Wine Glasses – Do They Affect Wine?

Leave a Comment

There are many beautiful wine glasses available – coloured or frosted glasses, beautiful cut crystal and even pewter, and they all come in various shapes and sizes. But does the type of wine glass really affect the pleasure of drinking the wine, and if so, how?

Which Material?

Colour can play an important part when drinking wine, including the first look to ensure that the wine is not flawed in any way. Many people enjoy looking at the colour of the wine beforehand to see if it will given them an idea of the grape used, or the age of the wine. If the material that the wine glass is made from is coloured, frosted, pewter or even crystal, you will not be able to see the wine clearly. You may miss the fact that it is flawed, and the depth of colour will be illusive. It is also believed that fused or cut glass actually interferes with the flavour of the wine. The best material for a wine glass should be one of blown, clear cystal, that can be made as thin as possible in order to be transluscent to clearly see the wine.

Which Shape or Size?

The aroma (or bouquet) and flavour of the wine is heavily influenced by the shape of the wine glass. A large bowl is necessary to allow a decent measure of wine without filling the glass to the brim. It should also be large enough to accomodate a gentle swirling of the wine in order to aerate it without spilling! The shape of the wine glass should be that of a tulip – a wide bowl, then gently tapering to the rim. The tapering helps to direct the aroma up to your nose when smelling.

The stem allows you to hold the wine glass in a way that will not alter the temperature of the wine by the heat of your hand, and also prevents fingerprints from smearing the glass and impairing your view of the colour and legs of the wine.

There are three main types of wine glasses – red wine glasses, white wine glasses and champagne flutes.

Those glasses that are for red wine have a rounder, wider bowl, which give the wine a chance to breath more. While white wine glasses tend to have a narrower bowl, and thus are straight shaped than the tulip shape for the red wine. Being narrow helps the white wine to remain chilled as there is less air circulating around the glass and warming the wine. Finally, you have the champagne flutes, which are distinguished by their tall, narrow shape. Again, the stem is very important so that you can hold the glass without affecting the temperature of the drink. The narrow shape is designed to retain the champagne’s carbonation, by reducing the surface area at the opening of the bowl.

Wine critic, Gary Vaynerchuk, tackles this topic by grabbing two great wines and attacks this subject head first.

		6Tulip Large Recycled Wine Glasses Lay a table outside with a gingham cloth, and dress it as you would for an alfresco dinner party these recycled glasses look great. With the sun shining, you can easily transport yourself to sunnier climes. All you need is good food, friends and wine…		£25.49
		6Tulip Small Recycled Wine Glasses Lay a table outside with a gingham cloth, and dress it as you would for an alfresco dinner party these recycled glasses look great. With the sun shining, you can easily transport yourself to sunnier climes. All you need is good food, friends and wine…		£22.99
		Dartington Crystal Chateauneuf Large Wine Glasses Set of 2 Tapered at the top to concentrate the wine's bouquet, these classic rounded glasses are generously sized and made from 24% lead crystal. Ideal for enjoying white wine. Handmade in Thailand.…		£40.00
		Dartington Crystal Eleanor Wine Glasses Set of 2 Eleanor wine glasses handmade from 24% lead crystal in Devon by Dartington Crystal. Exclusive to John Lewis. Set of two. Washing Instructions Hand wash in warm water using a gentle detergent.…		£40.00
		Dartington Crystal Ophelia Wine Glasses Box of 2 Every Dartington Crystal item is handcrafted in the UK by expert craftsmen, and the end result is the ultimate in quality and clarity. Designed to enhance your appreciation of your favourite tipple. Box of 2x 24% lead crystal wine glasses. Special Pu…		£20.00
		Dartington Crystal Wine Master Water Glasses Set of 2 With a short stem and fine bowl, these Dartington Crystal glasses are an elegant way to enjoy a glass of water. 24% lead crystal. Hand made.…		£35.00
		Dartington Crystal Wine Masters Bordeaux Glasses Set of 2 These classic Bordeaux glasses from Dartington Crystal are designed with a fine bowl and smooth rim to allow full enjoyment of the flavour and aroma. 24% lead crystal. Hand made.…		£40.00
		Dartington Crystal Wine Masters Brandy Glasses Set of 2 The large, round bowl of these Dartington Crystal glasses allow you to enjoy the full flavour of your favourite brandy. 24% lead crystal. Hand made.…		£43.00
		Dartington Crystal Wine Masters Burgundy Glasses Set of 2 The large, fine bowl of these Dartington Crystal Burgundy glasses allow the full aroma and flavour of the wine to be enjoyed. 24% lead crystal. Hand made.…		£40.00
		Dartington Crystal Wine Masters Chefs Taster Glasses Set of 2 This pair of Chef's Taster glasses from Dartington Crystal have a slim, straight bowl and are carefully designed to deliver the wine's full flavour and aroma. 24% lead crystal. Hand made.…		£37.00
		Dartington Crystal Wine Masters Merlot Glasses Set of 2 The fine crystal bowl of these Dartington Crystal Merlot glasses allow you to savour the wine's colour and aroma, while the smooth shape and rim accent even the most subtle of flavours. 24% lead crystal. Hand made.…		£38.00
		Dartington Crystal Wine Masters White Wine Glasses Set of 2 These versatile white wine glasses from Dartington Crystal have a fine bowl and smooth rim for a full delivery of flavour. 24% lead crystal. Hand made.…		£37.00
		John Lewis Casa Wine Glasses Box of 4 Everyday great value wine glasses, made in Poland exclusively for John Lewis.…		£9.00
		John Lewis Corto Large Wine Glasses 37cl Box of 4 Sturdy and simple, these great value wine glasses are perfect for everyday. Made in Italy exclusively for John Lewis. Box of 4.…		£17.00
		John Lewis Fine Wine Glasses Box of 2 Designed for enjoying rich fortified or dessert wines, this glass is designed to be slightly smaller than a normal wine glass, allowing the drinker to swallow less with each sip. The inward taper concentrates the aroma, so you can really savour your …		£19.00
		John Lewis Fine Wine Glasses Medium Box of 4 Classic wine glasses with fine bowl and delicate, slim stem. Originally designed for use in restaurants, this range is extremely durable and made to last. Exclusive to John Lewis.…		£30.00
		John Lewis Fine Wine Glasses Small Box of 4 Classic wine glasses with fine bowl and delicate, slim stem. Originally designed for use in restaurants, this range is extremely durable and made to last. Exclusive to John Lewis.…		£28.00
		John Lewis Juno Small Wine Glasses Box of 4 Elegant and simple Juno wine glasses. Made in Slovakia.…		£12.00
		John Lewis Value Wine Glasses Box of 4 4x superb value wine glasses for everyday use. Capacity 24cl.…		£4.00
		John Lewis Vino Large Wine Glasses Box of 4 Tall, traditional glasses sold in boxes of 4. 50cl. Exclusive to John Lewis.…		£17.00