types of wine glasses
Each wine glass shape is designed to enhance different varietals. When stocking your glassware collection, keep in mind the wines you enjoy most. If you prefer the rich flavor of reds, consider investing in a few different types of red wine glasses to maximize your tasting experience. Use the wine glass guide below to learn about the many distinct wine glass types and which glasses go with which varietals.
types of red wine glasses
CABERNET GLASSES
Often used as a universal red wine glass, cabernet glasses have a large bowl and tall stem. A larger bowl gives the wine more surface area, allowing it to oxidize or breathe. Oxidizing softens the tannins found in reds, improving the overall flavor and releasing the wine's natural aromas. This is essential because aromas are a large part of what you taste when drinking wine. The shape directs the wine to the center of the palate which helps mitigate the effects of tannins— compounds that produce a mouth-drying feel. To allow a wine to open before pouring it in a glass, consider using a wine decanter.
BURGUNDY GLASSES
With its prominent fish bowl shape, burgundy glasses trap the aromas of full-bodied wine. It also balances the wine's intensity. Since the wine comes from thin-skinned grapes, it does not need to be swirled quite as much to enjoy the aromas. The narrow rim mitigates acidity by targeting the wine to the center of the palate.
BORDEAUX GLASSES
In contrast with Burgundy glasses, Bordeaux glasses are taller, allowing you to maximize the surface area of wine exposed to air as you swirl the liquid up the edge of the glass. Produced from thicker-skinned grapes, Bordeaux wine is best when it's swirled and allowed to breathe. The shape also helps reduce the effects of tannins by concentrating the wine to the back of the tongue.
ZINFANDEL GLASSES
To let the fruit and spice flavors in the wine shine, zinfandel glasses direct the wine to your palate through a smaller opening. Its smaller bowl tempers the taste and smell of ethanol present in zinfandel varieties with a medium-to-high alcohol content. Because some zinfandels have more tannins, the narrow opening helps to balance out any potential mouth-drying effects.
PINOT NOIR GLASSES
The large bowl of pinot noir glasses release the wine's subtle and delicate aromas by allowing a large surface area of wine to be exposed to oxygen. This distinct shape also helps trap aromas in the glass. Pinot noir glasses target the wine to the front of the mouth which accentuates sweet flavors while regulating acidic ones.