How To Choose A Wine Glass Style
Pour your favorite reds, whites and rosés into stylish wine glasses from Crate and Barrel. From entertaining guests to simply relaxing at the end of the day, our stemware makes a chic presentation for a great glass of wine. We offer wine glasses for all wine types to bring out the distinct flavors and aromas of cabernets, champagnes and other favorites. For more casual serving, try our modern stemless wine glasses. These contemporary glasses are a relaxed alternative to traditional styles. You can choose from stemware in sets, or opt for single glasses to create your own collection. Learn more about the glass styles we offer.
Red Vs White Stemless Glasses
When it comes to stemless red and white glasses, most of the same qualities are present as in their stemmed counterparts. Stemless white glasses are smaller and narrower, while red stemless glasses have the traditional large, open bowl shape.;
Red wines are more suited to stemless glasses because they are best served between 54 to 65°. This means the warmth from your hand is less likely to impact the flavor and characteristics while in the glass.
How We Tested The Wine Glasses
At the risk of sounding like a total lush, we tested, and tested, and tested these glasses. We used, among others, the following benchmark wines: Left Bank Bordeaux, White Burgundy, Barolo, California Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel, Chilean Pinot Noir, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, white Bordeaux, northern Rhône Syrah, Aglianico, Argentinian Malbec, Austrian Grüner Veltlier, and dry German Riesling. It should be noted, of course, that we had a few weeks to do the testing! The best and only way to compare glassware is to pour a small sample into each glass, and compare the following factors.
How does the glass enhance or suppress the aromas of the wine. There was a marked difference in the experience of the wine depending on the glass, so the answer to the age-old question does glassware matter? is YES!
Although it really followed the line with aroma because most of flavor is driven by our sense of smell, we did check to see if the flavor differed based on the glass and if that was different from the aroma. Spoiler alert: No, so that means aroma alone was enough to make a judgment on quality of the glass.
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Why Are There Different Types Of Wine Glasses
The investment in stemware is about taking the time to find the perfect pairing for your wine. The right glass will focus on the best of the grape and showcase the expression of the winemaker, while the wrong one will result in closed or hot aromas and muted flavors.
Recent scientific evidence shows how the glass shape directly affects the position of vapors, and subsequently aromatic compounds, up the rim of a glass. A Japanese medical group, using a special camera recorded the varying density and location of ethanol vapors when a glass is swirled, and what they captured was something long believed by the wine community. The glass really does matter.
Whether its a longer stem or a wider bowl, each design difference has a purpose, to better display the characteristics of the wine it has been designed for.
Does It Really Matter What Types Of Wine Glasses You Have
McKenzie Hagan | April 02, 2020
While many wine lovers recognize the difference between white wine glasses and red wine glasses, most people dont realize the enormous variety of glassware that exists.
As it turns out, different types of wine have specific types of wine glasses designed to let the drinker appreciate the full breadth of flavors and aromas.
While you can drink wine out of anything, to fully experience and taste your wine, you may want to invest in a range of wine glasses.
In this article, well guide you through why glassware matters and the different types of wine glasses you may want to use for your next sip.
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Different Kinds Of Red Wine Glass
Although it is widely accepted that red wines benefit from a larger glass, some types of red benefit from minute changes in glass shape.
The tallness of a wine glass is thought to allow the wine to proceed directly to the back of the mouth, which allows more bitter flavours to shine. A Bordeaux glass is tall with a broad bowl, designed for full bodied red like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah as it directs wine to the back of the mouth.
A Burgundy glass, on the other hand, has a bigger bowl to pick up on aromas of more delicate red wines such as Pinot Noir. This style of glass directs wine to the tip of the tongue.
Best Overall: Riedel Vinum Viognier/chardonnay Glasses
Courtesy of Liquor.com
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Delicate
Expressive, low-acid wines thrive in Riedels 12.38-ounce crystal VINUM Viognier/Chardonnay glasses. This particular collection was first launched in 1986, but the glassware company has been around since the mid-18th century and is credited with pioneering varietal-specific stemware. The mouth of this particular glass is not too narrow, designed to direct the flow of liquid to the desired area of the palate for optimized tasting based on its designated wine style. The VINUM lines Viognier and Chardonnay glasses also work well for Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio/Gris/Blanc, and more. Theyre also dishwasher-safe for your convenience.
Generally speaking, its smart to keep glassware specific to medium and fuller-bodied white wines as they can easily stand in as light-bodied red wine glasses, making them ideal for transitioning through a coursed meal.
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Types Of Red Wine Glasses
Red wine glasses have larger, wider bowls, bringing more oxygen into contact with the wine. This allows the wine to breathe more, releasing the complex flavours and aromas of the wine.
Cabernet/Merlot glasses have an average-length stem, a wide base, and a large bowl that tapers slightly at the top. This is a glass designed to get a lot of oxygen in contact with the wine to bring out the fruit flavours and lessen the tannins.
Syrah/Shiraz glasses are smaller than most red wine glasses. The rim sharply tapers inward from the bowl, which helps to bring out the fruit aromas first and the tannins after.
Pinot Noir glasses can have a rim that is turned out, directing the intense wine flavours straight to your nose and tongue. It has a shorter stem than other glasses, but a large bowl that is the widest of any wine glass.
Does Wine Glass Shape Really Affect Taste
Yes. The shape of your glass really can affect how the wine tastes. This isnt snobberyits science.
A Japanese study from 2015 recorded images of ethanol vapors coming from different glasses. The researchers found that the shape affected the density and the position of the vapors.
These vapors are essential to how the wine tastes when it reaches your tongue. As you likely learned in school, your sense of taste starts with your sense of smell.
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Port & Dessert Wine Glasses
Port and dessert wine glasses are designed to accentuate the sweet, higher-alcohol content flavors of the beloved after-dinner beverages. Due to the higher sugar and alcohol content, port and dessert wines can easily overwhelm the palate, so they are served in much smaller glasses. The compact shape also helps to concentrate flavors and the richness of aromas.
Port glasses make a wonderful gift, and are a must-have for any well-stocked home bar. These Riedel Vinum Port Glasses from Wine Enthusiast are the ideal choice. The slender bowl and narrow rim work in harmony to highlight the richness and sweetness of port, while preventing an overconcentration of alcoholic aromas. This is the port glass you need to truly appreciate the aroma, complex flavors, and lingering finishes that this varietal has to offer.
Types Of Wine Glasses
Learn about the 18 different types of wine glasses with photos and illustrated charts showing the shape and style of each type of wine glass. Includes different types of red, white and dessert wine glasses.
Most people have one, maybe two set of wine glasses online for all types of wine. This is generally more than sufficient.
However, if you wish to take your wine appreciation to the next level, one step to take is to learn about the different types of wine glasses and buy sets for each type of wine you serve.
Below youll find custom illustrated charts, photos and write-ups showing and explaining your wine glass options.
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Finding The Right Glass For Your Wine Is Easy With The Help Of This Simple Guide
Navigating the world of wine glasses can be particularly daunting. For those with enthusiasm for libations of the fermented grape kind, but are far from experienced connoisseurs, knowing where to begin can be a challenge. However, even wine drinkers unversed in Oenology can appreciate the difference between slurping tepid white wine from a plastic cup and sipping that same label, chilled in a sparkling crystal glass. To go into more detail and ensure that you know your thin-rimmed flutes from your machine-made goblets, this guide will share the different glasses which are suitable for the different wines.
What Is The Right Glassware For White Wine
6th December 2017
We have already delved into the world of glassware by discussing the right glasses for red wine. Having the right glass accentuates the wines full flavour potential, which allows you to get the most out of your wine.
The glassware used for white wines differs from the glasses used for red wine. After all, red and white wines are not the same, possessing different features and bouquets that are best enjoyed with the appropriate glassware.
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What Makes A Nice Wine Glass
A nice wine glass is the one that gives you the best value.;
It should be large enough with a capacity of at least 20 ounces to have a large surface area, but slim enough so you can taste the wine and not the glass, and a long stem so you can hold it properly. Also, it should be slightly tapering at the rim so the aroma is directed to the nose.;
Types Of Champagne Glasses/sparkling Wine Glasses
Not sure what glasses to serve your champagne or sparkling wine in?
Champagne glasses are known as flutes, thanks to their tall, slender, taper-free design. The glass keeps the bubbles and liquid on the tip of your tongue, giving you the aromas upon your first sip.
The narrow style is the best glass for Prosecco, most champagnes and other sparkling wines. For vintage champagnes, or richer non-vintage champagnes, there is a move toward wider bowls, or even using smaller white wine glasses. This is to allow the richer, more complex flavours to develop. The wide base keeps the tall glass stable.
The old-fashioned coupe style champagne glasses may look nice, but could hardly be less suitable for fizz. The wide opening means the bubbles dissipate quickly, and the shallow bowl means its very easy to spill!
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Syrah / Shiraz / Sangiovese / Malbec Red Wine Glasses
This glass style is shorter than the above with a smaller bowl, designed for medium to full-bodied red wines; harsh flavours and spice are softened because the wine is designed to hit your palette more gradually from the smaller opening. The narrower bowl tends to taper slightly more, which helps to trap the aroma.
Fusion Air Bordeaux Wine Glasses
Our Fusion Air Bordeaux glasses are designed to maximize balance in heavy, full-bodied red wines. These glasses direct wine to the center of the tongue, which creates a notable and distinguished harmony between tannins, fruit notes, and acidity. In addition to the traditional Bordeaux style of wine, we suggest the Fusion Air Bordeaux glasses for Petite Sirahs, Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs, and even Malbecs.
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What To Look Out For When Buying White Wine Glasses
As a general rule, white wines are best served in a glass with a narrower bowl, as the smaller size helps to preserve the fruity flavors by keeping the wine at optimal temperature. These glasses are often just referred to as traditional white wine glasses, and are slightly tulip shaped.
These small-bowled wine glasses are perfect for white wines with low body and high acidity, as the small shape lets the drinker experience the full breadth of the acidic qualities. Wines such as Riesling, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc taste best in these traditional glasses.
However, full-bodied white wines, such as Chardonnay, are highly aromatic, so they benefit from a wider rim and a rounder bowled glass. Our advice? Rather than splashing out on specific Chardonnay glasses, serve yours in a Bordeaux glass and save your money.
If youre looking for the perfect gift for your wine loving pal, dont rush over to Etsy. While stemless wine glasses may look cute this is one trend we cant get behind.;
The problem is, stemless glasses force the drinker to hold the bowl, meaning the warmth of their hand actually heats the wine. As we know, white wine is best served slightly cooler, so these cute wine accessories could actually affect the taste of your vino.
Instead, check out high quality wine manufacturers, such as Zalto, Libbey, Riedel, or Zwiesel to bag yourself a glass collection you can be proud of.
Our Favorite Sparkling White Wine Glasses
For sparkling wines, Champagne flutes are our top pick. While there is some disagreement over this in the wine industry, we believe that the long thin bowl of the glass is perfect for keeping our wines bubbly.
This is because the small surface area of the glass gives the wine less time to oxidize, keeping it sparkling for longer. Plus, for a special occasion theres nothing quite like a flute full of Champagne.
As long as the bowl is skinny and the stem is long , good flutes are easy to find. Wayfair has a wide selection of quality dinnerware to discover, including glass sets, , and more.
A couple of our top picks include:
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What Is The Difference Between Red And White Wine Glasses
Youre probably well aware that there are many different types of wine glasses out there. You may even know a bit about different types of wine glasses & their use for different types of wine. But do different wine glasses make wine taste better? Will your sparkling wine taste entirely different when served in a tall, slender flute than in a large bulb goblet? According to the experts, the answer is yes.
Glasses designed to hold red wine are notated by their height and generous bowl size. Overall, theyre simply larger than a white wine glass. This is not because theyre meant to hold a larger serving. Red wines simply do better with a bit of extra space to breathe. The wider bowl also makes it easier for the consumer to experience the bouquet of the wine. White wine glasses are generally shorter in stature and have a narrower bulb. Then, of course, there is the tall, thin flute that is used for champagnes and other sparkling wines.
Slightly Less Money But Still Great: Riedel Veritas
Okay, so, its no Zalto, but the Riedel Veritas is half the cost and was a consistent runner-up in test after test. This glass is still fragile thanks to a spindly stem the company has become known for, but the leaded crystal has a slightly sturdier construction than the Zalto while still boasting a narrow rim that feels luxurious and comfortable for sipping.
The Pinot Noir glass did equally well with red Burgundy, Nebbiolo, Bordeaux and more tannic reds. Fuller whites were even slightly better in this one than in the Zalto. The white wine glass enhances the aromas of German Riesling, Italian whites like Fiano, and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
The Veritas does exactly what a great glass should do: allow ample swirling room and enhance the wines natural characteristics for both the white glass and the red. The difference between this and the Zalto, for reds specifically, is that the Veritas doesnt add the nuance and subtleties the Zalto does. It doesnt improve the wine or allow the more intricate notes to come out. But what it lacks in whatever magic of the Zalto is, it makes up for in affordability and the fact that this glass is less nerve-racking to drink from. That said, Riedel claims these are dishwasher-safe, but unless you plan to make these stemless glasses , the stem is imminently breakable. These have to be hand-washed.
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Why Are There Different Glasses For Wine
The different wine glasses are designed to highlight the characteristics and nuances of each wine type. The most important to emphasize are the aromas and flavors of the wines.;
The softening of the tannins and diffusion of sulfites also play into the wine glass design. Nuances such as the nose, bouquet, and hints of different types are also emphasized with the right wine glass.
Bordeaux / Cabernet / Merlot Red Wine Glasses
This glass style is the tallest, and the bowl shape is designed for bold red wines, such as Bordeaux, Cabernet and Merlot. A broad base and medium/large stem hold a large bowl that tapers/closes at the opening.
The design allows a more significant amount of oxygen to contact the wine; ethanol evaporates. The wider opening makes the wine taste smoother and brings out the fruit flavours.
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