Big Fat Wine

There are almost as many types of wine glasses as there are wines.  And, yes, the wine glass you use can make difference in the enjoyment of the wine you are drinking.  I wouldn’t go so far as to say that you need a different glass for each type of wine but a cabinet with the basic three can give you great bang for your buck.

A large broad bowled glass for reds.  The fuller bodied the reds you enjoy the larger the glass you need.  A large bowled glass allows for more surface area of the wine to be exposed to oxygen.  Red wine is typically better when well oxidized.    The larger size gives you the ability to get a great swirl going to further aerate your wine and release the bouquet.

A slightly smaller narrower bowled glass for whites and rose.    The smaller narrower bowl helps to keep your white chilled and also helps to focus subtler fragrances making them easier to detect.   While smaller and narrower you still want a glass large enough to comfortably swirl your wine without spilling it.

Finally a good fluted glass for champagne and sparkling wines.  The fluted shape aids in keeping your wine “bubbly” longer and also is really pretty when the bubbles rise the length of the glass.

For all three, look for clear glass or crystal with a thin lip for the best experience.  The clear glass allows you see the color and the thin lip makes sipping more pleasurable.  I know some people who like wine glasses with no stem but for me, unless I’m drinking brandy, mulled or warmed wine, I want a stem.

(tip: don’t hold the glass by the bowl while drinking to keep from warming the wine with your body heat… as we know , wine drinkers are hot blooded)  :)

I suggest that you borrow a selection of glasses from your friends or go to a good tasting bar and ask to test different glassware.   To really get a true idea of the differences drink the same wine from different shape and size glasses.  I was amazed by the difference in a cheap cab when enjoyed from a good glass.  It made all the difference in the world.

By the way, the glasses shown in the photos above and in the strip below are from the Riedel Ouverture series.    This is the everyday stemware that we use at home and love.

As Always,
Love, Laugh, Learn… LIVE!

<>