Wine Chronicle
A Glass that Matches the Wine Makes it an Irresistible Pair!
Nobody could simply go wrong with a good glass of wine; however, do you know that in order to get the best taste of wine it’s not only the quality of wine that should matter but also the glass you pour the wine into. Therefore, here are some tips on how to choose a suitable wine glass like a pro so you could enjoy “the best glass of wine ever”.
Before we dive into tips, here’s a little explanation for why it’s important to choose a proper glass for different wine types. Let’s break it into 2; firstly, there’re two important elements of wine which are the aromatic compounds & the flavours and secondly there’s the construct of a wine glass which are namely the foot, stem and the bowl; in the order from bottom to top. Simply, the aromatic compounds are carried by the ethanol vapours in wine and the different shapes and sizes of wine glasses affect the density and position of ethanol vapours. Which therefore means that the different shapes and sizes of wine glasses help out the differences in ethanol vaporisation to bring out the best of aromatic compounds and flavours that are unique to each type of wine.
Now that it’s clear why it’s important to choose a glass that matches the wine, let’s finally dive into a cheat sheet that allows you to quickly find the glass that matches your next sip of wine, shall we?
Source: Singlefile Wines
For general use for white wines, it is recommended a glass with a long stem with a good-sized bowl with space to allow for wine to breath. The glass should be held by the stem to avoid the wine getting heated by the temperature of hands. Lighter-bodied whites such as Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc should be served in glasses with a smaller bowl. On the other hand, a glass with a larger bowl should be used for fuller-bodied whites such as Chardonnay.
In general, larger bowled glasses goes well with reds. The two common types of red wine glasses are Bordeaux and Burgundy which has a construct that allows you to enjoy its aroma while releasing flavours and softening the tannins. Bordeaux is good to have as an everyday glass for wine and would best go with reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australian Shiraz, Tempranillo, Malbec and Sangiovese. For more delicate reds such as Pinot Noir or medium-bodied Australian Shiraz, a Burgundy glass would be the smarter choice.
A flute shaped glass would pair with sparkling wine and a tulip shaped one would be best if you’re to enjoy sparkling wine that are aged or with complexity.
This concludes the brief guide towards choosing the best glass that matches your wine and now it’s your turn to choose the glass like a pro to have an irresistible glass of wine filled with joy!
References:
https://www.wineselectors.com.au/selector-magazine/wine/your-guide-to-wine-glasses
https://winefolly.com/tips/the-importance-of-a-proper-wine-glass/
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2015/AN/C4AN02390K?referring_site=WFY#!divAbstract
https://www.singlefilewines.com/blog/Glassware-and-its-impact-on-sensory-enjoyment-of-wine
Cover image source- https://www.foodandwine.com/wine-regions/australia-wine-regions