There’s always a sense of sophistication attached with wine, no matter what all other drinks are floating around in the market. This could stem from religious reasons, higher cost in production as compared to other alcoholic beverages like beer or perhaps, the fancy glasses you pour your wine into.
To have the best of taste touch your tongue, wine lovers make sure they have the perfect glass for every wine they choose to drink from. Let’s have a brief look at some of these.
“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”
— Ernest Hemingway
Red Wine Glasses
To get the best out of soft velvety flavours, red wine glasses are usually large with a wide opening so as to smoothen its complex flavours.
The full, round bowl allows the increased oxidation, and therefore, letting the wine breathe more. Let’s explore some of the Red Wine Glasses:
Burgundy
These glasses have wider bowl than a Bordeaux glass. Burgundy Wine glasses are meant to accommodate aromas of delicate red wines. The wider bowl and narrower top direct the wine to the tip of the tongue, allowing you to experience the most of delicate wines. These are best paired with Red Burgundy, Pinot Noir and other delicate wines.
Bordeaux
These are the tallest red wine glasses but with a smaller bowl than Burgundy glasses. These are perfect for the heavier wines. The tall shape of the glass allows the wine to travel straight to the back of the mouth, reducing the bitterness and allowing you to savour the flavours. These are best paired with Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and other rich bold wines.
Cabernet
This is one of the tallest red wine glasses, but not as tall as Bordeaux. It has a broad bowl and gets quite narrow towards the top. This shape of the glass is meant to accommodate the rich aroma of the wines. The wider bowl allows the wine to breathe and the aroma, thereafter, is accumulated because of its narrow mouth. These are best paired with Cabernet Sauvignon and other bold wines.
Pinot Noir
This glass boasts of having the widest bowl when compared to other red wine glasses. Pinot Noir maximises the air contact. The aromas, therefore, travel very gently to your nose and mouth. The distinct feature of this glass is its turned-out lip that directs the wine to the front palate for you to enjoy wine thoroughly. It works best with Pinot Noir or other lighter wines.
White Wine Glasses
These tend to have smaller bowls because of their lighter aromas. The bowls are generally U-shaped and upright. Let’s look at some of the White Wine Glasses:
Chardonnay
These glasses have a fairly wide bowl. Chardonnay should ideally be paired with youthful wines. The slightly large opening directs the wine to the tip of the tongue and the sides, allowing you to relish the sweetness of the wine to the maximum. Chardonnay and White Burgundy go well with these glasses.
Sauvignon Blanc
These are great for light to medium-bodied wines. These glasses tend to be tall and slim, and usually come with a long stem. The small bowl captures the delicate fruity and floral aromas directing them straight to the tip of the tongue. These are best paired with White Bordeaux, Fume Blanc, Loire, and Chenin Blanc.
Riesling
These are much smaller and narrower guiding the wine to the back of the mouth, so that you are not overwhelmed with its sweetness. These are best paired with Riesling, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gruner Veltliner.
So next time when you are hosting a party, show off your love for wine the right way— serve your precious wine in the right glass!
(By Dolly Bansal)