About Wine Glasses

Glass Form

• Most wine glasses have three parts: the base, the stem and the bowl. The base provides stability for the glass and is usually circular. The stem provides support for the bowl but also allows the drinker to hold the glass without touching the bowl and thereby change the temperature of the wine. The bowl of the glass holds the wine, and is a different shape for each type of wine. Glasses in clear and smooth materials, such as glass and crystal, present wine best. Some contemporary glasses, however, do not have stems and look similar to tumblers; use these for casual events. Fill red wine glasses to one-third capacity only, and white wine glasses half full.

Red Wine

• Red wine glasses have the roundest and fullest bowls of all wine glasses. This presents a larger surface area of wine to the air, which allows the aromas of the complex flavor to rise to the drinker's nose. Swirling the wine in the glasses opens up more surface area of wine, allowing it to release even more aromas. A bordeaux wine glass is suited for heavy, full-bodied wines, but has a smaller bowl and is taller than a Burgundy wine glass. The bordeaux glass is for wines such as cabernet and merlot, while the burgundy glass is best for lighter wines, such as pinot noir.

White Wine

• More U-shaped than round and with more upright bowl sides than red wine glasses, a white wine glass allows the wine's aromas to drift upwards while maintaining a cooler temperature for the wine. Mature white wines taste best from a wine glass that is tall with straight sides. This shape directs the wine to the back of the tongue so that the drinker can appreciate its bolder flavors. A glass with a slightly larger opening directs younger white wines, with their sweetness and crispness, to the tip of the tongue.

Champagne and Dessert Wine

• Glasses for wine with bubbles, such as champagne and sparkling wine, are upright and narrow, which helps retain carbonation. Dessert wines and fortified wines, such as sherry and port, have a much higher alcohol content than other wines and are generally sweet wines, so they are served in small, short glasses designed for sipping.