Posts Tagged ‘wine glass’
The Importance of Choosing the Proper Wine Glass
For non-wine drinkers, it is baffling why wine lovers fuss over the type of glass used for a particular kind of wine. However, in order to appreciate wine to the fullest, understanding what kind of glass to use is a big part of the experience. Each type of glass emits a special taste and sometimes affects the aroma of the wine it contains. The wrong type of glass may even have an adverse effect on the taste of the finest wine.
Most wine glasses are stemware and shaped like a tulip. Stemware has three parts, which are the base, the stem, and the bowl. The base has a basic function, which is to keep the glass upright. The stem serves as the handle, and when holding by the stem, the transfer of heat from the fingers to the wine is reduced. Besides keeping heat transfer to a minimum, a stem enables the drinker to swirl the wine better, thereby drawing out the aroma.
The shape of the body, or bowl, of the proper wine glass will depend on the type of wine being consumed. Red wines are usually suited for fairly large and elongated bowls while bowls for whites are typically smaller. For champagne and other sparkling wines, there is the glass known as a champagne flute, which is thin and long. For dessert wines, a glass with a very narrow body is normally used.
An additional special concern is the thickness of the glass; ideal crystals are thin and delicate. To know if a wine glass is of good quality, there is what is called the “clink test.” When toasting, the sound of the glasses should be a “clink”, not a “clunk”. If it is the latter, the bowl is too thick.
These guidelines are useful especially to those starting to experiment with wines but they are not definite rules which cannot be broken. You should mix and match as you desire, the important thing is to enjoy the wine.