Martini glasses, champagne flutes, goblets and chalices….Phew!! Choosing the right glass to go with your drink can be very confusing. Here are some tips to choosing the correct stemware. Most wine drinkers would agree that different styles of wines demand different types of wine glasses.

Wine glasses, often referred to as “stemware”, is generally composed of three parts; the bowl, the stem and the foot. The shape of the glass generally influences the taste of a particular wine. Ideally a wine glass should be held by its stem. The temperature of the wine should be should be controlled, in order to retain the temperature and bouquet of the wine, it should not come in contact with heat. This can be only achieved when the fingers are on the stem and no direct contact with the bowl that holds the wine.

What to look for when choosing the wine glasses

When choosing wine glasses, firstly pay attention to the material from which it is made. The glass must be plain and clear.

Make sure that you select glasses which are of a sufficient size. The bowl should be large enough to allow a fair measure to be poured, whilst leaving enough room for the wine to be gently swirled without spilling the wine.

The glass must have a stem, not just for aesthetic reasons, the wine glass may be held without covering the bowl in greasy fingerprints.

SHAPE OF THE GLASS

The shape of the glass is very important, as it concentrates the flavour and aroma and enhances the wine’s characteristics. It is said that every variety of wine has a target area of delivery in the mouth.

The shape of the glass also directs the wine itself into the best area of the tongue, where it reaches those taste buds that can recognize the flavour of the wine to its optimum. Thus specially designed stem glasses are made.

The opening of the glass should never be wider than the widest part of the bowl, although sizes may differ.

TYPES OF GLASSES

Bordeaux Glass: Tall with a wide bowl. Generally taken with red wines like Cabernet and Merlot.

Burgundy Glass: This style of glass directs wine to the tip of the tongue. It is wider than Bordeaux glass and has a wider mouth. Red wines like Pinot Noir are generally served in these stemware.

Champagne Flutes: The mouth is narrow. The glass is designed to be held by the stem to help prevent the heat from the hand from warming the champagne. These glasses are ‘tulip shaped’.

Sherry Glasses: These glasses are used to serve ‘aromatic beverages’. These are the basic types of glasses that are meant for wines. The sizes may differ.