Wine Glasses: for More than Just Connoisseurs
Caring about which glass to serve wine in may seem pretentious, but with basic understanding about why each glass complements a certain type of wine, businesses can improve the quality of service they offer their customers. Though a wine glass probably will not make or break a wine drinking experience, serving wine in a glass that suits it can subtly improve the taste, smell, and feel of the wine. Listed below are some of the types of wine glasses available along with information about why they are best for certain types of wines.
Wide Bottomed-Wide Topped
Wide wine glasses are great for wines that should be allowed to “breathe,” such as those with sharp flavors or high alcohol content. The wide shape of the glass allows the air to circulate well across the surface of the wine, rounding out sharp flavors, making it more palatable. White wines such as Chardonnay and red wines such as Bordeaux are typically served in these glasses.
Wide Bottomed-Thin Topped
Smooth red wines with strong, pleasant aromas can be complemented in glasses with a wide bottom and thinner top. The wide bottom allows air to reach the wine, letting it breathe, while the narrow top concentrates the aromas in one area, emphasizing the smell. Science has proven that the smell of a food or drink can directly affect consumers’ taste perceptions, making it important to emphasize the aroma of a fruity wine, such as a Zinfandel.
Brandy Glasses
Dessert wine glasses for sweet drinks such as brandy, Port, and sweet white wines are usually short. The small size holds just a few sips, which is enough to satisfy a sweet tooth due to the sharp sweetness of these wines. The shape is usually easy to hold in the palm of your hand, which warms up the contents of the glass, releasing smells and flavors.
Thin, Tall Glasses
Thin, tall wine glasses typically used for Champagne or Cava allow a minimal surface area for the air to touch the wine. This prevents the bubbles in the wine from escaping too quickly, and helps keep the wine cool for a longer period of time.
Stemless Wine Glasses
Stemless wine glasses give a wine drinking experience a modern feel. However, the stem of the classic wine glass serves a purpose: it gives the drinker something to hold on to without warming up the contents of the glass. Though a wider temperature is acceptable when serving red wines, white wines are usually preferred served cool. (…Read More…)
