First of all, it's important to understand the main characteristics of a wine glass, which are the size of the glass, the shape of the bowl, and the stem. Each of these contributes significantly to the enjoyment of drinking wine. Typically, bold, red wines are best served in a big glass with a large, round bowl and a short stem. A broader bowl can accommodate a sufficient amount of wine and is perfect for swirling without concern of spillage. Contrastingly, white wines have a more delicate bouquet and are best served in tall, tapered flutes with a taller stem. The tapered aperture of the glass helps direct the aromas to the nose. Smelling the wine is an integral part of the tasting and drinking process, and swirling releases the aromas, making it easier to capture the smell of the wine. The stem is also an essential feature of the wine glass because holding the glass by its stem will prevent the hand from altering the temperature of the wine.
An evolutionary name in the world of wine glassware is Claus Josef Riedel. He was among the ninth generation in a family of glassmakers and was the first person recorded in history to believe that wine tasting was affected by the design of the glass. In the 1950s he began experimenting with different types of stemware, and through trial and error he discovered that the shape and size of a glass emphasized the intensity of the aromas, therefore significantly improving the taste of the wine. Today, Reidel is the largest manufacturer of distinctive stemware, claiming that their wine-specific glasses can actually direct the wine to a specific part of the tongue where it can be fully appreciated.
After being around for the past 300 years, Reidel has established quite an impressive reputation with its unique features. One example of such a feature is the "cut rim" which makes it so that the flow of the wine is not inhibited as it accurately makes contacts with the appropriate taste zones of the tongue. Therefore, "cut rims" will allow us to taste sweet wines at their fullest potential by ensuring the wine hits the "sweet" spots on the tongue. Another feature is the "rolled rim" which contradicts the "cut rim" by hindering the flow of wine and therefore enhancing harshness and acidity.
With companies like Reidel and Spiegelau offering such diverse assortments of sophisticated, high-end stemware purposely coordinated to each specific wine and Champaign, how does one go about choosing the right glass for their many wine needs?
According to Richard Best, author of "The Frugal Oenophile's Lexicon of Wine Tasting Terms," "When choosing a wine glass, keep it plain and simple," he says. "Ask the experts which wine glass to buy and you'll get a pretty narrow picture of what's acceptable. The essential thing is not to worry about what is "correct" and just make sure the wine glass you choose enhances your enjoyment of the wine."
On the contrary, there is an infinite amount of wine glasses in varying degrees of shapes, size and quality. Like most things in life, wine is subjective and so is the glass. Having a different wine glass for every grape variety may seem a bit excessive, impractical and costly, but some wine drinkers still feel that pairing wine with the appropriate glass is essential to the experience; that the size, shape and color of a wine glass will dramatically influence the taste of the wine, and if the wine is not served in the proper glass, the aroma and flavor will not be fully realized.
"Wine writers are funny people - on the one hand, we like to 'demoratize' or 'demystify' wine, while on the other we promote the idea that wine is intimidating and people need wine writers to help them sort it out", said Dave McIntyre, wine editor of Foodservice Monthly and who also has his own WineLine featured online at The Wine Lovers' Page. "The democracy tendency leads us to say that expesnive stemware such as Reidel is unnecessary and a rip-off. Our inner snob, however, ridicules the current vogue of stem-less stemware because, as every wine geek knows, if you grab the bowl of your glass (which you must if that's all there is), then your fingerprints smudge your view of the wine's color and your body heat warms the wine. Tsk tsk! My maxim is this: Glassware should be appropriate to the wine. If all you drink is $10 everyday wine, then you do not need expensive glasses. However, why drink your $60 Napa Cabernet from a jelly jar? Good glassware can help elicit the nuances from the wine that help jack up the price. Without those nuancesm the $60 Napa Cab tastes like little more than an overly-oaky $10 California appellation. So the extreme democracy argument is simply wrong when it says glassware doesn't matter. Another example: Try tasting a bottle of Pinot Noir - any moderate ($20) pinot will do - I suggest something from the Sonoma Coast appellation. Pour some into two glasses: one designed for Pinot Noir (the balloon shape, usually with a wider bowl to give it more surface area, exposure in the glass), the other a Bordeaux-styled glass (more traditional tulip shape). If the wine is alive, you will probably notice a dramatic difference just by sniffing them".
Though conventionality and good looks are two of the key components in choosing glassware, there are a few other details to keep in mind. Because wine has such tremendous eye appeal, the color and pattern of the glass are important considerations. Glasses with color and intricate and fancy designs may look beautiful and feel elegant in the hand, but they will most likely obscure and distort the true color of the wine. "Colored glass is taboo," said Best. "Glasses with a full tint, not matter how attractive, will totally change the appearance of the wine. You won't see the wine's colour nor will you see its radiance." Others feel that if the wine is good, it will hold its own no matter what the glass.
While there have been many studies, scientific and otherwise, conducted on wine and wine glass pairings, there is no official book of rules. Ultimately the glass preference is a matter of taste and budget. Though the significance of matching the perfect glass to its wine is somewhat arguable, perhaps what most of us can agree on is that a glass of decent quality will at least enhance the flavor of the liquid it holds. However, the best way to test the theory is to conduct your own experiment by pouring the same wine in several different glasses of varying sizes and shapes and putting your own taste buds to the challenge. In the end, the most important opinion is your own.
Moreen Torpy is the De-Clutter Coach, a Trained Professional Organizer, Author, and Speaker. Let's Get Organized: 172 tiplets to simplify life is her first published work. See http://www.decluttercoach.ca to subscribe to Let's Get Organized, her monthly e-zine and purchase the booklet.