 Choosing Wine Glasses
There
really is no right or wrong glass for wine tasting
— or for drinking wine for that matter. However, there
are some glasses that are better than others for evaluating
wines. First of all, we like to suggest using glasses that
you are comfortable using. Aesthetics aside, there are really
only two things to remember when considering a wine tasting
glass: the size of the glass and the overall shape of the
glass.
The more universally used tasting glass is called a chimney
shape. Broader on the bottom of the bowl, it tapers upward
to a smaller opening. The broader bottom will enable you
to hold enough wine and give you plenty of room to swirl
the wine, while the smaller opening at the top will help
to trap and focus the aromas, allowing you enough of a scent
to assess the wine.
Size Doesn't Matter
For the most part, if your glass is of this shape, the actual
size of the glass is not important other than it needs to
be big enough and have a big enough opening for you to be
able to get your nose inside to really smell the wine. Some
people swear by large "Burgundy" style glasses
that allow as much of the wine to come in contact with the
air as possible, therefore releasing as many of the aromas
and flavors as possible. Others like the convenience and
ease of use of a smaller glass. Other considerations that
will enhance your tasting experience include glassware that
is clear (no colors) and free of cuts or engravings within
the glass.
Many glass manufacturers have designed specific glasses for
specific wine types or varietals, taking in to account different
aspects of the individual wine type. While this is wonderful,
it is not a necessary purchase for a complete wine tasting.
The top producer of these specialized wine glasses is an
Austrian crystal company named Riedel (pronounced REE-dle).
They are exquisite and expensive.
Cleaning Wine Glasses
When it comes time to clean your glassware, try to avoid
using soap. Instead use hot water and rinse thoroughly. Soap
can become trapped within the glass release soapy odors the
next time you use it. Although you may become quite proficient
at identifying various brands of dish soap, this ability
and the soapy glasses that taught you will not add to the
enjoyment of a good glass of wine.
To summarize, it's important that you find good glassware
for your wine tasting experiences, but "good" does
not necessarily mean "expensive." Find glassware
that you are comfortable with and adequately serves its purpose:
presenting wine for your evaluation and enjoyment.
Article © 2002-2006, Wine
Tasting
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