A special type of glass exists for almost every alcoholic drink, and in some cases, for example, with wine, there are several of them. The most modest collections of glasses and wine glasses include at least ten vessels of various shapes, each of which is designed to reveal the aroma and taste of drinks as best as possible. However, novice connoisseurs of alcohol are not familiar with the intricacies of tasting, so they often confuse glasses and wine glasses. Next, we will figure out what the difference is and how not to make a mistake in choosing.
Differences between glasses and wine glasses
A glass (fr. Bocal) is the general name of a vessel for drinks, consisting of three parts: a hollow bowl, a leg and a round stand for support. Manufacturers carefully consider the dimensions of all elements, based on the purpose of the dishes. The first collection for wine tasting was developed in 1973 by Klaus Josef Riedel, owner of one of the oldest Austrian glass companies. The industrialist was the first to demonstrate the important role of the shape of the glass in the perception of the aroma and taste of wine.
The concept of “glass” appeared in Russian in the XNUMXth century. The word is borrowed from French, where the term vert de fougère was used to refer to a special type of glass made with the addition of fern ash. The plant contained a lot of silicon oxide, which made it possible for medieval glassblowers to make vessels with thinner walls. In XNUMXth-century France, goblets and glasses vert de fougère were in use, but now they can only be found at antique auctions.
The term was fixed among the Russian nobility, which called elongated champagne glasses champagne glasses. The narrow and thin bowl kept the bubbles well due to the limited air contact. The concept of “glass” currently has no analogues and is used only in Russian. In other countries, including France, champagne tasting glasses are called flute (translated from English. “flute”).
The proportions between the elements of the wine glass affect the rate at which the gas rises from the bottom to the surface. On average, a bottle of high-quality champagne contains up to 80 million bubbles, of which up to 2 million fall into the glass. The bowl diameter of up to 60 mm holds gas well, and the leg size from 100 to 125 mm makes it possible to maintain the optimal temperature of the drink, which is not heated by hand .
Professional tasters practically do not use flute, as too strong aeration prevents the correct assessment of the aroma of sparkling wine.
Types of wine glasses
Red wines have a richer taste and more pronounced character than white wines, so red wine glasses have a large bowl volume. Space and contact with air reveal all shades of taste and aroma. Manufacturers offer three main types of glasses:
- burgundy with a rounded bowl shape, a large diameter in the center and a slightly narrowed upper part. This configuration is suitable for tasting Pinot Noir and wines with high acidity;
Burgundy - Bordeaux are considered versatile due to their tulip-shaped shape and wide top, which facilitates the access of oxygen, which reveals the shades of tannins in red wine;
Bordeaux - white wine glasses are made not too wide to preserve the aromatics. Some varieties lose flavor when exposed to air for a long time, so the top is narrowed to minimize exposure to oxygen.
For white wine
The most common material for everyday glasses is glass, but true connoisseurs prefer crystal. Due to the addition of a small amount of lead, small bumps appear on the walls, which contribute to aeration when the bowl is rocked. Such dishes are fragile and require separate disposal, therefore, in recent years, crystal with the addition of cadmium or titanium is gaining popularity, which gives a similar effect and also increases strength.
How to choose glasses
The RIEDEL company continues to be considered the best producer, however, Austrian glasses are extremely expensive and common among professionals and collectors of expensive wines.
For everyday tastings, universal tulip-shaped glasses are suitable, which in 1970 were recognized as the standard. Often, leaded glass with microscopic irregularities on the walls is used for their production. Sparkling wines are best opened in narrow flute glasses.
Often in Hollywood films you can see that champagne is poured into wide glasses with low walls. This form is convenient for receptions and large parties, as it makes it possible to build multi-tiered pyramids. It makes no sense to buy these glasses at home, since the sparkling wine in them not only heats up quickly, but also loses its bubbles, which negatively affects the quality of drinks.