Wine is a fusion of science and art. Whether it is the red wine or the white wine, there are some specific tasting & serving procedures to bring out 100% of its flavor potential.
Every type of wine has different levels of acidity, alcohol, tannin & aromas. In order to relish every component in the most optimal way, there are specific red wine glasses for the red wines & white wine glasses for the white wines.
Wine glasses come in various shapes & sizes. In fact, they are classified depending on the body of the wine i.e. some glasses better suit the light bodied wines while other glasses are better for the heavier wines.
There are many aspects to be considered while deciding on a glass for your wine. Let us start you with the wine glass itself.
Parts of a Wine Glass
Be it the red wine glass or the white wine glass, it invariably has four essential parts:
- Base: It is the bottom-most part of the wine glass that imparts stability to it.
- Stem: Elongating from the base is the stem which allows the drinker to hold the wine glass without inadvertently raising the temperature of the wine due to fingers’ proximity. It also mitigates the chances of leaving fingerprints on the bowl, meaning the wine glass can be kept pristine for longer.
- Bowl: Sitting atop the stem of the wine glass is its most important feature – the bowl. It must be large enough to allow the drinker to easily swirl the wine without any spilling or splashing. Also, the bowl should be sufficiently tapered for retaining the concentration of the aromatic compounds in the wine.
- Rim: The bowl culminates into the uppermost part of the wine glass which is the rim.
How Red Wine Glasses Differ From White Wine Glasses
Depending on the type of wine they’re designed to hold, the red wine glasses differ in shape & size from the white wine glasses.
Structural Differences
- The red wine glasses typically have a larger bowl. As red wines are bolder, larger bowls allow faster interaction of the tannin & acids in the wine with air to unlock the flavors. The swirling of red wine activates the esters and aldehydes easily in the large bowl. Bowls of white wine glasses are smaller with narrower openings.
- The other obvious distinction between the two types of glasses is the longer stem length of the white wine glasses. White wines are more sensitive to temperature fluctuations and longer stems allow distance between the fingers holding the stem and the wine within the bowl.
Effect on the Senses
- Larger, bulbous bowl of the red wine glass allows generous aeration of the wine which opens up the flavors for the palate more prominently, making it taste better. White wines don’t need much aeration to open up their flavors.
- Shorter bowl of white wine glasses means as the drinkers take a sip, the wine is closer to their noses & they can identify the subtler aromas of the white wine.
- While swirling the wine, it is easier to identify red wine’s viscosity & color as compared to those of white wine’s since red wine glasses have more visible surface area.
- A thinner, smooth rim ensures an easy flow of the wine from the glass into the mouth. Thicker rims are distracting to the drinker’s lips. White wine glasses have particularly thinner rims.
These were the general characteristics of the glasses. Next, we see the types of red wine glasses & white wines glasses.
Types of Red Wine Glasses
These are suitable for savoring the lighter, more delicate red wines like the red burgundy or the Pinot Noir. The shorter lip of the glass lets the wine to run over the palate’s tip, enhancing the wine’s sweetness while unfolding the flavor nuances of the wine. It doesn’t, however, mellow the tannin.
Best suited for heavier red wines with high tannin like Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Bordeaux glasses are the tallest in this category. They have a broad bowl.
The height of the glass is just right to facilitate dissipation of alcohol in the wine on the nose while simultaneously allowing oxygen to soften the tannin mitigating the bitterness. The glass’s rim directs the wine to the back of the mouth which maximizes the flavor.
These glasses are suitable for medium to full-bodied red wines that may or may not have spiciness e.g. Shiraz, Merlot, Chianti, Malbec etc. The bowl is quite tapered with a small opening which leads to a continuous flow of the wine into the mouth, softening the spiciness and enhancing the rich flavors.
Types of White Wine Glasses
The distinctive feature of a good white wine glass is that it maintains the wine’s cool temperature while preserving the aromas.
These glasses bring out the wines’ acidic characteristics by allowing it to move onto the middle of the palate. With a lower ABV, white wines’ alcohol vapors are not much of a serious concern while tasting or sipping the wine. Sauvignon Blanc, Roses etc. get really unfolded in these glasses.
These are larger glasses with wider openings, but not wider than those for the red wines. The wider opening facilitates the ethanol vapors to flow wide away from the nose.
The glass also accentuates wine’s rich flavors and aromas. Chardonnays are a good match for these glasses.
Which type of glass a rose wine drinker should use?
Well, that depends on the type of rosé wines one is having. Experts recommend glasses with flared lips & long stems for young roses. On the other hand, a shorter, bowl-shaped glass aids in savoring flavorful older rose wines.
Liquidz has an extensive range of red wines, white wines, rose wines & sparkling wines and wine glasses to savor them, all available at unbelievable offers and deals throughout the year for drink lovers of HK.
Registered members have had a bountiful summer this year with wines, what with the festivity of junk boat party season, Dragon Boat fest & the staycations!
Do browse our liquor collection & join the wine bandwagon of the town today.
