Drinking fine wine is one of life's great pleasures, and can be further enhanced by choosing quality glasses. Ultimately, it doesn't matter whether you drink from a glass, a mug or (whisper it) straight from the bottle, but the right glass, designed for the type of wine you're drinking, can add an extra dimension.

Much thought and consideration has gone into the design of glasses and the shape does impact the flavour. The width of the opening and size of the bowl can affect the wine, and it goes beyond 'etiquette' if you're really serious about it. Most of us can just about manage red or white glasses, but if you're going to be a real connoisseur, knowing the best glasses for the grape will take your knowledge to another level. Think of the wine glass as a tool to control the tasting experience.

Importance of the Right Glass

The fundamental shape of wine glasses is the same, whether you're drinking a full-bodied red from a large glass with a wider aperture, to a fortified sweet wine which is smaller on all accounts. A glass for sparkling wine is somewhere in the middle, with a tall bowl and small aperture to make the most of the bubbles.

Why So Many Different Types?

The number of different glasses is only matched by the number of different wines. The ideal glass for the wine you're drinking is one that shows off your wine to its best and highlights its characteristics.

All wine glasses have a stem and a bowl. Looking at white wines first, fuller-bodied wines like a Viognier or Chardonnay require a rounder bowl and lighter-bodied more elongated. All white wine glasses are smaller than red glasses, with the aim of maintaining the cooler temperatures that white wine is served at, and the lack of depth of the glass enables the aromas to get closer to the nose.

Red glasses follow the same pattern - those intended for full-bodied wines are larger with a rounder bowl. The ethanol evaporates further away from the nose, delivering aroma compounds rather than the fragrances of white wine. The wider aperture of the glass allows for a smoother taste that suits red wines. Rose wines should be served in almost a hybrid glass - neither white nor red - with characteristics of each.

Other Drinks

Of course, there are also speciality glasses for sparkling wines, which are tall, narrow glasses, or dessert wines. They tend to be smaller than white glasses, and with a bowl that is wider at the bottom than the top. It is also suitable for Port and other fortified wines as it reduces the evaporation for wines that are meant to be higher in alcohol content.

Some beer companies are also using the traditional wine glass shape to get the best from their beers, and short spirits like whisky or brandy are often served in a glass with a bowl shape.