Wine glasses

Which glass for which wine?

Crisp white wine or a full-bodied red – a perfectly shaped wine glass will draw attention to the fine wine while allowing it to release its aroma. This is why the right wine glasses are needed to bring out the charismatic taste of the grape juice. In our guide we show you the different types of wine glasses and which wine glass you should use to serve which wine.

Functional shapes

The main difference between the various types of wine glasses lies in the shape of the bowl. A larger opening or narrow and tapering – each shape is dedicated to emphasising the character of the respective wine as well as to enhancing or disregarding the individual aromas.

WHICH WINE FROM WHICH GLASS?

Red wine

Red wine needs to breathe. One thing that a complex bouquet, which red wine drinkers appreciate, has to have is – space. This is why red wine glasses have a fuller and rounder bowl and a wide opening, which tapers upwards slightly. This design creates a larger surface area, allowing the wine to come into contact with more oxygen. Red wine glasses, therefore, ensure that the red wine aromas are more intensive and enhanced even more clearly.

White wine

White wine glasses have a narrow and tall shape, slightly reminiscent of champagne glasses. As white wine is best served chilled, the long stem allows you to hold the glass without warming the wine too quickly. Therefore, white wine glasses have less capacity as: the less white wine in the glass, the less the risk of the grape juice warming up. It is recommended to refill your guests’ glasses more often so they do not have to drink lukewarm
 white wine.

Rosé wine

Rosé wine glasses are of a medium size as rosé wine does not need to breathe. They are higher and narrower than red wine glasses with an opening that tapers upward to the glass rim to allow the aromas – usually light and fruity – to develop straight on the tongue.

Table setting: How do you set a table with wine glasses?

Glasses and cutlery have a designated place at a formal table setting. It is just above the knife, to the right of the place setting.

Place the glasses on the table in the order that they will be used during the multi-course meal – this applies to setting the table with wine glasses as well as during the meal. Table setting etiquette stipulates that the water glass is placed directly above the cutlery to the right, the white wine glass to its left and next to that a red wine glass.

How to clean wine glasses

If you want to enjoy your precious wine glasses for many years to come, then you should clean them thoroughly after use. Washing high-quality wine glasses by hand is always the best option. You are putting your glasses at great risk if you use a dishwasher, even if the manufacturer states that they are dishwasher-safe. Delicate crystal glass and other exquisite glassware can break when a machine does the washing.

It is best to use lukewarm water and gentle washing-up liquid when washing wine glasses by hand. Aggressive cleaning agents could damage the surface of your precious wine glasses. This is why you should also avoid rubbing high-quality glasses too hard. Dip the wine glasses carefully into the water one after the other and then pull them out slowly. You can repeat this process up to five times with your fine glassware. The best way to remove stubborn stains, which won’t go away despite wiping them repeatedly, is to use diluted white vinegar. You will need to rinse the glasses again afterwards.

Bright and sparkling – how to polish wine glasses

If you want crystal clear glasses, you will need to do more than just wash them. Polish fine glassware carefully after use to make them sparkle again. Use a clean lint-free cotton cloth, or preferably linen, for the sake of your glasses. While polishing, make sure not to hold the stem of the glass vessel. This could otherwise cause the glass to break. It is better to hold the bowl of the glass – and to use a second cotton cloth as an aid.

 

If you want sparkling glasses without unsightly streaks, then carefully hold the glasses over steam before polishing them. Hold the glasses up to the light to see the clarity of your bright and sparkling wine glasses.  And the next warm summer evening or formal banquet can come.

Summary

The shape of the glass determines the taste of the wine

A fruity white wine with a fish dish or a full-bodied red wine after a busy day – not only wine connoisseurs know that the right glass enhances the complex bouquet of a wine best. The attractive style of wine glasses is more than just a matter of personal taste. Wine glasses come in many designs, but the decisive factor in enjoying wine is primarily the shape of the glassware.

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