Francis Bacon once said, “Of all things known to mortals, wine is the most powerful and effectual for exciting and inflaming the passions of mankind, being common fuel to them all.” And we wine enthusiasts couldn’t agree more! Wine can definitely be a great drink to excite you and give you a drinking experience like no other. And if you’re a wine aficionado, you’ll agree with the fact that drinking wine the right way can certainly elevate your drinking experience.
If you really want to enjoy wine, then choosing the right glass can actually help you savor all of its aromas and flavors. There are many different types of wine glasses for different types of wine. There’s no need to be overwhelmed if you’re a newbie and are not aware of the ins and outs of the wine world. Here’s a beginner’s guide to different types of wine glasses. Let’s just dive right in!
Structure Of The Wine Glass
There’s a reason why there are so many different types of wine glasses for different wines. As you may have heard, wine drinking is also considered to be an art in itself. So, the kind of glass you choose can either make or break your wine drinking experience. Wine glasses have a structure with 3 major parts: bowl, stem, and base. Let’s first get you acquainted with the structure of the wine glass.
Bowl
The bowl is nothing but the top section of the wine glass where the wine is poured. The shape of the bowl differs for different types of wine glasses; it essentially helps to direct the aroma of the wine towards the nose.
Fun Fact: Letting a wine “breathe” means exposing it to oxygen, in other words, letting it aerate. Some wines are left to aerate or “breathe” so that the exposure to oxygen changes the wine’s flavor and makes it taste and smell better.
Stem
This is that part of the wine glass that holds the base and the bowl together. So, when you hold the stem of your wine glass, it protects your body heat from altering the temperature of the wine.
Base
The base or the foot of the wine glass helps to keep the wine glass stable, making it a significant part of the wine glass structure.
Also read: Discover The Different Types Of Red Wines
Different Types Of Wine Glasses
Red Wine Glasses
Red wines are known to have bold and complex flavors. To enable wine connoisseurs to enjoy the incredible aroma and taste of these wines, their glasses have large and huge bowls. This wide bowl shape helps the wine to swirl in the glass, thereby letting it expose its essential aromas and flavors. The shape of these red wine glasses is designed in a manner that it allows the wine to breathe. This helps in exposing the wine to more oxygen which affects the deep complex flavors of these wines.
Some of the most commonly used red wine glasses are as follows:
Cabernet/Merlot/Bordeaux Glasses
These wine glasses are known to have a wide base and a large bowl and are especially used for wines like Cabernet, Merlot, and Bordeaux. The style of these glasses is tall with a broad base that helps in getting a lot of oxygen in close contact with the wine. Since the tannin levels (the bitterness, dryness, and astringency levels) of these wines are high, the wider opening of these glasses does the magic of bringing out the delicious fruity flavored aromas of the wines.
Syrah or Shiraz/Sangiovese/Malbec Glasses
Compared to other wine glasses, these glasses are shorter with a small bowl. These glasses are used for medium to full-bodied red wines. Since the bowl of these glasses is short and tapered, it helps to bring out the fruity flavors of the wine to your palate. The opening of these glasses is short to subside the harshness of spices in the wine and to let you enjoy the wine smoothly.
Pinot Noir/Burgundy Wine Glasses
Have you ever seen wine glasses that have a rim that seems to be turned out? Well, these glasses are especially designed for wines like Pinot Noir and Burgundy. They have a wide bowl and a short stem that helps direct the aromas of the wine right towards the sensors of your tongue. These glasses are known for their wide bowl which is responsible for the wine’s significant exposure to oxygen to bring out its true flavors.
Also read: 7 Best Fruit Wine Brands To Buy In India
White Wine Glasses
One of the most significant differences between red and white wine glasses is that white wine glasses tend to have smaller bowls. Because of this type of design, the wine is able to be in close contact with your nose. So, the flavorful aromas of the wine will instantly greet your nostrils thereby tempting you to savor some delicious wine.
Here are the different types of white wine glasses:
Chardonnay Glasses
These type of are somewhat similar to Pinot Noir glasses, the only difference is that these glasses have a shorter stem. Chardonnay wine is a full-bodied wine, so to enjoy all of its flavors, these glasses have a large bowl that creates a huge surface area.
Sauvignon Blanc/Riesling Glasses
Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling glasses are designed to have a long stem and narrow bowl that is slightly tapered. These wine glasses have a thin bowl with less capacity so that there is very little exposure of oxygen to the wine. Since the bowl of these glasses is small, it helps to discover all the aromas of the wine and keeps it fresh.
Sparkling Wine Glasses
Sparkling wine surely adds that extravagance to any kind of celebration and makes it even more special. So, are you planning to raise a champagne toast for an upcoming celebration? Well, if you’re confused about what kind of glasses to use for sparkling wines, we’ve got you covered.
The best glasses for sparkling wines are as follows:
Flute
These glasses are used to serve the universally popular and loved wine, champagne. They have a tall body with a slender and taper-free design. This allows the wine to form bubbles and liquid right at the tip of your tongue. So, the very first sip of your drink will also give you the aromas of the champagne.
Coupe
The design of the coupe glasses is such that they have a broad and a shallow bowl. Just so you know, they’re considered to be one of the oldest wine glasses to serve champagne. These glasses are the best for those wanting to enjoy wine in the most traditional way, wherein you won’t be able to watch the bubbles bounce off each other. In other words, these glasses will prevent any kind of fizz in your drink because of their wide opening.
Tulip
Champagne tulip glasses have a wide bowl and a narrow top. They also have a curvy edge that goes right down towards the stem of the glass so that the aromas of the wine are trapped inside. This design helps to avoid any kind of smudging on the bowl and lets you experience all the flavors of the wine. When serving champagne in tulip glasses, make sure you fill the wine only halfway up the bowl.
Rosé Wine Glasses
Rosé wine is relatively lighter and sweeter compared to red and white wines. Since this wine is known for its fruity flavors, the best glasses to savor these wines are those with a narrow bowl and a short stem. This design helps maintain the cool temperature of the wine.
The two major types of rose wine glasses are as follows:
Stemmed Glasses
They have a small bowl that is slightly tapered. If you’re a fan of a slightly mature and full-bodied rosé wine, you can use these glasses to relish all the flavors of your drink.
Flared Lip Glasses
Flared lip glasses are essentially used for rose wines that have a crispy flavor. These glasses have a long stem; this design helps to avoid your body heat from warming the wine in the glass. The design of these glasses is such that the taste of the wine is directed right at the tip of your tongue so that you can feel the sweetness and crispiness of the wine.
Also read: 8 Of The Best And Affordable Port Wines In India
Dessert And Fortified Wine Glasses
One of the most important characteristics of dessert and fortified wine glasses is that they’re small in size. Since the alcohol content of such wines is high, this design helps to balance their flavors. Such a unique design and style of the glass helps to direct the sweet flavors of the wine right at the tip as well as the back of your mouth.
These wine glasses have two major types:
Port Wine Glasses
To reduce the evaporation rate of the wine and direct the aromas towards your nose, port wine glasses have a narrow mouth. These glasses are also taller in length so that the wine is able to breathe and swirl inside the glass–to let you experience its aromas of course. The wine served in these glasses will give you a taste of all the flavors right towards the center of your palate.
Sherry Wine Glasses
Wines like sherry, port, liqueurs, etc are served in sherry wine glasses. These wine glasses are tapered in design and also have a narrow rim opening. As mentioned earlier, small wine glasses best complement the high alcohol content in dessert wines.
You can check out some quirky barware at The Bay Store!
All-Purpose Glasses
Well, if you don’t really have a variety in terms of your choices of drinks, then all-purpose glasses are what you need. What makes them an ideal choice for almost any type of wine is their features that complement both red and white wines. These glasses either come in a stemmed or stemless design. So, if you’re a newbie who’s entering the world of wines, you can use all-purpose glasses to explore the flavors of your favorite type of wine.
Summing Up
Now that we’ve taken you through the different types of wine glasses, it’s time you stock up your home bar with some. And hey, if you just want to have a single collection of wine glasses, you can always go for-all purpose glasses. So, the next time you host a dinner party, flaunt your wine glasses and make your evening even more special with your favorite type of wine.
FAQs
How Do You Know What Wine Glass To Use?
Here are a few things you need to consider to know what wine glass to use:
- Always check the bowl shape, stem, and rim of the glass before choosing one for serving wine.
- For red wines, choose a glass with a wider bowl.
- White wines can best be complemented with glasses that have a narrow bowl.
- Sparkling wines can be served in tall wine glasses.
Are There Different Glasses For Different Wines?
When it comes to wines, there are different glasses for different types of wines. So, depending on whether you need a glass for any of your red, white, or sparkling wines, you need to check out the bowl shape and stem size of the glasses.
Are Stemless Wine Glasses For Red Or White?
Stemless wine glasses are without a stem and a base and can best complement red wines. So, you can savor red wines like Pinot Noir, Syrah or Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc in these stemless glasses.
What Are Three Types Of Red Wine Glasses?
Essentially, there are three main categories of red wine glasses. They are:
- Cabernet/Merlot/Bordeaux Glasses
- Pinot Noir/Burgundy Wine Glasses
- Syrah or Shiraz/Sangiovese/Malbec Glasses
What Glass Do You Drink Rosé Out Of?
Rosé wine is best served in glasses that have a narrow bowl and a short stem. so you can either pick a stemmed glass or even a flared lip glass to drink you Rosé wine.
Does The Shape Of The Wine Glass Matter?
Yes, the shape of the wine glass you choose to drink you wine matters as it enhances the wine’s aroma, which in turn impacts how your wine tastes.
Can You Serve White Wine In A Red Wine Glass?
It’s best to serve your white wines in smaller wine glasses and your red wines in large wine glasses. Red wines are full bodied wines that require bigger glasses to enhance their flavor and aroma. White wines are not the same and are best served in smaller narrow glasses.
Are Stemless Wine Glasses Acceptable?
Yes, stemless wine glasses are completely acceptable but are not used for all occasions. These are glasses that are best used to serve red wine.
