Even slight differences in the design of a glass can make a big difference in your wine experience. How, you ask? The shape, size and style of the glass affect how much air your wine breathes, how much aroma is released and reaches your nose, and where the wine first touches your tongue. All of these elements ultimately affect the flavor you taste. Sounds complicated? Don't worry, you'll soon get the hang of it with us.

The different types of glasses are shaped to highlight different aspects of the wine. When selecting a wine glass, it is best to take the shape and size of the chalice into consideration and match it to the type of wine. Keep in mind, however, that all guidelines regarding matching wine glasses with wines are guidelines only. Ultimately, the best choice of wine glass for a particular wine is the one that makes the wine taste the best. Don't like the way the wine tastes? Before you blame the wine, try enjoying it from a different glass.

Size does matter

Whether it is a red, white, rosé, sparkling or fortified wine, the aroma plays a key role in its overall character. The smaller the cup, the harder it is to get all those aromas out. In other words - when you pour a rich wine into a small cup, you kill its potential. Larger cups allow the wine to breathe more. They also allow for easier swirling, which not only looks cool, but when done right, will aerate the wine and help it open up and reach its potential.

The cup plays a key part

The width of the cup of the wine glass affects the size of the surface of the wine exposed to air. It also affects how much of the wine's aroma is perceived by your nose. With wide cups, a large portion of the wine is exposed to the air and a large amount of aroma reaches the nose. With narrower cups, the wine is exposed to less air and less surface area reaches the nose to release the aroma.

The basic division of cup shapes is into Balloon, Tulip and Flute. Everything else is just differently sized and shaped variations of these three shapes. 

Universal glass

If you have any doubts about which shape of glass is best for your wine, choose a universal medium-sized glass designed for both red and white wine. With enough room to allow the wine to breathe, these versatile glasses will provide a sufficient drinking experience for most wines. But if you're not satisfied with anything less than perfection, read on.

Universal wine glasses are medium sized (approx. 350ml) and have a soft tulip shape with a more closed rim.

Red

Red wines usually require a large, wide cup to best bring out their more pronounced aromas and flavours. Wider red wine glass allows more aromas to reach your nose and also help aerate the wine as you drink, releasing more flavour.

Red wine glass usually has a larger cup. The most common sizes are around 450-550 ml, but neither smaller nor larger sizes are exceptional. Always choose the size according to the subtlety of the wine.

White

Because most white wines have more subtle flavors and aromas, a narrower glass helps direct them more towards the nose. A white wine glass also exposes less of the wine's surface to the air and helps keep white wines cooler.

White wine glasses usually have a volume of 150 - 300 ml, but other sizes may be available.

Sparkling

Who doesn't love fun bubbles in sparkling wine? However, sparkling wine loses its bubbliness once it is exposed to oxygen. So to preserve them for as long as possible, choose a tall, narrow flute glass.

Glass for sparkling wine are called flutes. Threy usually range between 150 - 220 ml. They are tall and narrow to display the sparkling wine as long as possible.

Stem/less?

When it comes to choosing a glass with and without a stem, it is primarily a matter of personal preference. However, drinking from a stemless glass can raise the temperature of the wine because your hand is directly holding the cup (and consequently the wine) instead of holding the stem of the glass. Therefore, a stemless glass is less ideal for drinking white wine - however, it's really up to you and what you prefer for your wine drinking experience. Glasses with a stem look more formal, while glasses without a stem are a little more casual. If you want, take the type of event into account when choosing your glasses. For example, are you hosting a backyard family gathering or picnic? Stemless glasses may be the right choice.

The stemless glasses are practical for travelling or informal garden parties and picnics.

Thin is in!

The latest trend in stemmed drinks is the very thin stem and chalice glass. With these elegant collections, such as Viola, Sandra, Barbara, Amoroso, Grandioso or Lara , you can almost feel that you are not holding the glass. Tasting rooms and top restaurants offer their best wines in this style of glass. But they are as delicate as they are refined. If you want something for big family conditions and less delicate, reach for the thick-walled ones.

Thick is chic!

The fact that thin-walled glasses are now more popular doesn't change the fact that thick-walled glasses made of high-quality leaded and lead-free crystal are a constant in our homes and hearts. They can withstand more careless hands, keep wine at the optimum temperature for longer, and their thick walls provide room for beautiful hand-cut glasses. You'll find thick-walled glasses in the Angela, Safari, Robin, Caren, Dover or Skyline. collections, for example.

Both thin-walled and thick-walled glasses have their supporters. It's a matter of taste.

The rim?

The rim of the glass affects how the wine flows on the tongue when you drink it and can affect the taste. A closed or flat rim allows the wine to flow smoothly onto the tongue. Open and more outwardly rounded regulates the smooth flow onto the tongue and can help bring out the acidity and sharpness of the wine.

Never tank full

The amount of wine served in a glass varies according to the alcohol content, the stronger the wine, the more space it needs to open and breathe. But one rule is fixed - never pour it full. Even the weakest wine needs some space to develop its potential. We pour the weakest wines up to about 3/5 of their volume, but more is fine. The strongest wines, such as fortified and rare vintage wines, we pour 1/5 of the volume of the glass at a time.

Once you've chosen your glass and poured the wine, enjoy the best part - drinking!  And remember, if you don't like the wine, try it in a different glass! It might change your whole wine tasting experience.

Finally, we add a list of wines and their glasses. Be inspired, but don't take it as a law. Always drink wine from the glass you like it best.

Overview of wines and their glasses

Cabernet Sauvignon/Bordeaux

Traditional red wine glass. These wines are usually high in alcohol and tannins. A larger glass with more height creates more distance between the wine and you, which causes the alcohol to disperse in the nose and allows more oxygen, which promotes softening of the tannins. 

Syrah - Shiraz

Slightly taller than the Cabernet glass and tapering slightly at the top, this glass is designed to concentrate its fruit aromas and allow plenty of aeration to soften the tannins in these massive red wines.

Pinot Noir / Burgundy

The extra wide cup and tapered rim allow sufficient aeration, concentrating the delicate aromas and accentuating the bright and rich fruit flavours.

Chardonnay/Viognier

Traditional white wine glasses. It is designed for young, fresh wines because the slightly narrow rim concentrates the aromas of these highly aromatic white wines directly on the nose. The smaller size of the chalice also keeps the white wine cooler than the large chalices used for red wines.

Pinot Gris / White Burgundy

Similar in shape to a Pinot Noir glass, only smaller in size, the wide cup and very narrow rim concentrate the aromas and achieve maximum aeration of smooth white wines to reveal subtle complexities and balance the rich concentration of fruit. This glass is often confused with the Chardonnay glass.

Prosecco

Prosecco is now popular more than ever. Although Prosecco is one of the sparkling wines, it is the only one that does not belong in a narrow flute. Wine lovers relish its aromas that come out of the glass. These aromas can be muted by the traditional narrow flute. While toasting with a flute is always something special, a better choice for Prosecco is often a traditional white wine glass or the versatile glass from the beginning of the article. If you're looking for a compromise, a tulip-shaped champagne glass allows the bubbles to flow a little longer than a typical wine glass, but also allows the intense aromas to stand out more than a traditional flute.

Fortified wine

Madeira, Port, Sherry, Vermouth. These wines have a higher alcohol content than classic wines. The smaller glass cup reduces alcohol evaporation and enhances their rich fruity and complex aromas. 

Now you know how to choose the exact glass that will give you the best taste of wine. All that's left to do is to SHOP.