Have you ever wondered why there are so many different types of wine glasses differing in their size and shape. It may seem unnecessary for the average wine drinker, but believe it or not, the shape and size of the wine glass can actually enhance your wine drinking experience by bringing out the full aroma of the wine. This, in turn also affect the taste of the wine as our sense of smell is responsible for about 80% of what we taste. Below is a list of the different types of wine glasses that are available along with the best types of wine for the glasses.
Red Wine Glasses
Often a large glass which has a full, round bowl and a large opening. The large opening enables you to dip your nose inside to detect the aroma being given by the wine. The full bowl allows the wine to come in to contact with the air callow the complex aromas and flavours of the wine to be released. This also increases the oxidation rate, which smooths out the complex flavours.
Burgundy Wine Glass
A burgundy wine glass has a large bowl and a narrower top that allows the wine to be directed to the tip of the tongue. This allows the drinker to detect any of the flavour nuances the wine has. The wide bowl the wine glass has means that the beautiful fragrant aromas of the wine can accumulate, giving the drinker an amazing experience and flavour burst when taking the first sip. The rim of this glass makes it easy to drink from. This wine glass is perfect for lighter and more delicate red wines like Pinot Noir and Beaujolais.
Pinot Noir Glass
A pinot noir glass is very similar to the burgundy wine glass. It has wide bowl and narrows out towards the top of the glass, allowing the wine to be directed to the top of the tongue. The wide bowl means the wine can encounter a lot of air which improves both aroma and flavour. This wine glass is perfect for pinot noir and other light red wines.
Bordeaux Glass
The bordeaux style glass is often the tallest out of the different styles available for wine glasses. The bowl is wide but not as wide as other bowls, like on the burgundy glass but still wide enough so the wine can get plenty of air. The height of this glass creates a further distance between your mouth and the wine. This allows more ethanol to evaporate, which allows the oxygen to soften the tannins in the wine. This glass directs the wine to the back of the mouth, minimizing bitterness and maximizing the flavour. This wine glass is perfect for full-bodied, heavier red wines with high tannins, like Bordeaux blends, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cabernet Sauvignon Glass
The cabernet sauvignon glass is another tall glass but is slightly shorter than a bordeaux glass. It has a wide bowl and some variations can have a very narrow rim. The wide bowl allows plenty of air to oxidise the wine, enhancing the flavour, and the narrow rim allows the aroma to accumulate around the top of the glass. This wine glass is perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon and other bold wines.
Generic Red Wine Glasses
The standard red wine glass normally has a medium sized bowl and a smaller opening. The small opening allows the wine to meet the tongue in a smooth continuous flow that can soften the rich flavours the wine has. This type of glass is perfect for medium- to full-bodied red wines with or without spicy components, like Zinfandel, Shiraz, Carignan, Merlot, Chianti, and Malbec.
White Wine Glasses
Bowl is more u-shaped and upright than a red wine glass. Slightly smaller bowl than a red wine glass. The shape enhances and preserves aromas while also maintaining the wine's cool temperature.
Sauvignon Blanc Glass
The Sauvignon Blanc glass is a tall glass with a slender bowl with captures the nuanced delicate fruity and floral aromas of your favourite white wine, and helps guide it straight to your nose. The sides of a persons mouth is able to detect acidity the most. The Sauvignon Blanc glass causes the tongue to form a U shape, which helps the wine get directed to the centre of the palate, causing a smoother sip of wine. This type of glass is perfect for Sauvignon Blanc and other light- to medium-bodied, fruity, or floral wines, like white Bordeaux, Fume Blanc, Loire, Vinho Verde.
Montrachet Glass
A large bowl allows the heavy complexities to interact with sufficient air and open up. Large opening enables the drinker to smell complex aromas and enables the wine to flow from the edges of the tongue and either side of the palate to taste sour and acidic flavour spectrum. This glass is perfect for white wines with complex notes, such as Montrachet, White Burgundy.
Chardonnay Wine Glass
Larger opening guides wine to the tip and sides of the tongue, enabling the palate to detect the sweetness of the wine. It’s a balancing act: the bowl provides just enough aeration to concentrate the aroma while the larger opening balances out the sweetness and acidity on the palate. This glass is perfect for Chardonnay and other full-bodied wines, like Semillon and Viognier.
Riesling Sweet and Standard Sweet Wine Glass
Smaller overall, including a smaller rim, which guides wine towards the centre and the back of the mouth to avoid overwhelm from the sweetness. This glass is perfect for Riesling sweet and other sweet varieties, such as Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gruner Veltliner.
