Hello my dear friends! As I'm sure you can guess from the title of today's blog, we are bringing up a technical discussion that we've been getting a lot of questions about lately. Can the shape of the glass affect the taste of the wine? There are many wine glass manufacturing companies that claim that yes, the shape of the glass influences the taste of the wine and how it is experienced. So the actual question is: to what extent is this statement true or is it a mere marketing strategy?
The effect of color on taste relates to psychology. However, the way the shape of a glass impacts taste relates to physics. According to a study, carried out by a series of scientists led by Kohji Mitsubayashi, from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, this theory, which states that the same wine when served in different glasses, will have a different flavor profile depending on the shape of the recipient, is completely true. Through an innovative technique, Mitsubayashi and his collaborators analyzed the behavior of several wines in glasses of different shapes and heights and at different temperatures. These elements are known to affect the final taste of the drink.
The scientists verified that, at 13° C, the red wine they picked for the experiemnt showed a lower concentration of ethanol in the center of a typical red wine glass, and it showed a ring-shaped pattern of evaporation. Actually, the alchohol concentration in the center resulted much lower than that of the rest of the glasses used. The same wine when served in a cocktail or tube glass did not repeat the mentioned pattern. The ring-shaped pattern allows you to enjoy the aromas of the wine without the interference of ethyl alcohol. Basically, the way in which the ethanol evaporates depends on the structure of the glass, giving the wine a different taste and feel.
“This ring-shaped phenomenon allows us to enjoy the aroma of wine without the interference of gaseous ethanol. Consequently, the shape of the wine glass has a very sophisticated functional design for tasting and enjoying wine”, explained Mitsubayashi.
A wine glass is made up of four parts: the base, the stem, the bowl, and the rim. The most important feature of the wine glass is the size of the bowl, then the rim and stem. The glass container should be large enough to swirl the wine for you to taste and smell the aroma. The larger the container, the more exposed the wine is to the air. This allows aromas and flavors to come together within the container. The thinner and smoother the rim of the glass means it won't interfere with the wine as it cascades from the glass to your lips.
So if you like those modern stemless glasses, be aware that they can affect the flavor of your wine, especially if you need to serve it cold. In addition to fingerprints and smudges on the glass being unattractive, the hands holding the glass around the container transfer natural heat to the wine, which could change the taste of it entirely!
White wine such as Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio is always supposed to be served chilled. The tall, narrow, U-shaped wine glass for white wine centralizes flavors and prevents less contact with the air, ultimately preserving the temperature of the wine for a longer period of time. In this case the stem is even more important than it is for reds!
Sparkling wine, like champagne or prosecco, is usually served in a narrow flute glass. The shape of this glass helps the sparkling wine retain its satisfying effervescence for longer. On the contrary, the still usual coupé glass favors the loss of bubbles even more quickly, so here emerges a question on the type of sparkling and how it is intended to be enjoyed.
The Riedel glass, one of a kind
RIEDEL CRYSTAL is a 300 year-old family known for the creation and development of varietal-specific stemware. RIEDEL was the first in history to recognize that the taste and aroma of a beverage is affected by the shape of the vessel from which it is consumed, and has been recognized for its revolutionary designs complementing alcoholic beverages and other drinks.
Founded in 1756 and pioneering varietal-specific stemware since 1958, RIEDEL has become the brand of choice for wine connoisseurs and drink specialists, hospitality professionals and consumers globally.
According to a 2012 interview that Jameson Fink held with Georg Riedel, California winemaker Robert Mondavi met Riedel in London in 1989. Riedel had been producing wine glass sets for decades, and his family company considers the glass a tool to balance flavor contributions in a wine, including fruitiness and acidity. This is based on three physical parameters of a glass – size, shape and opening. Mondavi listened to Riedel, then told him he was speaking nonsense. But later that day, when tasting Fumé Blanc from different glasses, Mondavi was astounded to find that the taste differed depending on the glass. He became a lifelong friend of Mr. Riedel, and supposedly even replaced his own wine glassware after their meeting.
RIEDEL has created shapes that specifically enhance a wine’s harmony and highlight its unique characteristics.
Maximilian Riedel, the Austrian glassmaker behind the RIEDEL empire.
So that is a wrap for today my friends. I hope that next time you’re hosting a dinner party, you shine by knowing what glass brings out the best flavors for each type of wine. Your friends will be so impressed! Have a happy rest of the week and... let's meet again here next Wednesday! Until then... Santé!
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