Did you know glass shape and size can affect how you experience your glass of wine? Let's take a look at the different types of wine glasses below and their purpose.
I've attached links to the glasses pictured if you'd like to order some for yourself!
Champagne Glass
Elongates the bubbles, allowing more room for them to float to the top, maintaining that lovely bubbly quality for longer!
White Wine Glass
Base and bowl are more slender and narrow, preventing oxidation to keep the crisp, bright flavors fresher longer.
Chardonnay glass
Chardonnay is the exception to the typical "white wine glass" because of its bolder, rounder flavors. This wider bowl allows for more oxidation to open up those aromas, while the wide rim glides these complex notes all across your palate.
Rosé Glass
Rosé is all about delicacy and nuanced fresh fruit flavors and this glass helps to showcase that. The slightly wider hip helps to evaporate aromas up to the nose, while the narrow rim concentrates the flavors directly towards your nose and tongue.
Burgundy/Pinot Noir Glass
Pinot Noir is a very aromatic, subtle and complex grape variety. This wide bowl helps to slowly coax those aromas out of the glass and then traps them in the glass with the narrow rim. As you drink, the shape of the glass focuses the wine to the front of your mouth, accentuating sweeter flavors and regulating acidic ones.
Bordeaux/Cabernet Sauvignon Glass
Grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot tend to be higher in alcohol and tannin. The taller glass creates more distance from the wine to your lips, allowing more time for oxygen to interact with the wine, softening the tannins and evaporating the ethanol for a more pleasant drinking experience. The wine is directed to the center of your palate to lessen the effect of harsh tannins.
Fortified Wine Glass
Dessert wines like Port or Madeira have much higher alcohol content than regular wine, usually around 20%, causing a smaller serving to be appropriate. This smaller glass is closer to the heat from your hand which helps open up the aromatics, in turn helping you savor each smaller sip.
Universal Wine Glass
Don't have space in your cupboards for multiple types of wine glasses? This glass was designed to sit right in the middle between a red and white wine glass shape, a larger bowl to open up aromas, and a tighter rim to concentrate the flavor. This wine glass will still allow you to enjoy all your favorite varietals without all the fuss.
Do you have a favorite type of wine glass you enjoy using? Choosing a special glass always heightens the experience for me.
I also find it very important that my glasses are spot free and shining. I use these polishing cloths to wipe them clean after hand-washing for an always glowing glass!
Until next time, Happy Sippin'!
Don't forget to subscribe for updates and receive my Free Beginner's Guide to Wine!
Thanks, Sarah - I knew there was all kind of oxidation science in this, but you're right, a clean glass makes all the fidderance.