Importance of Wine Stemware

Wine does not have to be served in the most expensive glassware to show its advantages. However, there are a few basic principles to bear in mind when choosing glasses that will help you get the best from its bottle. As with wine, personal preference should always be your guide.

General Tips

1. Just hold the glass stem. This simply prevents the wine from warming. It also helps dirtying of the glass, and prevents fingerprint marks.
2. Most experts recommend a glass that curves in around the top, in order to maintain the wine's bouquet.
3. Shy away from large base glasses, as this size can make a glass a bit unsteady.
4. The glass needs to be transparent. This is really the only way to closely examine the wine's color and body.
5. You can't go wrong with a general purpose wine glass, one with a capacity of approximately 12 ounces.

Keep it Clean

The overwhelming most important consideration is cleanliness. A dirty glass carries a taint, which can ruin any wine. Never take a glass from the cabinet and pour wine into it. Just before serving, always rewash your stemware in very hot, sudsy water and rinse it repeatedly. Then stick your nose in the glass and inhale...you should either smell nothing, or wash it again.

Types of Glasses

Glass Type	Description
Sparkling	Customaryily is served in a flute, which is a straight sided tall thin glass. Their narrowness provides reduced surface area from which the bubbles can release and helps retain effervescence.
Bordeaux	The glass is designed to capture the wine´s bouquet, typical in medium to full bodied wines.
Sauvignon Blanc	Has a glass shape being similar to that of Bordeaux, slightly smaller.
Chardonnay	Chardonnay's offer a wide range of shapes, mostly of medium size.
Burgundy	Has a shape designed to help capture the wine´s hearty medium to full body bouquet.

Contributor: Jim Stein (Syracuse, NY)

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