Wine glasses - do they make a difference to the taste of wines?

By Andrea Vavruch, GetSmarter

While it is debatable whether a wine glass can improve the actual taste of a wine, it is certainly true that a certain kind of glass may enhance the tasting experience for the drinker. 
 
General principles
The thinner the lip of the glass, the easier the wine is to drink. For this reason, wine is ideally drunk from blown glass, rather than fused or cut glass. Delicate glasses may be more expensive and more prone to breakages, but they are worth the extra expense and care.

For serious imbibing, crystal, especially lead crystal, is considered the best material. This is because lead crystal refracts light better than glass, making it easier to appreciate the colour of the wine. Additionally, the surface of lead crystal is microscopically rougher than glass, thereby creating better conditions for the wine to “breathe” when swirled in the glass (and in the case of champagne, increasing the amount of bubbles).

Wine glasses will usually not be coloured or frosted as this would make it difficult to appreciate the colour of the wine. There are exceptions to this, like the traditional “hock” glass, but these glasses are often more for decorative purposes than for drinking.

Stemless wine glasses are becoming more popular, but they are not ideal as they allow the heat of your hand to warm the wine. Rather stick to traditional stemmed glasses or, if you have to use a stemless glass, put it down between sips so that it doesn’t get too warm.

Different varietals may benefit from different glass shapes, depending on whether the wine is full-bodied or more delicate, or whether its best to direct the wine to the back of the mouth or the tip of the tongue. But if you prefer not to get too specific, there are still some basic guidelines on which glass to choose for your wine.

Red wine
Red wine should be served in a glass with a large, wide bowl. This allows air to circulate more freely within the glass, which releases more of the aromas and allows the flavours to distribute more evenly. A wider opening means your nose can get closer to the wine before drinking. Some red wines, such as Pinot noir and Merlot, can do with a slightly narrower opening, while more robust wines are generally better drunk from wider glasses.

White wine
For white wines, a narrower bowl helps keep the wine cooler for longer because less of the surface of the glass is in contact with the surrounding air. Additionally, a narrower glass slows down oxidisation as less air can circulate within the glass. A narrower opening guides the more delicate aromas of white wine up to your nose.

Champagne
Champagne is traditionally served in a “flute”, a tall, narrow glass specially designed to enhance the flow of the bubbles and to concentrate the aroma. Champagne can also be served in a narrow, tulip-shaped white wine glass. Provided that the rim of the of the glass is narrower than the midpoint, maintaining effervescence, this type of glass may be a good choice as it allows for the drink to be swirled and the aroma to be better appreciated than in a flute.

There is also the champagne “saucer” or coupe, which is shallow and very broad. This type of glass was designed in the 17th century for sweet sparkling wine and has gone in and out of fashion ever since. However, as it allows the bubbles to dissipate very quickly, it is actually unsuitable for champagne and these days it is more likely to be used for cocktails.

And finally
Whatever glasses you choose, remember to always hand wash them to preserve their clarity. Washing with hot water only is the best option, as soap may leave residue that can affect the taste of your wines and reduce the pleasure of your wine tasting experience.