Perfect wine glasses add to the elegance of savoring wine. It is true that wines are judged by their taste and smell but if we don’t use the perfect accessories, it will downplay the wine drinking enjoyment.Wine glass or stemware, as they are generally called, consists of three main parts- the base which gives support to the body, the stem which you are supposed to hold and the body which retains the original flavor of the drink. Generally all the wine glasses are designed to be tapering towards the top and wide at the bottom. This particular shape directs the flavor and aroma of the wine towards the mouth and nose.

Also the wine glasses should be transparent and plain, so that the wine‘s color can be seen and judged. It is also better if the glasses are made of crystal or thin glass.

There are four basic types of glasses for the different types of wine

Red wine glass- The red wine glasses are identified by being rounder and fuller with a wide bowl. This shape helps the wine to get exposed to air and release the wine’s aroma and flavor. The glasses also have a short stem because red wine is not easily affected by the body heat. The red wine glasses can also be classified further-

Bordeaux glass- The glasses are tall having a broad bowl and are specifically designed in this way to experience the taste of full bodied red wines, as the wine goes directly to the back of the mouth.

Burgundy wine- These glasses have a bigger bowl and are wider than the Bordeaux glasses. This shape enables the aromas of delicate wines to concentrate and also directs the wine towards tip of the tongue.

White wine glass- The white wine glasses are generally tulip shaped with a long stem. They are also U-shaped and upright so that the aromas in the wine can be released. The long stem allows the cool temperature of the wine to be maintained. The glasses for younger wines have a slightly wider opening so that the sweetness of the wine can be tasted (as the wine is directed to the tip and sides of the tongue). For mature white wines, the glasses are taller so that the stronger flavors of the wine are guided to the back and the sides of tongue.

Sparkling wine glass- These glasses are flute shaped which allows the wine to remain colder and also allows the proper formation of bubbles. The narrow bowl allows the carbonation to be retained.

Champagne coupe, which is commonly used in wedding ceremonies, is another type of sparkling wine glass. They are shallower and have a broad bowl and are often placed in layers, at wedding receptions, to form a champagne tower. Champagne is poured into the topmost glass continuously which trickles down to fill all the glasses below.

Dessert wine glass- Also called as aperitif glass, dessert wine glasses are used mainly to serve sherry, liqueurs, aperitifs and short shooters. They are generally smaller so that the sweetness of wine won’t startle the drinker as it is directed to the back of the mouth.