking for an assortment of specific wine glasses, here are the bare essentials for those stems.
Cabernet Sauvignon/Bordeaux
This one is a conventional red wine glass. Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux will generally be high in liquor and tannin. A larger bowl with more stature means there is more distance between the wine and you. This distance makes ethanol scatter on the bottom and permits more oxygen to help the tannins to mollify.
Syrah/Shiraz
Somewhat taller than the Cabernet glass and slightly smaller at the top, this glass is made to center the wine. You will find a lot of air circulation to smooth tannins in these outstanding red wines.
Pinot Noir/Burgundy
The incredibly wide bowl in these wine glasses, in addition to the tightened edge, permits air circulation and concentrates delicate smells. A glass like this exhibits the splendid, rich, organic product of a fine California Pinot Noir.
Chardonnay
This option is your conventional white wine glass. It’s intended for youthful, fresh wines, as the restricted edge holds the nose of exceptionally fragrant white wines. The modest bowl size keeps white wine colder than the enormous bowl utilized for reds.
White Burgundy
Like the Pinot Noir glass, which is more modest in scale, the wide bowl and restricted edge concentrate the smell and allow excellent air circulation on smooth white wines. This shape helps uncover subtle intricacies and offset the rich natural product. This glass is regularly mistaken for the Chardonnay glass.
Sparkling
The Champagne woodwind is all about the air bubbles. This glass keeps the yeasty fragrances centered with its thin design yet permits the bubbling to stay constant and stream longer.
Fortified
These wines are higher in alcohol content than typical still wines. A more modest bowl lessens liquor fragrance and instead features their rich leafy food smells.
One Glass for All
A universal wine glass can be helpful for those who don’t want to worry about having a cupboard full of glasses. Sized between a Chardonnay and a more modest red glass, this option is the most flexible alternative to partake in all of your favorite still and sparkling wines.
The Bottom Line
Utilizing the correct type of wine glass can elevate your wine tasting experience. If you have the flexibility to do so, give it a try!