Wine Glass Selection

Preferably, wine. Selecting the proper wine glass to accompany a particular might seem at first like a matter best left to the connoisseur. But you might be surprised at how easy it actually is and how much of it is a matter of personal taste. Knowing how the size and shape of a wine glass affects the overall experience of drinking wine will help you choose a style that suits your palate.

Remember, shopping for the right wine glass should be enjoyable. There's no wrong wine glass, so if you can't decide which wine attributes you want your stemware to draw out, simply choose the glasses that most appeal to you. After all, presentation is a significant part of overall gratification.

Three distinct parts make up a traditional wine glass: the foot, the stem, and the bowl. Each of these is designed with a specific purpose in mind.

The foot should be wide and sturdy enough to support a bowl that is half full (usually the maximum amount of wine that should be poured into a wine glass). The bond between the foot and stem should also be strong enough to allow swirling while the glass is held by the foot.

The purpose of the stem is to provide a place to hold the glass that does not transfer the heat of the hand to the wine. It also gives the glass an elegant look.

The bowl is the most significant component of the wine glass when it comes to overall effect. It should be wide enough to enable swirling, which stirs up the essences of the wine and opens up the full bouquet. It should taper in at the top, which will concentrate the wine's bouquet under the nose. Choose a wine glass with a bigger, wider bowl for red wines, which have a more robust aroma. For white wines, choose a slender bowl, which will concentrate the lighter aroma.

Meals with multiple courses often have a different wine that is paired with each course. To fully appreciate the flavor and aroma of the various wines, each wine should have a specific glass, which will also enhance the overall mood with an element of elegance add romance.

A wine glass helps a glass of wine meet its potential. It allows light to illuminate the alluring color and brings focus to the body of the wine. Experts recommend narrow bowls for whites and wide bowls for reds, but you are the expert on your taste. If a glass looks good and feels good, then those are the determining factors for the right wine glass. Cheers!