One of the most popular questions I get asked (other than what wines I recommend to drink) is what the real difference is between all the wine glassware available. The short answer to that question is that each specific grape variety has a unique glass that will bring out the specific flavour profile characteristics of that specific grape(s).
I am sure we all know that our tongue is a very powerful sense and it has different trigger points for each of the 4 different flavour sensations. As you can see from the image above your tongue dictates where and ultimately when you can taste things. When you taste wine, your tongue is the first thing it hits. So understanding your tongue senses is an important part of the wine drinking process.
Each wine has a distinct flavour profile, and glassware can dictate what you taste first and ultimately, what the wine tastes like. For instance, Icewine is a very sweet dessert wine and the glass designed for it is intended to make sure it hits the front of your tongue first thing. Having the perfectly shaped glass for that certain bottle of wine will ensure complete harmony and enjoyment that will start the moment the wine hits your tongue and it also bring the "Savour" part of the drink to be much more enjoyable.
Below are just a few examples of which glass shape you should use for each wine. Each has a picture and brief description of why it is the best glass to drink that specific wine from. Take notes, that way the next time you are serving wine at your dinner party you can talk about why you are serving it from that glass - and won't you sound smart!
RIESLING/SAUVIGNON BLANCThese 2 types of glasses bring out the Aromas in both Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc grape varieties (and other aromomatic whites). This glassware will bring forward the the typical variatel aromas of grass, apple, herbs and citrus, while making sure the acidity level of the wine is in balance for the perfect sip!
CHARDONNAYI like to say "I want a big bowl of Chardonnay" because that is really how it should be served. Chardonnay grapes are aged in Oak (some are unoaked) and those oaked tend to be full bodied white wines. Fuller Bodied white wines need to be swirled and aerated to bring out the full flavours of the Grape. The wine will also hit every sense on your tongue to experience all the unique flavours of the chardonnay grape itself.
PINOT NOIR ("O" Stemless)I threw in a stemless glass, because they are one of my favourite and work very well in a living environment where stem glasses are hard to store (such as a condo). Riedel does make different stemless glasses for different varieties as well. A Pinot Noir Glass should be big at the bottom to aerate the wine, but it should also be in a tear drop shape to accentuate the finesse of the wine and to slide into your mouth and flow right down the centre of your tongue. Most Pinot Noirs (or lighter bodied reds) don't have a lot of tannin, and should not be decanted, so having a great glass (especially if you're like Miles) is a must if you truly enjoy that type of wine.
CABERNET SAUVIGNONCabernet's all have tannin (or what some people call "Dryness") to them. This is because the grape juice is left in contact with the skins of the grapes for an extended period of time to give the wine a full bodied flavour. A perfect Cabernet glass is open both at the top and the bottom, so that the wine opens itself up over time in the glass as well can flow into the mouth and hit all sides of the tongue and the mouth to showcase the full bodied flavour, the tannin structure and the fullest mouth feel (which can help in determining how long you can age the wine).
ICEWINE GLASS(These were invented by Canadian Icewine GodFather Donald Ziraldo, Co-Founder of Inniskillin Wines). Icewines glasses were meant to showcase the sweetness of the wines, so the angled glass at the top allows the wine to hit the sweetest part of your tongue first! Yum, gotta love Canadian Icewine!
SPARKLING WINE/CHAMPAGNETall thin, sparkling wine glasses allow for the the bubbles to stay in the glass for the longest period of time in comparison to other wine glasses. I am sure you can imagine if you were to pour sparking wine into a Cabernet glass how quickly the bubbles would disappear. This glass was designed to accentuate the light, zingy flavours of the wine perfectly on your palate with the wine lightly flowing through the centre isle of the tongues flavour zones, for a unique and sparkling experience.
There are many different wine varieties, and many different glasses in the world. If you happen to have a favourite wine, figure out which glass really brings out the essence and trueness of that wine and pickup some great glasses, you won't regret it and your wine will taste better than you ever thought possible. I always find that experimenting with your wine and glassware is always an interesting (and possibly the best) way to learn about why glasseware is so important and tend to be a very memorable experience. So next time you are at a wine tasting/winery/restaurant/wine bar etc experiment and ask questions!
A great place to buy glasses is at any Vineyards Estate Wines Store, they have a fabulous collection of glassware from Riedel to many other producers at every different price point. It is also worth noting that Tthe Wine Reps that work in those stores are trained to help you pick the glassware as well, so use them to your full advantage.
"There are many important factors when selecting the shape of a glass," says Maximilian Riedel, Georg's son and CEO of Riedel Crystal USA. "The ideal shape reveals all the aromas and taste components in a particular varietal; it ... creates a balanced interaction between fruit, mineralogy and acidity while de-emphasizing the evidence of alcohol. To read this full article click here To learn more about Spiegelau Glassware click hereTo learn more about Riedel Glassware click hereTo learn more about the different glassware for each wine click herePlease note all the above pictures are from the Riedel website
July 12, 2008
A look at all things Ironic!
