You can drink wine out of a coffee mug or a mason jar or a red sippy cup or straight from the bottle it does not really matter - if you are in it just to catch a buzz, however, if you are in it for the best tasting experience, certain glass shapes work better for certain wines.
This information is not really about social/cultural etiquette as much as being about how wine glass controls the tasting experience and ultimately makes wine taste even better. And, if having the right glass is an important aspect of drinking better wine, then it is well worth knowing!
There are multiple glass shapes for wine because there are multiple wine styles.
White wines are typically served in smaller bowled glasses to (i) preserve floral aromas, (ii) maintain cooler temperatures, and (iii) deliver more aromas - even at cooler temperatures - due to proximity to the nose.
Full-bodied white wines such as oak-aged Chardonnay or Viognier, older whites, or some vintage sparkling wines are typically desired out of a larger bowled white wine glass. This style, originally introduced by Riedel as a Montrachet glass, emphasizes the creamy texture in these wines with a wider mouth.
Red wines are typically served in larger bowled glasses to (i) deliver more aroma compounds vs. the burn of ethanol from being farther from the nose, (ii) enhance larger surface area to let ethanol evaporate (or the wine "open up"), and (iii) a wider opening makes wine taste smoother.
The choice of a red wine glass has much to do with mitigating the bitterness of tannin or the spiciness to deliver a smoother-tasting wine. And also, the distance to the actual fluid seems to affect which aromas you detect.
Glass #1 (above) is ideal for medium-to-full bodied reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux blends, Grenache, Sangiovese and Merlot.
Glass #2 (above) is ideal for full-bodied red wines with ample tannin and higher alcohol levels such as Zinfandel, Shiraz, Malbec or Petit Syrah.
Glass #3 (above) is a good choice for lighter, more delicate aromatic red wines such as Pinot Noir.
About KDM Global Partners
KDM Global Partners, LLC ('KDM') has been dedicated to the analysis, design and implementation of new initiatives for its clients since 2000.
KDM’s Private Label Wine Program offers a seasoned team of winemakers worldwide, distribution partners (in all 50 states and overseas), legal and compliance experts and a graphic design team. KDM clients find that their custom wine brand programs are easily implemented â€" and turnkey in that KDM can assist with most every aspect of the process. The emphasis is on the quality and consistency of YOUR wine product, YOUR margins and YOUR new custom private label brand!
Jonathan Gelula is the Founder and President of KDM. Jon holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from the Emory University School of Law. With all of the change afoot in and around the wine world, Jon founded KDM to help businesses â€" and consumers â€" get access to great, undiscovered wines and to use them as branding tools and profit generators for their own businesses.
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