Wine is a very important commodity for those who choose to enjoy it. Some people take it very seriously when it comes to ensuring taste and quality. A great wine deserves special attention and especially a great vessel that will make sure your wine is going to taste, smell, and give off the aroma in the best way that it can. A wine glass can often be overlooked when drinking wine, and more often than not it is not necessary with a regular bottle of grocery store wine. Even changing the glass can elevate a bottle of wine that could be of lesser quality than one from a high-end winemaker. A wine glass controls temperature, aeration, taste, and aroma of whichever wine that you choose. When choosing a glass there are many things to consider such as if you are drinking red, white, or sparkling wine. All of these different types of wine can have multiple glasses for just red wine and can be interchanged depending on the needs of your wine.
When drinking red wine you have a few variations of glasses that includes a Bordeaux glass or a Burgundy glass. Red wine glasses are usually larger glasses with a rounder look compared to white wine and they also have a much wider opening at the top which facilitates more aeration. The larger opening allows the complex flavors and aromas to come through easier as it is much easier to swirl and place your nose over the larger lip of the glass to take in all of the wine. A red wine glass also directs wine to the center of your palate which balances the wines fruity flavor and acidity. A Bordeaux glass is tailored for a full-bodied red wine such as merlot or a cabernet sauvignon, with a thin tall stem holding up the glass by the base. While a Burgundy glass is for lighter red wines such as pinot noir, this glass also has a much wider bowl to collect delicate aromas easier. While the wine glasses are very similar they have very important purposes that enhance every part of the wine.
White wine glasses are typically smaller than red wine glasses, especially when looking at the width of the bowl being held by the stem. This is because white wines normally have more floral notes that are easily identified without having to swirl. This also has the addition of keeping the temperature cool. The narrower opening directs the wine to the tip and side of the tongue which emphasizes the wine’s freshness and acidity. White wine glasses include chardonnay glasses and sauvignon Blanc glasses. Chardonnay glasses are for full-bodied white wines that have a wider bowl that is similar to a red wine glass, but still keeps the characteristics of white wine. Sauvignon Blanc glasses are much narrower than chardonnay which is ideal for crisp and light wines.
There are many other types of wine glasses that are specialized tools of wine glassware designed to enhance the experience of specific wine styles. Sparkling wine glasses are also known as flutes because they are very tall and thin, which can be seen almost every year on New Year’s for champagne. This also keeps the wine sparkling and allows the bubbles to rise to the top. Desert wine glasses are much smaller in general than any other glasses, and they are for wines with a higher alcohol content which directs the sweet wine to the back of the mouth. There are many more wine glasses that include universal wine glasses, rose glasses, and much more. All wine glasses have a specific use and purpose to enhance the wine in any way that it can.