Wine Glass Wisdom

Have you ever been drinking in a restaurant and commented on how lovely the wine glasses are? I have a sneaky feeling you have, and I bet it made the wine tasting experience a whole lot better.

It’s not just the aesthetics that are important either. The shape, the height, even the thickness of the glass are all factors that can alter the taste and smell.

Red wines tend to be more commonly associated with bowl shaped glasses, white wines often go in ‘U’ shaped glasses and sparkling wine pairs up with flutes.

To have a true wine tasting experience we must explore these glasses and the uses of them, before putting it to the test and tasting the difference.

Red Wine

The bowl-shape is most commonly associated with red wines, complementing the full-bodied nature of the flavour. The large opening allows the wine to aerate and drive the aromas towards the nose — something that is key to the overall experience. Red wine glassware usually has shorter stems because unlike white wine, they are served at room temperature so can be held by the bowl.

The Bordeaux glass is taller than traditional red wine glasses and is designed for heavier red wines like Merlots and Cabernets. This propels the wine to the back of the mouth maximising the flavour.

The burgundy glass has a larger bowl and is designed for lighter wines like Pinot Noir. This allows the more delicate flavours to be directed to the tip of the tongue where the taste buds are most sensitive.

White Wine

The ‘U’ shape glass offers the wine less exposure to oxygen and often has a smaller bowl to maintain the crisp, cold temperature of the wine. It suits softer-bodied wines and typically has a longer stem, encouraging the drinker to hold the stem rather than the bowl.

A tall wine glass with a petit bowl highlights lighter wine notes like citrus. This is perfect for a wine like Sauvignon Blanc because it keeps the fruity aromas in the top part of the glass.

A slightly tapered glass is ideal for crisp wines like Pinot Grigio.

Rosé Wine

Stemmed glasses with a short bowl, flared lip and a slight taper are perfect for rosés. The flared lip allows the fruity flavour to be emphasised and again, drives the wine onto the tip of the tongue. The glass gives crisp wines a more balanced flavour and minimises bite.

Sparkling Wine

Champagne flutes are upright and narrow, retaining the bubbles of the drink. Flutes with a slightly tapered top and narrow bottom are ideal for more mature bubbly wines.

Dessert Wine

Dessert wines such as port, Madeira and sherry are served in shorter glasses which directs the wine to the back of the mouth, to slightly numb the sweetness. As the dessert wines are a higher percentage, the smaller glasses encourage a smaller serving.

So now it’s time for the best bit — the part the Vinoforo team does best. Tasting a whole bunch of new organic wines using the appropriate glassware. See if you can taste the difference.