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What's in a Glass: What Glasses to Use with Each Wine

November 15, 2010

These unique wine glasses are designed to enhance the flavors and aromas for different types of wine.

Pinot Noir wine glass — Designed for fruit-forward, new-world pinot noirs, this glass's wide bowl allows for ample aeration, while extreme contours concentrate the bouquet.Michael Kraus

Chardonnay wine glass — Big chardonnays with good acidity, like Pouilly-Fuisse, thrive in oversize bowls, which allow plenty of air into the glass to coax out its nuanced flavors.Michael Kraus

Bordeaux wine glass — Concentrated red wines do well in a glass with a tall, generous bowl -- the girth encourages oxidation; the elongated shape limits alcohol fumes.Michael Kraus

Sauvignon Blanc wine glass — This narrow glass was originally made for aromatic white wines, like sauvignon blanc. The pretty, tapered top concentrates aromas.Michael Kraus

Brandy wine glass — The bulbous globe and short stem of the snifter encourage drinkers to warm the glass with their hands, which releases the wine-based spirit's aromas.Michael Kraus

Burgundy wine glass — Fruity pinot noirs from Burgundy are best served in tapered glasses that swell in the middle, allowing the bouquet to develop fully.Michael Kraus

Stemless White Wine glass — Stemless glassware has a casual appeal, and while heat from the drinker's hands warms the wine, it also helps to unleash its flavors.Michael Kraus

Rose wine glass — The flared rim directs wine to the top of the tongue, to temper acidity, while the moderate width was designed to emphasize the fruity aspects of rose.Michael Kraus

Syrah wine glass — This glass was designed for rich new-world reds by the glassware company Reidel. The wide shape tames intensity and the narrow rim focuses the fruit.Michael Kraus

Chablis wine glass — Crisp, acidic chardonnays like those from this region do well in narrow glasses with less exposure to air; the smaller size also helps keep the wine cool.Michael Kraus

Champagne glass — The tall shape of this classic, elegant glass keeps bubbles from dissipating, while the tapered rim focuses the drink's bouquet to the nose.Michael Kraus

Port wine glass — Fortified, high-alcohol wines do better in a small glass, which concentrates fruit but keeps alcohol vapors at bay.Michael Kraus

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