Shapes & Taste
Wine glasses are a delivery system for the taste and eye appeal of wine. Designs and etchings may be attractive but they should be reserved for the water goblets. Please click Glass Guide for further information.
Professionals and amateurs alike feel that nothing shows the color and clarity of wine better than clear, unadorned crystal. The less that comes between the wine and the palate the better.
Following are some questions requently asked regarding the shape of a glass and the taste of the wine itself:
How does the type of wine glass used affect the taste of wine? Sources as varied as the University of Tennessee and the Wall Street Journal (November 18, 1999) among others, have reported that the shape of a wineglass can have an effect on various chemicals found in wine that affect taste.
It does this apparently, by controlling the amount of wine surface area that is exposed to the air. The size of the bowl determines how much or how little liquid can be swirled, which affects the exposure. The shape and thickness of the rim directs the wine to specific parts of the tongue with different taste sensitivities. Finally, the diameter of the opening concentrates or expands the rising aroma or bouquet.
Why are there so many different wine glass shapes?
Much of the variety in the marketplace is due to geographic tradition, design or style considerations. Practically, only three or four styles are needed. The "'tulip" or narrowing goblet is the most useful as it allows swirling but has a narrow opening to concentrate the aroma or bouquet. Many wine drinkers use the large tulip shape as an all-purpose glass.
A slightly smaller version is often designated a white wine glass because there is less need to aerate white wine and one wants to keep the chill. Visually, it provides variety and distinction when more than one wine is served.
The large magnum glass is used to allow the maximum exposure to air for a "big" or "closed" wine. It also adds a note of drama to the table when a very special wine is served.
Finally, the narrow champagne flute prolongs the "bead" (bubbles) of sparkling wine and preserves its chill while presenting the festive wine at its best.
Is tallness or thickness important?
Wine glasses need a minimum amount of thickness for strength but should be gracefully thin to show off the natural beauty of the wine. This is especially important at the rim of the glass, which should be perfectly smooth and barely noticeable at the mouth in order to enhance the tasting experience. Hand blown glasses show these characteristics more than their machine blown counterparts.
The stem is not only an aesthetic consideration but a practical one as well. Its purpose is to prevent warmth from the hand from affecting the wine. The length should be firmly attached to both the bowl and the foot to prevent breakage while allowing one to properly swirl the wine. Most hand blown glasses have a stem which is pulled from the bowl. This adds strength as well as beauty. Finally, the glass should be elegantly tall but remain stable.
An ideal foot is wide enough to prevent tipping over, flat to prevent wobbling and always in proportion to the glass itself.
