Something that is often overlooked by people who love wine is the very thing that they drink from. The type and quality of the glass is an important factor in getting the most from your wine, especially when that wine is old, expensive or both. The worlds best glassware will not make a poor wine any better, but it will help you to taste and enjoy a great wine to its full extent.
Some people immediately dismiss the need for more than one type of wine glass. These are more often then not people who have never used high-quality wine glasses before. A proper wine glass has a very thin rim, allowing the wine to slide off the almost knife-edge of the glass and onto your tongue. The proper shaped glass will also deliver the wine to optimal region of your mouth, impacting your first impression of the wine. A cheap, heavy-rimmed glass will still work, but you will notice the difference.
Good quality wineglasses are not cheap ($25 to $40 each), but the good news is that you don’t need to go out and purchase them all at once. Once you figure on how much use you will get out of good glasses (assuming they don’t get knocked off a table), they are a good investment in your wine enjoyment. You also don’t necessarily need to have each and every varietal style glass in your cupboard. Although, if you do have the space and the money, I certainly won’t stop you.
I recommend that you start with the proper glass for the wine that you drink most often. If that happens to be Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah/Shiraz or a Bordeaux-style blend, then the good news it that you can cover off all of those with one type of glass. This type of glass will usually be referred to as a Bordeaux glass or alternatively as a Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz glass. The Shiraz glass is slightly different from the Bordeaux, but close enough for us. Start with a set of four (for company).
When you’re ready to spend some more cash, move on to the next style. For most people, this will be your white wine glass. Again, there are two major styles – Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling (we’ll cover Chardonnay in a second). As before, they are quite close in appearance, so choose the one for the style that you drink most often.
Once you have your everyday red and white glasses covered, it may be time to look a few more specialized glasses. Again, these are not critically necessary, but if you are a serious wine collector and drinker you’ll need these eventually.
The first is the Burgundy or Pinot Noir glass. These will be the largest glasses in your cupboard, so make sure you have room for them. The large bowl of the Burgundy glass allows the intricate and subtle fragrances of the wine to reach your nose well before the wine touches your tongue.
The other specialized glass style to have on hand is the Chardonnay glass. It is also referred to as the New-World Chardonnay glass or Montrachet style. This glass is also quite large and should not be confused with the smaller Chablis glass. Again, the purpose of this glass is to get maximum air into, and scent from the oaky Chardonnay.
These are the big four in glassware. As I mentioned before, there are many other varietal glasses out there, and we haven’t even touched on dessert wines, port or sherry yet. These are nice to have if you drink them often, but are not must-haves.
One last type of glass that you may want to have on hand is one made for sparkling wine. The two major styles of these are the flute (long, thin, straight-walled) and tulip (tall, with gently tapering sides). They are great to have in your cabinet, even if you don’t drink Champagne (the real stuff, from the Champagne region of France) everyday. In the summer Kasia and I enjoy having a nice glass of Prosecco, which is low in alcohol and refreshingly fizzy. It also won’t break the bank, a decent bottle can be had for about $20.
When you do go to purchase your new glassware, keep a couple of things to be mindful of. Firstly, the best quality glass will contain lead crystal, so watch for that indicator. Lead crystal is not harmful, so there is no need to worry. It does, however, allow the production of a highly refractive and air bubble-free glass. The second is to go with a trusted name. I tend to favor Riedel as they are the world authority in varietal-specific glasses, but there are other high-quality manufacturers as well, like the Waterford Mondavi series. Lastly, the bulb or bowl of the glass (the part above the stem) should be clear, non-coloured glass with no ornamentation. You want to see and appreciate the colour of your wine, not the pink polka-dots on the side of the glass.
Keep in mind that all this is not required for you to enjoy a glass of wine. It is simply a way to extend and accentuate your appreciation of wine and all its attributes. Also, remember to buy your good glassware at a rate that you can afford. I’ll still drink a glass of wine with you if you have me over, even if it is out of an old jam jar (but no sparkling wine, please).
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