Wine Glasses Make a Difference

Peter at Little Raven Vineyards sent this via email recently and it is a good reminder that glasses make a difference. Stopping by the store or sending an email will reward you with other good ideas for finding delicious wines. Thanks to Peter and Team for sharing!!

Wine yearns to be adored for its looks, its smell, and its flavor. In order to achieve this balance and bring out the distinct characteristics of each style of wine, match the shape of your glass to the kind of wine you are pouring.

The proper size and shaped wine glass can:

• Brings the appropriate intensity of aromas for different wines
• Direct wines to specific parts of the tongue
• Emphasize fruitiness
• Emphasize tannin
• Keep Champagne and sparklers from going flat

How does the type of wine glass used affect the taste of wine?

Sources as varied as the University of Tennessee and the Wall Street Journal (November 18, 1999) among others, have reported that the shape of a wine glass can have an effect on various chemicals found in wine that affect taste.

It does this by controlling the amount of wine surface area that is exposed to the air. The size of the bowl determines how much or how little liquid can be swirled, which affects the exposure. The shape and thickness of the rim directs the wine to specific parts of the tongue with different taste sensitivities. Finally, the diameter of the opening concentrates or expands the rising aroma or bouquet.

Wine Glasses for Reds:

The Bowl: Wider
The bigger flavors in reds need to spread out. The wider bowl also lets in more air, which releases bold aromas and flavors.

The Opening: Wider
Dip your nose into the wider bowl to get a load of more complex aromas. The opening should be tall and straight in order to direct the wine to the back of the mouth, so that the tannins, when present, stimulate the inner parts of the mouth, and not the gum. The astringency on the gum can cause an unpleasing tactile sensation.

Tip: When pouring wines, keep the wine level to the lower one-third the glass. This leaves lots of air and swirl room, both of which enhance the enjoyment of your wines. Big Reds (Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz): Get a big bowl and a big opening. Soft Reds (Pinot Noir, Merlot):
Get a big bowl that narrows a tinge at the opening.

Wine Glasses for Whites:

The Bowl: Narrower
The smaller capacity helps keep temperatures cool longer.

The Opening: Narrower
The lighter aromas waft well in a narrower glass.

Spirited Whites (Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay): Get a bowl with a little room that narrows slightly at the opening.

Delicate Whites (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztiminer): Get a narrow bowl and a narrow opening. A narrower opening directs the liquid mainly to the tip of the tongue, more sensitive to sweetness. This type of glass emphasizes the perception of delicate and fruit aromas of young wines.

Wine Glasses for Sparklers:

The Bowl: Narrow & Tall
The champagne flute should have the narrowest bowl to preserve the bubbles of sparkling wine and its chill.

Practical Notes:
Most wine drinkers can quite adequately get by with just two or three different types of wine glasses – a standard glass for whites, something a little larger, perhaps, for reds, and of course a flute or similar style for Champagne or sparkling wine. If you plan to serve several types of wine but don’t want to shell out the cash or don’t have the space to store multiple types of glassware, buy the generic tulip-shaped wine glasses.

One Final Note . . . The Wash:

Wash your wine glasses in hot water only. Soap can build up inside the glass and affect a wine’s flavor.

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Tags: Denver wine shops, Little Raven Vineyards, wine glasses