Wine Glasses
The best wine glasses heighten the aroma and taste of each wine, unique to the region of the world where the grapes are grown. Wine glasses are the tools a person can use to better unveil all the flavors and scents wines have to offer. The individual essence each wine brings to the senses is heavily sought, and everyone can enjoy an enriching experience with wine glasses paired accordingly.
What is a wine glass?
Wine glasses are designed to enhance a wine’s scent, sight, and taste. The key feature is the bowl or the part of the glass holding the wine itself. A tapered bowl concentrates and distributes the aroma toward the nose, and the bowl elongation allows these scents to linger longer within the glass. A thin glass, crystal or other material is most common to allow the drinker the ability to see nuances in the coloring.
What wine glasses do you pair with each wine?
There are over 20 options for wine glasses, but the majority belong to three glass categories. These are the red wine glasses, white wine glasses, and stemless wine glasses.
- Red Wine Glasses: Red wines have a large variety of flavors but are known for being robust and hearty due to fermentation with the grape skins, unlike white wines. They do well to be paired with similar robust foods, like beef or pasta. Red wine glasses will tend to have larger bowls and corresponding larger rim. The larger bowls ensure more air comes in contact with the wine’s surface area, unearthing and separating aromas and flavors.
- White Wine Glasses: White wines also run a spectrum of flavors, from wide to full bodies, but tend to offer lighter tastes. They do well to be paired with similar light foods, like poultry or fish. White wine glasses tend to have bowls with more tapered bottoms and straighter edges. This accommodates the cooler temperatures at which these wines are commonly served.
- Stemless Wine Glasses: Most glasses without stems are referred to as tumblers. Dessert wines are finding modern use with stemless wine glasses due to the smaller portions and preference of feeling the drink swirling within the glass in hand.
Why is there a stem on wine glasses?
A stem on glassware enables the drinker to hold the glass without warming the wine or smudging the glass. This eliminates visual distortion caused by fingerprints and ensures a better temperature for longer drinking enjoyment. Red wines are often served at warmer temperatures, but they can become unpleasantly warm from being held directly. Glasses with stems are referred to as stemware instead of glassware.
What is a goblet glass for?
The bowl, stem, and foot of goblets are designed the same as wine glasses, except they are typically larger and deeper with a wider rim. Also, a common characteristic is a thicker glass or material making up the bowl. These are frequently found in ceremonial use or when the purpose calls for a larger, sturdier option.