Wine guides

Types of Wine Glasses

vini bicchieri
Written by EFW Staff

Choose the perfect wine glasses

Have you ever thought why there are so many types of wine glasses? Stem glass, flute, coupe, balloon… the list is pretty long and there is a clear reason: the shape and the wideness of the glass, in fact, may condition the taste perception of the wine. For example, the full-bodied red wines need oxygenation, whereas the sparkling wines don’t have to disperse the bubbles. Thus, each wine has its own specific needs to give its best in our palate.

There are different types of glasses based on the characteristics of the wine, red or white wine for example, but also based on the full-body, the presence of tannins, the alcoholic volume and the perfumes.

The basic rules foresee transparent wine glasses, with stem and thin, made of glass or crystal. Here, you can find a brief and simple guide to choose the perfect glass based on the wine that you have uncorked.

Flute

flute

Flute is the perfect glass for white and sparkling wines, it is a stem glass with a narrow bowl, which gets sharper on the top, perfect to hold the perfumes and avoid the bubbles dispersion. The narrow bowl and the sharp rim allow the ideal development of the rich aromas of the sparkling wines without damaging the fine perlage; moreover it addresses the aromas towards the tip of the tongue. These glasses are perfect for Spumante or sparkling wines, such as Champagne and Prosecco.

Balloon glass

 

ballon

The Balloon glass, usually in two sizes, has a thin stem and a wide bowl. It is perfect to oxygenate the red wines, full-bodied and with a high alcoholic volume. The bowl is wide enabling the rotation that improves the oxygenation and the perception of the olfactory aromas. The wide rim allows large sips, the wine fill the mouth homogeneously and the tasting is satisfying, whereas the nose easily perceives the olfactory shades. It is an important wine, suitable for the aged, full-bodied and tannin wines with abundant oxygenation needs, to be used to serve Barbera, Barolo or Chianti.

Hermitage glass

hermitage

This glass is similar to the balloon for its bowl and the narrow rim, the difference is the wideness of the bowl, less rounded and prominent and sharper towards the rim. The hermitage is the ideal glass for aged and full-bodied wines. Its origin is pretty recent; it was used for the first time between 1993 and 1995 in the production zone of the Syrah. It knows how to enhance perfectly the characteristics of this wine thanks to the rim, narrower than the bowl, allowing olfactory and aromatic notes; in addition to Syrah you can use this glass to serve Amarone, Valpolicella and Barbera.

Tulip glass

 

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This is an evergreen of the oenology; it is characterized by a prominent bowl and then it billows out slightly towards the rim. It looks like a squat and rounded glass used to serve white wines characterized by fresh notes and a moderate alcoholic volume, such as Pinot Gris or Chardonnay. There are different types of the same glass, with a large bowl perfect for the wines with a strong body, others with a squat and short stem, for liquors and flavoured wines.

Sauternes glass

 

sauternes

Thin stem and a strange concavity close to the rim, these are the characteristics of this glass, for wine experts, suitable for sweet and liquorish wines. Its shape allows the concentration of the fragrances and the fruity-sugary aromas typical of the Passito wines, together with the sour notes and a sweet end, slightly cloying. Perfect to serve Passito and liquorish wines at the end of the meal or as meditation wines.

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EFW Staff