Wine
Glasses or Stemware
Come
to Your Senses With the Right Wine Glass
When
the shelves at the chic little housewares boutique are lined
with espresso spoons, cheese forks, and beer plates, it’s
easy to think they are just trying to get another buck out
of you.
On
the other hand, sometimes these fancy tools for the trade
make your food and drink experiences genuinely tastier.
When it comes to using the right stemware for a particular
type of wine, they’re not yanking your chain. The
right glass absolutely brings out all the right stuff in
the right wine.
A
good wine yearns to be adored for its looks, its smell,
and its flavor and, therefore, holds so much delicious potential
for the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Professor
Claus J. Riedel was the first glass designer to recognize
that the bouquet, taste, balance and finish of wines are
affected by the shape of the glass from which they are drunk.
He
worked with experienced tasters to determine aspects such
as:
- Which
sizes brings the appropriate intesity of aromas for different
wines
- Which
shapes direct wines to specific parts of the tongue
- Which
shapes and sizes emphasize fruitiness
- Which
shapes and sizes emphasize tannin
- Which
shapes keep Champagne from going flat
- etc.
The
whole approach is not about correcting flaws in certain
styles of wines, but of achieving balance in bringing out
the distinct characteristics of each style of wine.
Today,
the Riedel collections of wine glasses are considered the
finest in the world in regards to matching the right glass
with various wines. Visit
the Riedel website for a more scientific explanation
of their approach.
The
Riedel Sommelier Collection is hand blown and very expensive,
but drinking out of these incredibly thin, crystal glasses
is like drinking wine from a delicate rose petal.
Below
are some sample wine glasses with the corresponding wines
from the Riedel glass company.
Don't
see the wine you are looking for? Try their wine
and glass guide.
If
you are wondering where you can purchase this fine crystal,
I recommend the Wine
Enthusiast.
If
you are not interested in Riedel crystal, but would like
some general tips on the size and shape of glass for the
different wines, see text below.
Basic
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Glass for Your Favorite Wines:
The
Glass: Thin and clear
To
appreciate the beauty of wine, get glasses that are not
colored or decoratively chiseled. It's hard to explain (with
words) the difference between thin crystal and thick glass.
You have to experience it to understand.
The
Stem vs. Stemless Tumblers
Personally,
while I can appreciate the stylish good looks of the modern
stemless tumbler, I am still partial to stemware.
Here's
why:
- I
enjoy seeing the colors of the wine as I twirl it around
without looking at fingerprints. (I know... I'm it's very
anal of me!)
- I
drink fairly slowly and don't like my hands warming up
the wine too quickly.
To
be fair though, not every occasion is a formal one, and
it's fun to be trendy from time to time.
Wine
Glasses for Reds:
The
Bowl: Wider
The bigger flavors in reds need to spread out. The
wider bowl also lets in more air, which releases bold aromas
and flavors.
The
Opening: Wider
Dip your nose into the wider bowl to get a load of
more complex aromas.
Tip:
When pouring wines, keep the wine level to the lower one-third
the glass. This leaves lots of air and swirl room, both
of which enhance the enjoyment of your wines.
BIG REDS (Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz):
Get a big bowl and a big opening.
SOFT REDS (Pinot Noir, Merlot):
Get a big bowl that narrows a tinge at the opening.
Wine
Glasses for Whites:
The
Bowl: Narrower
The
smaller capacity helps keep temperatures cool longer.
The
Opening: Narrower
The
lighter aromas waft well in a narrower glass.
SPIRITED
WHITES
(Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay):
Get
a bowl with a little room that narrows slightly at the opening.
DELICATE
WHITES (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztiminer):
Get
a narrow bowl and a narrow opening.
Hint:
If you plan to serve several types of wine but don’t
want to shell out the cash for several types of glassware,
buy the generic tulip-shaped wine glasses.
One
Final Note... The Wash:
I
recommend always washing your wine glasses in hot water
only. Soap can build up inside the glass and affect a wine’s
flavor.
Now
that you have some of the facts, you can decide for yourself
whether to buy into a range of stemware.
The
right wine glasses can really boost the wine-tasting experience
and make your senses gush. That’s definitely saying
something when you’re spending a pretty penny to get
a quality wine.
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