Raise Your Glass!

Do some wine glasses enhance the wine better than others? Should you invest in expensive wine glasses? Are all 'good' wine glasses expensive? These are some of the questions I often receive from my wine students. In my opinion, yes, the glass makes a difference.

Why is this so? The shape of the glass can have a big effect on taste. Experts claim that the depth of the bowl and the curve of the rim change the amount of air exposure and directs the flow of wine onto the tongue to enhance or mute flavors.

Wine Glasses 101:

• 1. The size and shape of the bowl - The larger the bowl the better the wine's aromas can circulate. Glassware intended for red wine tends to be bigger, since red wines need more time and air to open up.

• 2. The stem length - The stem of the glass allows us to hold the glass without having our hand on the actual bowl and 'interfere' with the wine's temperature. No more, no less.

• 3. Stemless - Stemless wine glasses have become very popular. This is a good thing, as they are practical, especially for everyday and casual wine-drinking occasions. I am a total convert.

• 4. Fine lead crystal or regular glass - The finer the crystal the thinner the glass. This does make a huge difference. Fine, lead crystal really does enhance the wine drinking experience. However, these are expensive glasses.

• 5. Plain, colored or etched - In general plain, unadorned glasses are better for serious tasting, as they allow you to examine all the visual aspects of the wine such as the color -- its intensity as well as viscosity. However, most wine drinking situations are not 'serious tastings' so feel free to have some fun, add some color.

• 6. Champagne/sparkling wine flutes - The 'flute' shaped glass has long been considered the best for Champagne and sparkling wines as it allows the wine to manifest its bubbles with greatest intensity and duration.

Try it for yourself. Pour the same wine into two different glasses and taste the difference.