Author: Michele DeZayas
Every beginner knows that enjoying a great glass of wine is more than about taste; however many don’t know that choosing the right type of glass to serve wine is almost as important as the vintage served.
We’ll try to simplify here in a few paragraphs some guidelines on choosing the correct glass to present your wine
Basically there are three parts to a traditional wine glass, the stem the foot, and the bowl. Typically wine glasses are held by the stem when drinking white wine. This is done to prevent heat transfer from the hand to the wine, thus maintaining its correct serving temperature. Red wines do not require the same consideration as these are generally served at room temperature, thus stemmed or stem less wine glasses are an option for most reds.
Good wine glasses generally have the common element of clear glass which allows you to view the true color of the wine. Blown glass is preferred over fused or cut glass which can interfere with the drinkability.
The bowl is the key element in allowing you to appreciate the full aroma of the wine and also in how the wine is positioned to drink. We can characterize wine glasses in the following way:
Red Wine Glasses: typically hold 12 to 24 oz and have a round shape with a wider bowl. These glasses allow you to spread the aroma out and savor both color and aroma. Stemmed or stem less wine glasses for reds are very popular choices and can be found on sites like shopwinestuff.com.
White Wine Glasses: typically hold 10 to 12 ounces, and are generally narrower than red wine glasses with straighter sides to help maintain temperature.
Sparkling Wine Glasses: typically hold 8 to 12 ounces. These may also be referred to as champagne flutes and are slim in size, with a narrow bowl, long stem and narrow top. The shape helps preserve the sparkling nature of the wine.
Whatever wine you are choosing, it is important to understand that choosing the right glass is as equally important as the wine you serve and can enhance or reduce your wine drinking experience. Choose your glasses wisely and don’t skimp on true quality glassware – it will pay off tremendously.
Explore the wide variety of glassware offered in the ever-growing market of online wine accessory merchants. You can find exceptional deals on great glassware at merchants like shopwinestuff.com.
About the Author: Michele DeZayas is a contributing editor for wine-for-beginners.com
