While you can drink wine out of anything, using a good wine glass can make a world of difference in wine tasting. Today, we’re going to look at what makes a good wine glass. Thank you to Wine Folly and Club Enologique for their help with this article.
A Very Cool Study
Wine Folly talked about a Japanese study done in 2015 where they recorded images of ethanol vapors in different glasses. The study showed how different glass shapes affected the density and position of vapors at the openings of different glasses. Since smell likely accounts for 80% of a wine-tasting experience, the vapors that carry aromatic compounds into the nose are critical.
This leads to the fact that certain glass shapes are better for enjoying certain types of wine.
Types of Wine
- Why are white-wine glasses smaller than red-wine glasses? Smaller bowls make it harder for the aroma to escape, ensuring the delicate flavors of white wine are contained within the glass. If tasting from a wider bowl, the aromas can get lost.
- Why are red-wine glasses larger? Red wines typically contain bolder aromas, which need more aeration to release the flavors. A wider bowl allows more oxygen to reach the wine for that very purpose. Also, a wider bowl helps mitigate the bitterness of tannin, which enables a smoother tasting experience.
- Why is Champagne and Sparkling Wine served in narrow flutes? This is the best way to preserve the bubbles.
Rim Thickness
The glass thickness at the rim can impede the smooth flow of wine from glass to mouth. A thin-cut rim with no lip will allow the wine to reach your taste buds more smoothly than if you were drinking from a thicker glass with a rolled lip.
It’s fun to do a taste experiment where you pour the same wine into a thin-rimmed glass and a thick-rimmed glass. Nine times out of ten, you will like the taste out of the thin-rimmed glass better.
Clear Glass
A clear glass enables you to see the true color of the wine as well as its clarity. Color provides a lot of information about the type of grape used and the age of the wine. For example, a darker-colored white wine and a browner red wine would indicate aged wines.
Stems vs. Stemless
This is a personal preference. If you are scared of stems, you need to go stemless. The only downsides of stemless are that you run the risk of increasing the wine’s temperature and you get spots on your glasses.
WineShop At Home’s Stemware
WineShop At Home, the company I’m affiliated with, offers a wonderful set of stemware. Our stems are made in Italy, and they make wine taste amazing. If you’d like to buy some, please visit my website.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with wine glasses.
