Guide to Buying Wine Glasses
The shape and structure of a wine glass can alter the taste of the drink itself and is an important part of serving and drinking wine. Different types of wine require different stemware. This guide will help you choose the proper glass, depending on the type of wine you serve.
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Red Wine Glasses
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Red wines such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot and pinot noir are traditionally served at room temperature. The wine may have been bottled for months or years, and when fresh air touches it, the aromas are released.
Because of this, red wines are best served in a large crystal glass with a wide mouth, which allows more air to come in contact with the wine. Also, when you drink from a wide-mouth glass, your nose can enter the glass. Inhaling the aroma of the wine enhances the taste.
Fill the glass no more than two-thirds full, which allows you to swirl and aerate the wine.
White Wine Glasses
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White wines such as chardonnay and sauvignon blanc are usually served chilled. Glasses for these wines are smaller and more modest than the large red wine glasses and are often described as tulip-shaped.
Unlike red wine glasses, the mouth of a white wine glass should be more narrow than the bottom of the glass. This helps keep the wine chilled by protecting it from the room-temperature air.
Sparkling Wine Glasses
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Sparkling wines are typically served in a long, narrow crystal glass known as a flute. Because sparkling wine is usually chilled, the reason for the small mouth is similar to that of white wine glasses. But it also makes the drink more visually pleasing, as it enhances the bubbling and fizzing.
Dessert Wine Glasses
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Dessert wines such as port or sherry are best served in a small wine glass. The ideal glass is shaped like a white wine glass but smaller. Do not choose a glass with a very small mouth, because these wines, like red wines, need to breathe.
Tips
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Stems are an important part of the structure of a wine glass. Stemless wine glasses are attractive and trendy but may deter from the drinking experience. The stems are designed to keep the hands away from the cup. When you hold a stemless glass, the heat from your hand may cause the temperature of the wine to rise.
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