Introduction

A wine glass is made up of three parts – the bowl, the stem and the foot.

• The foot brings stability to the glass,
• From there, the elongated stem gives the drinker something to hold on to without affecting the temperature of the wine within.
• The bowl is possibly the most important feature of the glass and should be big enough to swirl the wine without it spilling, and it should be tapered to capture the aroma of the wine.

Red Wine glasses

1. Burgundy glass

This glassware is used for light, delicate red wines like a Pinot Noir, Beaujolais and Dolcetto. It has a large bowl that allows aromas to accumulate and the short lip directs the wine to the tip of the tongue enhancing the sweetness of the wine.

2. Bordeaux Glass

This glassware is used for heavier red wines that are full-bodied with high tannins like the Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Sirah. This is the tallest red wine glass but the bowl is not as broad as other red wine glasses. The height of the glass creates a good distance between the wine and mouth. This helps while nosing the wine and lets ethanol vapors move past the nose, allowing to experience more of the wine’s aromatic compounds. The larger rim of the glass directs wine to the surface of the entire palate resulting in a more comprehensive and robust tasting experience.

3. Standard Red Wine Glass

This is used to serve medium to full bodied reds like Merlot, Primitivo, Chianti or a Malbec. The smaller rim helps the wine reach the palate in a continuous flow as opposed to all at once, which softens the spice and bold flavours.

White Wine glasses

1. Full bodied White Wine Glass

Used to serve full-bodies white wines like Chardonnay, Viognier and Semillon. The larger rim directs the wine to the tip of the tongue helping the drinker detect the sweetness in the wine. The bowl helps with just enough aeration to capture the aroma and the large rim balances the acidity and sweetness on the palate.

2. High Acid White Wine Glass

These are smaller of the two. The wines served in this usually have a low alcohol percentage like Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Riesling or Rosé, so the ethanol vapors are not much of a concern. The rim of the glass directs the wine to the middle of the palate bringing out the acidic qualities of the wine.

Dessert or Fortified Wine glasses

1. Port Wine glass

Used to serve port and other dessert wines. These are shorter than red and white wine glasses and the narrow mouth concentrates the aromas in the wine. It also directs the wine to the center of the palate allowing for adequate sweetness detection.

2. Sherry Wine Glass

Smaller in size like the port wine glass as fortified and dessert wines can have higher alcohol content. The glass is used to serve sherry and other dessert wines. While taking a sip it is directed towards the back of the mouth so that the palate is not overwhelmed with sweetness.

Sparkling Wine glasses

1. Champagne Flute

The flute has a narrow, long, upright bowl with a medium stem. It’s used to serve young sparkling wine or Champagne, Cava, Asti and Prosecco. The size of the bowl helps retain carbonation and flavour of the wine.

2. Champagne Tulip

The glass has a narrow base that widens up midway and tapers towards the opening. It can be used to serve mature Champagne, Cava, Asti and Prosecco. The wideness in the middle of the glass allows complex flavours to open up and the narrow top prevents excess carbonation from escaping just like the Champagne flute.

By Vidit Mantri