AGLASS HALF FULL
WINE AND THE RIGHT GLASS GO HAND IN HAND; CLEARLY, ONE SIZE, OR SHAPE, DOESN’T BEFIT ALL, SAYS
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THE DESIGN (ARCHITECTURE OR CONSTRUCTION) OF A STEMMED GLASS MUST ENSURE THAT THE SIZE, HEIGHT AND
WIDTH ARE IN PERFECT HARMONY
Awine’s bouquet, taste, balance and finish are all affected by the shape of the glass it is consumed from. Wine displays completely different characteristics when served in different glasses. These differences can be so striking that even experienced wine connoisseurs think that they taste different wines when in effect they only taste the same wine in different glasses. The shapes have been created to specifically enhance a wine’s harmony and highlight its unique characteristics.
person’s interest in wine is led by colour, bouquet and taste, but often the glass is not considered an instrument to convey the wine’s message. My grandfather created the first varietal specific glass, for a Pinot Noir. The grape variety is key to determining the relationship between fruit, acidity, tannin and alcohol. Therefore I don’t advocate glasses designed on a computer or a drawing board; you have to involve the experts, the wine makers and the sommeliers. They understand the nature of the wine, its DNA and it is they who envision the profile of the wine.
Stemware consists of three parts: the bowl, stem and base. The design (architecture or construction) of a stemmed glass must ensure that the size, height and width are in perfect harmony. The size of the bowl has to be in proportion to the height of the stem and the width of the base. Respecting the exact ratio between these dimensions ensures that the glass is correctly and seamlessly proportioned.
A grape varietal specific stemware has to translate the “message” of wine to the senses. There are four sensations in wine: bouquet, texture, flavour and finish. A varietal specific stemware is responsible for delivering the quality and intensity of the wine’s aroma. It highlights the exciting and diverse styles of “mouthfeel” in wine (watery, creamy, silky and velvety). A balanced interaction between the fruit, minerality, acidity and bitter components of a wine is created through the right glass. It offers a pleasant, seamless, harmonious, and long lasting aftertaste.
The depth of the bowl and the curve of the rim change the amount of air exposure and direct the flow of wine onto the tongue to enhance or mute flavours. The shape of a glass enhances aromas and flavours. The shape of a glass makes a difference even with water and soda. For example, anoaked Chardonnay wine shows a lot more alcohol in the nose with the standard white wine glass but as soon as you put it in the Chardonnay glass with a round bottom but narrower rim, the alcohol isn’t as evident and you notice more subtle buttery notes.
With the Pinot Noir, which is often known for unbalanced acid levels, the lip of the glass acts as an ‘acidity bumper’ and the wine hits the front of the mouth presenting the fruity flavours first. This is precisely why the last sip of a bottle is always the best; it’s ‘mission accomplished’. Or maybe because it has had the most oxygen; we can decant a wine, or we can use the right glass.
It is imperative that wines are treated in a rightful manner to accentuate and intensify the experience for the senses. And a proper glass for each wine can definitely help in achieving the objective, always.