Wine glass: bowl, size, and when it matters
A wine glass does more than just hold liquid. The shape of the bowl determines how much wine meets air, and thus how much you perceive the aroma.
Here we'll go through what the bowl does, which wine glass suits which wine, and how much you should actually pour in.
What the bowl does
The surface area determines the aroma. A wide bowl gives the wine a large contact surface with the air, which releases more aroma. A narrow bowl, on the other hand, retains what is already there.
The rim then guides where the wine lands in your mouth. This detail affects how you perceive acidity and astringency, although the difference is less than many claim.
The stem also serves a function. If you hold the bowl, your hand will warm the wine in a few minutes, and then both white and red will lose their freshness.
Red wine wants a large bowl
Robust red wines need air. A glass around 690 ml gives the wine space to open up directly in the glass.
Bohemia Fascino red wine glass 680 ml and Sarah red wine glass 690 ml both have the wide shape. Verona red wine glass 690 ml offers the same volume in a more streamlined design.
White wine wants smaller
White wine is served chilled and should remain chilled. Therefore, a smaller bowl works better, as the wine in the glass has less time to warm up.
A narrower shape also concentrates the fresh notes. Bohemia Fascino white wine glass 480 ml or Verona white wine glass 400 ml are suitable for most white wines.
Sparkling wine wants height
The bubbles need room to rise. A tall, narrow flute keeps the carbonation in, while a wide coupe releases it in a few minutes.
Fascino champagne glass 290 ml and Sarah champagne glass 260 ml both fulfill this function.
Can one glass do it all?
Yes, if you prioritize cabinet space. A universal glass around 400 ml handles both red and white reasonably well, even if it doesn't really excel at either.
Sarah wine glass 400 ml is one such glass. If you want to properly cover both, you can instead choose Double for You, which provides four large and four smaller glasses.
Tasting glasses
If you're tasting several wines on the same evening, you'll need smaller glasses. A 210 ml tasting glass means the bottle will go further, and no one will get tired halfway through.
Bohemia Crystal tasting glass 210 ml also works well for fortified and dessert wines.
How much to pour
Fill to the widest point of the glass, never higher. The space above is not empty; it's where the aroma collects.
In practice, this means about a third of a red wine glass. It might feel stingy the first time, but it makes a big difference to the aroma.
Care of crystal glasses
Crystal glasses are dishwasher safe, but thin stems can be damaged by the pressure. Therefore, place them steadily and do not let them lean against each other.
Skip rinse aid. It leaves a film that dulls both scent and shine. Instead, dry with a lint-free cloth while the glass is still warm.
Quick guide
- Robust red wine: large bowl, around 690 ml
- White wine: smaller bowl, 400 to 480 ml
- Sparkling wine: narrow flute, 260 to 290 ml
- One glass for everything: universal glass around 400 ml
- Tasting: 210 ml
- Pour to the widest point of the glass, no higher