MORE THAN A vessel
Port Glass
The traditional Port Glass holds 6 ½ ounces and is about 6 inches tall. It has a narrowmouth, which allows for concentration of thearomas andthelonger bowl design encourages the wineto slowly flow down the center of the mouth towards the back, so as not to allow the sweetness tooverpower the flavors of the wine. Generally, port glasses are used for (you guessed it!) port wine,dessert wines andsome other full-bodied fortified wines.
Prosecco Flute
A traditional Prosseco Flute holds about 6-7 ounces and is approximately 8 ½ inches tall. The long,narrow, upright bowl helps retain carbonation (in Italy, we call this effervescence “perlage”) and helps capture the flavor. A small bead at the base of the bowl stimulates bubbles to gather and quickly rise(which is why you may have seen a line of bubbles in the center of your prosecco!). As the name implies, this type of glass is generally used for Prosecco, Asti and other sparkling wines.It can also beused for effervescent wines such as Moscato to increase the intensity of the otherwise subtle bubbles.
White Wine Glass
The White Wine Glass holds about 12 ounces and has a smaller, more U-shaped and upright bowl than that of a Bordeaux glass. This shape helps enhance and preserve the aromas of the wine, while also maintaining the wine’s temperature. This glass is ideally suited for lighter bodied, younger white wines such as pinot grigio, and some sauvignon blancs. That said, more and more, producers and sommeliers are preferring a Bordeaux glass for many medium to full bodied whites.
Burgundy Glass
The Burgundy Glass has a large bowl with a narrow top and generally holds around 22-26 ounces. This shape and size allows more air to reach the wine, intensifying the aromas, while the mouth of the glass directs the wine to the tip of the tongue. This permits the consumer to distinguish the subtle nuances of the wine. While this glass was originally more selectively used for lighter, more delicate red wines such as Red Burgundy, it is now also a popular glass for older, richer wines whose complexity is better represented with this glass, due to increased exposure. Such examples from our portfolio that flourish with this glass are Barolo and Barbaresco.
Bordeaux Glass
The Bordeaux Glass holds around 22 ounces and has a broad, long bowl. This shape allows more oxygen to soften the tannins due to its height, while its mouth shape channels the wine to the back of the mouth, further minimizing bitterness while enhancing flavor nuances. This glass is best suited for full-bodied, heavier wines. While traditionally, it was used for red wines such as Cabernet and Amarone, now it is also often also used for fuller-bodied whites such as Chardonnay.