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Should You Buy Special Glasses To Serve Wine?
by Fairfax Tolman
http://www.ftwine.com

One of the controversies surrounding the serving of wine is
whether or not the shape of the glass affects the taste of
the wine, and if so, how much?

The shape of the glass can subtly influence such things as
the layering of vapors released by the wine by funneling
those vapors and concentrating the ones that are give the
wine its characteristic notes. It can also direct the flow
of wine so that it touches the palate or tongue at the place
where those notes are most likely to be tasted.

Riedel has done experiments with independent wine tasters to
test its contention that the shape of a glass can change and
influence its taste and the 'total experience'. In several
tests, the glassmaker served wine to experts in a variety of
glass shapes and asked them to identify the wine. In many
cases, wine experts identified the same wine served in a
different shape of glass as a different wine entirely.

Riedel offers the following advice for choosing the right
glass for the right wine. In general, a wine glass should be
made of lead crystal. It should have a 'tulip' shape, with
the bowl larger than the lip. The lip should be ground and
polished. Stems are vital to keep the heat of your hands
away from the wine.

Riedel makes the following recommendations and offers the
following information on various aspects of serving wine and
the shape of the glasses that best fit different varieties
of wine:

As a very broad example, the company explains how when a
person takes a sip of wine from a glass with a broad mouth
he will naturally lower his head, tilting it forward. This
affects how the wine is taken into the mouth and the area of
the tongue where it first touches. By contrast, a glass with
a narrow mouth forces the person to lift their head and tilt
it back, thereby influencing the way that the wine is
smelled and tasted.

To further emphasize their point, Riedel's testers have
carried out experiments where oenophiles - wine experts -
were served wine in glasses of various shapes and sizes, and
asked to identify each variety. Surprisingly, many of the
experts mistakenly identified several glasses as being
different varieties, though they were actually poured from
the same bottle.

Serve red wines in large glasses, with wide bowls and narrow
lips - the classic 'tulip' shape. Their full body benefits
from the openness to concentrate the vapors.

Sparkling wines like champagnes are often served in wide,
shallow bowls - the traditional 'toast' glass. According to
Riedel, this is precisely the wrong type of glass for
serving sparkling wines. Instead, choose a tall, narrow
flute to limit the surface area that comes in contact with
the wine and preserve the effervescence.

If you can only choose one glass, then the glass that you
choose should be a Bordeaux or Chardonnay glass, which are
nearly identical in shape. The differences are so minute
that even the most educated palate won't be able to tell any
difference in flavor or bouquet in wine served in either
glass.

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