Wine Wednesday
Diving into demystifying the choices for selecting a proper wine glass.....
A wine glass is normally more narrow at the top for two reasons: so the wine doesn't end up spilling when swirling, and it also helps concentrate the aromas from the wider part of the bowl, and makes it easier for us to smell them.
4 parts to a wine glass.
The base: keeps the glass standing.
The stem: for holding the glass, does two important things: a) keeps your hands from touching the bowl of the glass, and heating up your wine. If you are served wine too cold, you can cup the bowl with your hand to warm it up. b) keeps your fingers away from the opening of the glass. Our hands have their own distinct aroma, sometimes with soap, or lotions, that may interfere with the aromas of the wine. If you ever see a wine sommelier hold the glass by the base, this is why. I find that a bit too dramatic. The stem will suffice unless you’ve dipped your hands in perfume.
The bowl: which holds the wine, is better when it’s wider to allow for adequate swirling. The swirling of the wine crates a tornado like effect in the center which captures and concentrates the aromas of the wine. So even a wine with light aroma can be swirled to detect its flavors. Never fill a wine glass more than 1/3 of the bowl height so you don’t spill when swirling.
The rim: is the opening of the glass that allows for contact between the wine and the mouth. The thinner the glass, the easier the transition of flow. A thick glass will get in the way and feel obtrusive. Crystal wine glasses, due to the structural makeup of the molecules can be crafted very thin. Glass unfortunately can not, and can sometimes interfere with your perception of the wine due to the thicker glass. It will not however, change the taste of the wine.
The taller and more narrow, the glass, the longer it will stay cool. White wines and certainly sparkling wines are served cooler than the reds, which explains the more narrow structures.
The wider bowls allow for larger swirling and concentration of the bold aromas in a red wine. The Bordeaux glass is designed for heavy, full-bodied wines and its bowl is smaller than a standard red wine glass. To maximize the flavor, the glass is taller so the wine proceeds directly to the back of the mouth. You can use this glass for syrah, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and other rich, strong wines. The Burgundy glass is designed for lighter, full-bodied wines like Pinot Noir. This glass is shorter than the Bordeaux glass but it has a bigger bowl so the wine is directed to the tip of the tongue so the drinker can taste the more delicate flavors.
It’s fine to drink red wine out of a white wine glass and the reverse. If you are going to invest in one wine glass that covers it all, wine expert Nova Cadamatre, a wine maker in the Fingerlakes region of NY, recommends the Riedel Ouverture Restaurant Red Wine glass (shown below). If you’ve ever had wine from a Riedel glass, you know it’s very thin, the rim is unobtrusive when your lips meet the glass, and the wine just tastes better as a result. But again, the difference in taste is just perception. Riedel is an icon in glassware.
.For fortified wines, unless they are a very old Madeira, any glass will do. Otherwise, a small bourbon glass is best.
If you’ve ever poured a sparkling wine from a bottle to find that it wasn’t sparkling much, make sure you check your champagne flutes. Nucleation is the process where a small defect in the glass acts as the starting point for the formation of a bubble (which is carbon dioxide). If you have a perfectly smooth glass with no defects, there will be no place for the bubbles to attach to. Notice champagne glasses with etching in the base of the bowl. These glasses will create large amounts of effervescence compared to a smooth bowl base.
So next time you enjoy a glass of your favorite wine, pair it with right glass if you have it. It won’t change your experience drastically, but when you start to become experienced enough, you will appreciate the different nuances you will pick up on after using a proper glass.
Thank you for joining our weekly Wine Wednesday blog!! -Saluti
Xoxo -Lisa