How To Choose
Wine Glasses
Choosing wine glasses—also called stemware—is easy with a little knowledge. The shape, size and color of a wine
glass can dramatically affect your perception of the wine that's
contained in it.
Wine’s appeal is not just in its taste and smell, but also in its
visual aspect. The way light plays on the wine, the “legs” on the
inside of the glass when you swirl the wine, and the way aromas are
captured within the glass—and presented to your nose while
drinking—are things to consider when choosing wine glasses.
Wine glasses with larger, broader bowls are traditionally used for
the big red wines, and narrower wine glasses are used to concentrate
the more delicate bouquet of lighter white wines.
Champagne is best served in a tall slender flute. Visual enjoyment
of the bead (bubbles) is enhanced by the height. The once popular
shorter version of the Champagne glass doesn't present the bead to
best advantage or concentrate the aromas.
If you are unsure how
to hold a wine glass, it's very simple: hold it by the stem.
That way the heat in your hand won't warm the wine.
If your budget or available space limits you to one size of wine
glass look for an all-purpose design that holds eight ounces. When
budget and space permit, it is hard to go past
Riedel
Crystal stemware for full tasting pleasure. Riedel have created
over 20 different wine glasses, each designed to bring out the best
in a particular type of wine.
Do not feel intimidated by the range of stemware available …
remember it is better to drink wine from a paper cup than not to
drink wine at all!
And, finally, when pouring wine do not fill the glass too full—one
third to one half full at the most. Leave room to capture the
bouquet and evaluate and enjoy the color of the wine. Discover
how to taste wine.
