Proper Glassware for Wine

Wine glasses are put into categories based on the type of wine you will serve.While the wine police have yet to show up on my door step, I do love it when I am serving the vino in the proper glass. Do you know which glass goes with your favorite wine?

Red wines are served in large glasses. The bowls of these glasses are fuller and rounder with a larger opening in order to your nose into the glass to enjoy the aroma. This bowl style is also important because the aromas and flavors of red wine require a glass with a larger surface area to aerate the wine properly.

The Bordeaux glass is taller than traditional red wine glasses, yet the bowl is not quite as large. It is designed for full bodied, heavier red wines such as Cabernet and Merlot. The tallness of the glass allows the wine to proceed directly to the back of the mouth to maximize its flavor.

The Burgundy glass is designed for lighter, full-bodied wines such as Pinot Noir. It is not as tall as the Bordeaux glass, but the bowl is larger than the Bordeaux glass, directing the wine to the tip of the tongue to taste its more delicate flavors.

White wines are served in glasses with a bowl that is more U shaped and upright than that of a red wine glass, allowing the aromas to be released while also maintaining a cooler temperature.
The white wine glass style that’s best for younger whites has a slightly larger opening directing the wine to the top and sides of the tongue to taste its sweetness. The glass for more mature white wines will be straighter and taller to dispense the wine to the back and sides of the tongue to taste its bolder flavors.

Sparkling wine or champagne will be served in glasses that are upright and narrower than most wine glasses to retain the carbonation and capture the flavor in the beverage.                       

Rose Wine such as a Rosa or Blush will be served in glasses that are either stemmed glasses with a short bowl and a slight taper, or those with a short bowl and a slightly flared lip. Since these wines are fairly similar in fermentation process as white wines, the use of a white wine glass is also considered acceptable for these types of wine if a rose wine glass is not available.

Dessert or fortified wins such as Port, Sherry or Vermouth should be served in smaller glasses to direct the wine to the back of the mouth so the sweetness doesn’t overwhelm. Dessert wines generally have higher alcohol content, making small wine glasses perfect for a smaller serving. The same rule of thumb applies to sherry and cordial glasses.