Why do wine glasses come in different shapes and sizes?
Have you ever watched wine being poured in glasses? If you have, then you must have observed that wine glasses come in various shapes and sizes. In fact, there are specific glasses designed. for almost all the varieties of wine that exist. But why so? Through testing and experiments, experts have found that the shape and size of the glasses and their various parts have a bearing on how the wine tastes. You must be wondering how it is possible. Well, as surprising as it may sound, the fact is that, the speed at which wine releases its aroma varies depending on the shape and size of the glass it is poured in. The design of the container brings about a change in the velocity at which the wine hits our palate. This, in turn, impacts our perception of the wine we are sipping. Now that, that’s amazing!
The right kind of wine glass can help a wine lover relish a wealth of aromas, textures and flavours which would have otherwise remained unexplored in an in inappropriately designed container. Typically, a wine glass comes with a lip or the top rim, a bowl, a stem and a foot. Read on to know how each of these parts impacts the taste of wine.
The top rim
Also known as the lip, the top rim plays a crucial role in the concentration of aroma. Also, the degree to which it is tapered from the bowl decides which part of the mouth the wine falls in. The lip and bowl of the white wine glasses are narrow. So, the wine is directed to the front of the mouth. On the other hand, the lip of red wine glasses is wide. So, the wine hits the back and sides of the tongue directly.
The bowl
This is where the wine is placed. A wine glass with a bowl that has a wide bottom and a narrow top helps the aroma to concentrate. If the bowl is clear and smooth, it doesn’t interfere with the taste of the swirling wine. Moreover, in a larger bowl, the wine can cover a wider surface area the amount of aromatic chemicals released after swirling the wine depends on the surface area. A short, wide bowl is ideal for red wine while a taller, more narrow bowl is more suitable for white wine.
The stem
The stem of a wine glass has two different functions. The first is letting you hold the glass without touching the bowl. If you do touch the bowl, you may risk warming the wine, which might affect its taste. The second function involves making sure that you don’t touch the rim. If you do so, the aroma of the wine might be overpowered, hidden or influenced by the scent of your hand.
The foot
The foot or base of the glass helps to keep it stable and upright. A broad base keeps the glass well-supported, allowing the consumer to swirl the wine properly before tasing. However, the foot of a wine glass doesn’t directly impact the taste even though it is a critical part of the glass structure.