Fun Wine Things blog

When I first started drinking wine, I enjoyed wine served in a coffee mug, plastic cup, even out of a shot glass! But of course at that time I didn’t know the difference between “just a glass of wine” and a great experience.

After a few awesome trips to the wine country in California (I just love Sonoma), I started to become more serious about wine.  Actually it became a lot of fun to buy different wine glasses, wine coolers, accessories, etc.  I really began to notice the difference that a good glass made to my appreciation of the wine I was drinking.

So, the big question is, why are there so many different types of wine glasses?  And do they really make a difference in how your wine taste?  Here is what I found  are the most common types of glasses and why they are important.

Glasses for Red Wine:

The most common glasses for red wine are tall and wide, allowing breathing space for these complex wines.  There are two general types of glasses to be used for red wines.

The Bordeaux Glass

• These are tall glasses with wide bowls, allowing space for the wine to breath.

• They are made for full bodied wine including Cabernet and Merlot.
• Their shape directs the wine toward the back of the mouth where the maximum flavor can be enjoyed.

The Burgundy Glass

• These have a larger bowl than the Bordeaux glasses
• Made for wine like burgundy and Pinot Noir (my favorite!)
• The shape of the glass directs the wine toward the tip of the tongue, where the wine’s sweetness can be enjoyed.

White Wine Glasses:

Glasses for White Wine are generally smaller than those for red wines. The purpose of this is to keep the wines cool.  The most common type of glass for white wine is:

The Chardonnay Glass

• These glasses are generally tall, with a smaller bowl to keep the wine cold.
• The same glasses are used for most white wines
• The shape of the glass directs the wine toward the rear and sides of the mouth in order to bring out the bolder flavors of the wine.

The Champagne Glass

• Glasses for champagne are generally tall and thin, and show off the bubbles!
• The narrow top concentrates the scent, which is mainly at the surface of the champagne.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it does provide a starting point for selection of your wine glasses.  You will find a wide variety of shapes and sizes available.  I suggest you start with a basic selection, then add to your collection as you add to your wine cellar.

Cheers!

In my next week’s post, I will talk about how much I think each factor in a wine glass actually can affect the experience of drinking wine.