Using the right glasses will allow you to fully enjoy the taste of wine. How to choose the necessary glass according to the type of drink? What is the difference between red and white wine glasses? In which glasses should sparkling and dessert wine be served? In this article, we will answer all your questions.
THE MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF GLASSES
Before discussing which glasses are most suitable for serving specific types of wine, it is worth noting the general features that all glasses should have. The quality and color of the glass from which the dishes are made are important. An interesting offer is high-quality glass products made of extremely transparent Crystalline glass, which allows you to fully enjoy the color of the drink you consume. Good wine provides not only taste sensations, but also visual impressions! When choosing glasses, you should also pay attention to the design of the stem. Its length should allow you to freely hold the glass in your hand without touching the wine bowl. Thanks to this, the wine will keep the desired temperature longer. The capacity of the bowl is also an equally important feature – it should be large enough to ensure free mixing of the wine without the risk of spillage. During this operation, the aromas contained in the wine are released. When treating guests to wine, make sure that the glasses match the style of the dishes, because a combination of serving elements of different styles may not make the expected impression.
GLASSES FOR RED WINE
Glasses intended for serving red wine are significantly different from those in which white wine should be served. First of all, red wine glasses are bigger and deeper. Their characteristic feature is large bowls that taper towards the top and resemble a tulip bud in shape. The large diameter of the bowl allows the wine to be in better contact with the air, which accelerates the process of releasing hidden aromas. Due to the appropriate shape and depth, red wine glasses are adapted to concentrate and store the unique bouquet of wine aromas. When serving red wine, glasses made of high-quality transparent glass will help you enjoy the deep color of the drink.
GLASSES FOR WHITE WINE
White wine glasses are characterized by a narrow, slender bowl. They are slightly smaller than glasses intended for serving red wine. What is the difference? In order to release its aroma, white wine, unlike red wine, does not need such intense contact with air. Moreover, the delicate aroma of white wine can “disappear” in a glass with too large a bowl. People who are particularly interested in experiencing the aromas that accompany the tasting of white wine can choose glasses with a softly closed bowl, which allows you to preserve the volatile aromas of the wine. The smaller capacity of white wine glasses also helps to keep the drink at a low temperature. But remember that aged white wines aged in oak barrels should be served in slightly wider glasses than young white wines with floral or fruity aromas. Glasses with a larger bowl will also be useful when serving heavier, fuller white Chardonnay wines.
GLASSES FOR SPARKLING AND DESSERT WINE
The nature of sparkling wines involves serving such drinks chilled to lower temperatures. This requirement has a significant impact on the shape of the glasses used to serve such types of wine. Glasses for sparkling wine and champagne are characterized by a tall, narrow cup with elongated walls. Glasses of this shape are called “flutes”. Their design makes it easier to maintain a sufficiently low temperature of the drink, and also allows free, but not too fast, bubbles of sparkling gases, characteristic of champagnes and sparkling wines. In turn, low glasses with a bowl tapering upwards are used to serve sweet or semi-sweet dessert wines. Wines of this type are characterized by a high alcohol content, so the appropriate shape of the glasses will preserve the ethanol content in it and prevent it from evaporating too quickly. Tapered glasses also allow you to preserve the aromas of the wine for longer.