Have a Glass tonight… Or two!

Appropriate Glassware

Glassware is a tricky subject to address because personal spending habits play an important role.

However, I have some good news: acceptable quality is not necessarily related to price!

Some important tips for picking out your Wine Glassware include:

1. Appropriate Shape to Grape-Variety.

Certain Grape Varieties are more delicate and need a narrower glass to concentrate its aromas, while other ones need more surface area to breathe and show their powerful personalities.

2. Over-All Tulip Shape.

A Tulip shaped Glass allows wine to have a wider area exposed to oxygen (in the wider part of the tulip); as oxygen becomes in contact with the wine, alcohol evaporates and carries out all of the wine aromas into the nose: through the concentrated narrow part of the tulip shaped glass!

3. Thin Glass (or Crystal) that allows better oxygen exchange.
4. Tall Thin Stems that allow you a comfortable grip without altering the temperature of your wine.

Starting a good wine Glassware Collection can start with:

1. A set of Bordeaux Style glasses for most of your red wine enjoyment.
2. A set of Riedel Style glasses for most of your white wine enjoyment, and certain reds (such as Rioja or Zinfandel). This shape of glass is considered the Joker-Style of wine glassware, it works for most wines!
3. A set of Stem-Less wine glassware for Relaxed Wining (Italian Style!)

Later on you can add to your collection:

4. A set of Burgundy Style glasses for your Chardonnay and Pinot Noir bottles.
5. A set of Elegant Long flutes for bubbly French Champagne, Spanish Cava or Italian Spumante.