Different wine glasses should be used for each type of wine. This is necessary to better reveal the taste and aroma of the drink. Professional sommeliers know that wine glasses can be of different shapes and sizes, and made of different materials. Different sets are used for tasting white and red varieties.
Content
- How Wine Glasses Came to Be
- What wine glasses should be like
- Classification of wine glasses for different types of wine
- Features of the shape of glasses
- Dimensions and weight
- What materials are wine glasses made of?
- What is the difference between white and red wine glasses
- How the shape of a glass affects the taste and smell of wine
- How to choose the right wine glasses
- The Subtleties of Drinking Wine
- Care and washing of wine glasses
- Best Wine Glass Manufacturers
- VIDEO: Master class – the culture of wine consumption.
How Wine Glasses Came to Be
The first to classify wine glasses was the Austrian glassmaker Klaus Riedel. In the 1950s, he made a discovery. The glass manufacturer discovered that the drink changes its taste depending on the container it is poured into.
Riedel's discovery was not immediately appreciated. For several more decades, people continued to drink wine from various containers, including regular mugs. But at the end of the 20th century, the concept changed. The set created by the Austrian glassmaker is still considered the standard.
What wine glasses should be like
The right wine glass should meet several criteria. Ideally, the crystal glass (or other material used) should be transparent, since the acquaintance with the drink begins with its color.
The walls should not have any thickenings or unevenness - only perfectly processed edges. Otherwise, the taste may not be fully revealed. The walls should be uniformly thin. There should be no thickenings on the rim.
Classification of wine glasses for different types of wine
To choose the right glassware, you need to consider what kind of wine will be poured into them. The classification provides for the use of different glasses for red, white wine, as well as for champagne or port. Each of these drinks requires the use of different vessel shapes. The most common are the following:
- tulip;
- ball;
- lyre.
For red varieties
To taste these varieties, you need to choose tulip-shaped glasses. The fact is that the drink has a rich tart taste and smell, which cannot be said about white varieties. But the aromatic substances evaporate quite quickly, which leads to the wine "going out of steam".
Using a barrel-type container helps to preserve the aroma and flavor. The narrowed neck keeps them at the edge, not allowing them to evaporate quickly, so that you can feel all the fruity notes.
Please note! The richer the taste, the larger the volume of the vessel should be. In some cases, it is permissible to use containers up to 500 ml.
For white
White varieties are less intense in aroma and fruity notes. Therefore, long-stemmed, small-volume glasses are suitable for them. Such glassware helps maintain the temperature of the drink, which is served chilled. The stem prevents the bottom from heating up from the hand.
The bowl is usually elongated. If we are talking about young wine, then small vessels are chosen. Premium varieties are served in larger containers.
Pink
Rose wine glasses are wide-rimmed glasses with a large bowl. The special shape helps to saturate the drink with oxygen. And during tasting, the liquid goes straight to the tip of the tongue, allowing you to feel all the fruity notes and sweetness.
However, sometimes classic containers intended for white varieties are used for serving.
Varieties for sparkling wines
These types of drinks are served in glasses with a tall, thin stem. They keep the temperature low and protect from the heat of your hands. In most cases, champagne is poured into a type of glass called a "Flute". There is an elongated bowl on a narrow stem, which ensures the formation of a small amount of foam. This affects the "sparkle".
Please note! Professional sommeliers believe that there is a difference between serving champagne in a narrow or wide bowl. And they often use low but voluminous bowls. They are usually used to create fountains of sparkling wines.
Types of glasses for noble sweet wines
The next type of vessel is intended for aromatic sweet drinks. This is Madeira or the famous "ice" wine, which is served after the main meal. For these varieties, it is necessary to select a small-volume vessel (maximum 80 ml), the bowl of which is low and with straight walls.
Types of vessels for sherry and port wine
These are glasses that are designed specifically for fortified wines, which include sherry and port. The difference from most other sets is the small volume of the bowl. It holds no more than 100 ml of liquid (usually 60 ml).
The bowl of such glasses is small, with thin walls that widen towards the top. It is attached to a small stem, 4 to 5 cm high. The conical shape allows excess alcohol to evaporate, and the stem protects from the heat of your hands. Such drinks are served chilled.
Features of the shape of glasses
The difference in the dishes also lies in their shape. Most models have an elongated narrow leg, which protects the walls from direct contact with a person's hand. Since a significant portion of wines is served chilled, it is very important to avoid premature overheating of the liquid.
However, stemless (flat-bottomed) glasses have recently appeared on the market. They are mostly used in restaurants and pubs. This is because they are harder to knock over. Chardonnay or Merlot are usually served in such glasses. These acidic varieties go straight to the back of the tongue.
The square glass is another new product that will be appreciated by lovers of non-standard items. There are also classic shapes:
- Bordeaux (wide bottom, smooth walls);
- Burgundy (ball-shaped outline, narrow top).
Dimensions and weight
The choice of models is also related to the volume of the dishes. For red varieties, bowls are used that hold 150 - 180 ml of liquid. White varieties require smaller vessels (on average 70 - 100 ml). The weight of one wine glass fluctuates between 100 - 200 g. There are also heavier models with a weighted design (with a wide stem, thick walls).
What materials are wine glasses made of?
Most often, manufacturers use regular glass. Transparent walls allow you to evaluate the color of the drink. Sometimes colored materials are used, but they are more suitable for inexpensive light wines. Here are the main options for making wine vessels:
- Leaded glass. Transparent material that does not hide the color of the liquid. The only drawback is increased fragility and, as a result, short life.
- Crystal glass. Lead compounds are not used in production. Items made from this material are light and durable. But the price is higher than that of models made from glass.
- Crystal. Rarely used for wine glass production, as it cannot provide the necessary transparency of the walls. Diamond edges distort the color of the liquid.
The manufacturer Riedel (the developer of the classification) also offers unusual glasses. The black color will not allow you to see what is inside. Such models are intended for "blind tastings", when the sommelier needs to determine the type of wine based on taste characteristics and smell.
What is the difference between white and red wine glasses
The differences between red and white wine glasses are based on taste. Red wines are more intense, with a rich aroma and tart taste. They do not need to be chilled as much as white wines before serving. When exposed to oxygen, they reveal their taste well, so large bowls are suitable for them. The stems are usually short.
As for white varieties, they are lighter and less concentrated. To fully reveal the taste characteristics, it is necessary to pre-cool the drink. To maintain a low temperature, there should be no direct contact of the cup with the hand. For this purpose, high legs are made. For the same purpose, large containers are not made, otherwise the wine quickly heats up.
How the shape of a glass affects the taste and smell of wine
Klaus Riedel was the first to understand that the human tongue senses tastes in different areas. Sweet notes are felt at the tip, sour and salty ones at the side, and bitter ones at the root. Depending on the shape of the glass, a person will tilt or throw back their head differently. And the liquid will fall on one area or another.
Please note! The volume of the bowl is also important. If it is wide, the contact of the drink with oxygen will be higher. Phenolic compounds will turn into esters faster, which will give a dry taste. Therefore, the more tart the wine, the larger the vessel should be.
How to choose the right wine glasses
The glass should not only look beautiful, but also meet the basic quality criteria. Here are some basic recommendations for choosing products:
- Crystal glassware is considered ideal. It is transparent and also creates a melodic ringing sound.
- Colored glass, crystal or patterned models will not allow you to appreciate the color. It is better to refuse such products.
- If you drink inexpensive wines more often, you should not buy Burgundy-shaped vessels. They will only highlight imperfections.
- The Bordeaux glass set combines several options, so it is suitable for different drinks.
The Subtleties of Drinking Wine
It is one thing to buy the right products, another to learn how to drink wine correctly. It is important to take into account that each variety has its own cooling temperature. For example, young red varieties are served at 13-15°C, and dry white or pink ones – at 7-10°C.
The tasting begins with an assessment of the drink's color, after which you can move on to its aroma. Then comes the acquaintance with the taste. As for the snack, there is no consensus on whether it is necessary. White bread, hard cheese and grapes do not affect the wine's taste characteristics.
Care and washing of wine glasses
Follow a few simple rules for caring for your dishes:
- you can’t wash it in hot water (especially if we’re talking about crystal glass);
- Do not use abrasive products to avoid scratching the surface;
- do not leave the glasses to dry on the drying rack, but wipe them (to avoid leaving streaks);
- Do not store the product near products with a strong odor, so that the aromas do not soak into the walls and distort the taste of the drinks.
Best Wine Glass Manufacturers
One of the most famous world manufacturers is still the legendary Riedel, with which the history of wine glassware began. In addition to it, the following companies top the rating of popular manufacturers:
- Chef & Sommelier;
- Stolzle;
- Libby;
- Tognana, etc.
Most manufacturers today produce not only individual items, but also sets of dishes that are designed for different types of drinks.
It is important to distinguish between glasses that are made specifically for white and red varieties, as well as for sparkling wines. Using vessels for a specific drink will allow you to feel the full richness of taste and aroma. Correctly selected glassware will improve the taste of any wine and help it open up.
