What Type of Glass Should I be Drinking my Wine out of?

Let’s talk about glassware. Glassware is an important and sometimes overlooked piece of the full wine experience. We love how the right stemware can elevate your wine experience. Think about when you’re at a great restaurant, you order a favorite glass of red and they bring it to you in a nice clean, crisp wine glass. The glassware is not too thick, not too thin- it feels chic. There’s actually a science to this beyond aesthetics, and we’re breaking it down for you below! 

It’s true, different types of wine have specific types of wine glasses! These glasses are designed to let the drinker appreciate the full depth of flavors and aromas. The shape of each wine glass can actually impact the nose of the wine, which are the aromas and smells that come out of the wine. The nose is a significant part of your wine experience, so using the appropriate glassware can make a huge difference.

Reds

With reds we often hear, you want to let your wine breathe. But what does that really mean? It’s all about letting the wine get exposure to oxygen, which really just allows the flavors and aromas to develop. Wine glasses with a broader bowl and wider opening allow red wine to be exposed to more oxygen and develop as you drink. There are many varieties of red wines, these 4 types of stemware pretty much cover them all.

• Bordeaux Glass: A tall glass with a wide bowl, the Bordeaux glass is best suited for full-bodied red wines. Choose this glass when you’re drinking Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Burgundy Wine Glass: Similar to the Bordeaux glass, but with a wider brim, the Burgundy glass is perfect for lighter-bodied reds with more delicate flavors. Pick this glass when you want to sip Pinot Noir.
• Standard Wine Glass: The standard wine glass is the one that’s familiar to most people. This glass has a narrower mouth than the previous examples and is perfect for medium to full-bodied red wines like Malbec.
• Stemless Wine Glass: These glasses are great for not having to worry about breakage! They are best used with reds instead of whites because your hand can slightly heat the wine in the glass.

Whites & Rosés

Whites & rosés have less body and fewer intense flavors compared to reds but the glass in which you serve them in still matters! Light-bodied wines are best in narrow-bowled glasses. The smaller glasses preserve the fruity flavors by maintaining a cooler temperature. Additionally, since the white wine glasses are shorter, the space between the wine and drinker’s nose is shortened - so you get a full experience of the aroma of the wine! 

Since whites are so diverse, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Fuller-bodied whites or oaked white wines, like chardonnay, do best in a glass with a wider bowl. The wider bowl glass directs the wine to the back of the tongue, which allows us to taste the flavors more intensely.

Sparkling

Champagne flutes are best for anything sparkling, an easy rule to follow. Sparkling wines such as brut, are best served cool - so the long stems of a champagne flute are perfect - you can hold your glass without transferring heat from your hand to the glass. These glasses are also designed especially to showcase the wine’s iconic bubbles. The flutes are long and slim, with a small surface area which means the bubbles are exposed to less oxygen. For some aged champagnes and cavas, you might want to serve them in a tulip-shaped glass — the slightly wider bowl collects more of the aged brioche-like flavors.

In summary! Stemware matters. It helps you experience the full potential of your wine, ensures the temperature is regulated, enhances flavor, and adds in chicness. Wine Not elevate your wine experience? Grab a few bottles of our varietals, bring out the glassware and do an at home tasting experience of your own today!

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