There are a whole host of wine glasses and wines available on the market, which makes it fairly difficult for you and me to know which glass complements each wine and why, because they don’t tell you on the back of the wine bottle, do they?
Every wine glass has the same flower-shaped design with the three vital components: the base, which holds the glass upright, the stem which allows you to hold the glass without transferring body heat directly to the wine in the glass and finally the body, which is the part specially shaped dependant upon the flavours and aromas of the wine which is presented in it. It is usual for wine glasses be made of crystal or other similar thin glass material, because thick glass is thought to have a negative impact upon the taste of wine. All wine glasses are designed to direct the wine they have been made for into the senses in the mouth where the flavours and textures will be most appreciated.
There are many types of wine glasses, however generally; only four glasses are actually needed.
Red Wine Glasses
Red wine glasses are normally taller and wider, so the complex flavours of the wine can be fully enjoyed. There are two main red wine glasses. Firstly, you have the wine glass for the Bordeaux wine varieties, which has been created for the rich, full bodied wines including Cabernet and Merlot. The large bowl shaped body of the glass allows the wine to breathe once poured and enhances the rich aromas. As the glass is very tall, there is less angle needed when the lip of the glass touches the mouth, hence the wine hits the back of the tongue, where the “bitter” taste buds sit, which complement these types of red wine.
A Burgundy glass is also recommended for other red wines, such as the full bodied Pinot Noir grape. This burgundy glass is slightly larger than the Bordeaux glass and the body of this particular glass allows the wine to reach the tip of the tongue where it’s the “sweet” taste buds are located.
White Wine Glasses
Generally, white wine glasses are made smaller than red wine glasses in order to allow the wine to stay cooler for longer. If you are drinking a younger crisper white wine, you’ll need the lip of the glass to have circumference that’s slightly larger than the body of the glass itself. This will ensure the white wine reached the tip and the sides of the tongue, which is where the sweeter taste buds are situated to make the best out of the wines sweetness. Another wine glass will be required for finer wines or more mature wines. The shape of these white wine glasses will be taller and straighter than those required for the younger wines, which will ensure the wine comes into contact fully with the back and sides of the tongue containing the “sour” and “bitter” taste buds.
Rose Wine Glasses
Rose wine glasses as fairly similar to white wine, however the diameter of their lips are just slightly smaller, but their bodies are wider in order to allow the sometimes fruity aromas to better develop on the nose.
Champagne Flutes and Sweet Dessert Wine Glasses
If you feel like increasing your collection to contain a few more wine glasses, consider a couple of champagne flutes. Champagne flutes have a tall and thin body, which ensures the bubbles build up correctly. Sweet dessert wines, such as Eiswein, require smaller glasses that allow the liquid to make direct contact with the oral cavity making sure the sweetness does not overwhelm the whole tongue in order to limit the flavour to the parts of the mouth where it has the most impact.
A small note to add at the end is that unless you are a wine enthusiast, there is really no need to have numerous glasses for each types of wine. Many wine lovers use one of the seven main wine glasses outlined above, but if you just enjoy drinking wine, you could get away with having one wine glass for each colour. The important thing is to gain enjoyment and pleasure from drinking wine to give you satisfaction.
