Important Features of the Red Wine Tasting Glass

red wine tasting glass

Look, smell and taste – these are what help one to discern the flavor of red wine. Wine tasting is an art with every aspect involved in the process holding a vital place in it. One main feature that requires careful evaluation is the shape and quality of the wine glass.

The right red wine tasting glass can speak volumes of the taste, texture and quality of the wine. Different wine glasses are today made available to meet the demands set by the various types of wines.

In this article, we will cover some important features that a red wine tasting glass has to satisfy for rendering the whole process effective.

Red wine glass rim bends inward

A wine taster always start the process by smelling the wines moving from the lighter wines like roses, to the more full-bodied red wines and the dessert wines as this permits better appreciation. For making the right appreciation, select a clear wine glass, the rim of which is bent inward to permit the funneling of the aroma to reach your nose.

Tasting glass made of clear glass

The color of the wine is the next feature that is to be carefully analyzed. It can speak volumes on the age of the wine. As the red wines are known for losing the color as it ages, from more red or burgundy to tawny brown, checking out the age by holding the glass up to the light or against a white background tells the wine taster on what to expect with regard to its taste. It is, therefore, inevitable that the red wine tasting glasses be of clear glass.

By looking, they also judge about various other features like whether the wine is watery or dark, translucent or opaque, dull or brilliant, cloudy or clear.The wine is then swirled by moving the glass in a circular motion as this sends the vapors out for you to smell. Then, the wine lover puts his nose over the rim to breathe in the true aroma emitted by the wine. The characteristic smell of the grapes is the decisive factor that tells about the quality of wine. You can also get the flavors of berries, smokey, grassy smell or even the smell of peaches when you breathe in.

Ideal width of red wine tasting glass

This process makes it essential for the wine tasting glasses to be wide enough to permit ease of smelling. Typically 21 1/2cl wine glasses are considered ideal for wine tasting. There are, however, others who go for 31cl or 41cl glasses for checking out the quality of wine. Port or sherry tasters generally go for smaller glasses of 12cl sizes. The wine tasters prefer ISO wine glasses over others as it satisfies all their basic needs in the wine tasting process. Tasting glasses are today available in different colors and sizes, with stem or stemless, to suit the needs of different types of wine tasters.