On the shape and texture of your wine glasses: In lieu of brandishing the ornate wine glasses received as a wedding gift from your parents' acquaintances—glasses whose costliness is well known—consider adopting a more contemporary approach to stemware.Brands like Zalto, Riedel, Spiegelau, and Ravenscroft, among others, offer modern alternatives. An ideal wine glass should be lightweight and clear, with dimensions and a concave shape that provide ample room to swirl the wine, thus aerating it and enhancing both its aroma and flavor. A good glass not only allows for a clear view of the wine’s appearance but also encourages the movement necessary for proper aeration.
A more narrow tulip-shaped glass that tapers towards the top will allow the aromatic complexity of a champagne or fresh white wine to be more concentrated towards the narrow top, while allowing the wine to enter the mouth in a narrower stream, avoiding the sides of the mouth where we feel acidity more keenly. A rounder glass with a broader top would be preferred in the case of a more mature or wood aged white wine where there's more surface for the aromatic complexity to be released, and a broader entry to the mouth helping the perception of creaminess. This same shape would be preferred for a light-scented red wines, or reds served slightly chilled. Big tulip-shaped goblets are best for bigger and more tannic red wines, increasing swirl capacity and aeration.
Upon upgrading your glassware, you might find that your wine geek friends will feel much more compelled to bring finer wines to your gatherings :)
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