Over the past decade, a plethora of wine glass shapes have appeared on the market, ranging from simple and inexpensive to elaborate and exorbitantly expensive. While there are still variety specific options for glassware (cabernet sauvignon / bordeaux, pinot noir / burgundy, chardonnay, etc.), the universal glasses are very much on the rise and perhaps the perfect choice for any wine style.
Size matters
Whether red, white, rosé, sparkling or fortified, aromas play a crucial role in its overall character. The smaller the chalice, the harder it is to release all those aromas. Larger chalices allow more oxygen to come into contact with the wine. They also lend themselves to easier rolling, which not only looks cool, if done properly, but will aerate the wine and help open it up.
Varietal specific versus simple red or white
Over the past century, glasses have been designed for just about every major grape variety. Each wine style has specific characteristics in terms of acidity, fruit expression, tannin and alcohol, and different glass shapes enhance or soften those characteristics. If your goal is to build a great collection of wine glasses, this is fine. However, you can suffice with a standard cabernet or red wine glass for all red wines and a chardonnay glass for white wines. If you are looking for a variety specific glass, this is the bottom line:
Cabernet Sauvignon / bordeaux
Your traditional red wine glass. Bordeaux tend to be high in alcohol and tannin. A larger chalice with more height puts more distance between the wine and the drinker, eliminating ethanol in front of the nose and more oxygen stimulates the tannins to soften.
Syrah / shiraz
Slightly higher than the bordeaux glass and with a slightly tapered top, this glass is designed to focus the fruit and allow enough aeration to soften the tannins in these powerful reds.
Pinot noir / burgundy
The extremely wide chalice and tapered rim allow plenty of aeration, concentrate delicate aromas and showcase the bright, rich fruit.
Chardonnay / viognier
Your traditional white wine glass. It is meant for young, fresh wines, as the somewhat narrow rim concentrates the nose of highly aromatic white wines. The smaller chalice also keeps white wine colder than the large chalices used for red wines.
White burgundy
Similar in shape to the pinot noir glass but with a smaller chalice, the wide chalice and narrow rim concentrates aromas and achieves maximum aeration on creamy white wines to reveal subtle complexities and offset rich fruit concentration. This glass is often confused with the chardonnay glass.
Sparkling
The champagne flûte is all about the bubbles. It keeps the fruit and possible yeasty aromas concentrated with its narrow design, but also ensures that the effervescence stays on for a long time.
Fortified wines
These wines are higher in alcohol than regular bottlings. A smaller chalice reduces alcohol evaporation and emphasizes their rich fruit and complex aromas.
With or without stem
While stemless glasses can be excellent options for everyday drinking enjoyment, they may not be the best option for enjoying higher quality wines. They force users to grasp the chalice rather than the stem or base, causing the temperature of the wine to rise due to the heat of the hand. It is not a major disaster for red wines, but it is for white wines. Fingerprints and smudges are also inevitable with stemless glassware.
Thin is in
The latest trend in glassware is a super light, thin stem and rim of the glass. These elegant collections, such as Zalto and Zenology, can feel like you are barely holding a glass. Tasting rooms and top wine restaurants offer their best wines in this style of glassware. However, they are as delicate as they are refined. If too many broken wine glasses become a problem in your home, you may need something sturdier, such as Riedel or Fusion.
Forget the flûte
Sparkling wine, particularly Prosecco, is being consumed now more than ever. But wine enthusiasts try to savor the aromas that rise from the glass, which can be stifled by the traditional, narrow champagne flute. While toasting with a flute is always popular, a white wine or all-purpose glass is often the better option. If you’re looking for an alternative, a coupe- or tulip-shaped champagne glass allows the bubbles to linger slightly longer than a typical wine glass, letting you enjoy more of the intense aromas.
One glass for all
If you don't want to choose which glass goes with which wine, the universal glass is the way to go. The size is somewhere between a chardonnay glass and a smaller glass for red wine. It is the most versatile option for enjoying all your favorite wines, including sparkling wines! Almost every glass brand offers a universal option and it is becoming increasingly popular.
By Wine Enthusiast / @WineEnthusiast / Photos by Getty / Illustration by Julia Lea
