Wine Glasses
What is the difference between red and white wine glasses?
Professor Claus Riedel first recognised that the shape of a glass can alter the overall experience and enjoyment of a wine, which helped to promote and enhance the world of the wine connoisseur. Now there are common rules applied to wine glasses, with different shapes for red wine glasses and for white wine glasses.
While wine glasses can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, if you want to enter the world of a wine connoisseur you will need to know the difference between red wine glasses and white wine glasses to get the most out of your drinking experience.
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Red Wine Glasses: | White Wine Glasses: | Stemless Wine Glasses: |
Red Wine Glasses
Red wine glasses are usually characterised by the following attributes,- Shorter stem
- Larger/rounder bowl
- Wider mouth
A red wine glass will usually feature a shorter stem than that of white wine glasses. This is because while white wines are usually served chilled, red wines are served at warmer temperatures so the glass is usually held by the bowl, helping retain a mildly warmer temperature to help promote the flavours and aromas.
Red wines are bettered by oxidation, which is a chemical reaction between the wine and oxygen that helps to further enhance the flavours and aromas of a wine. It is common for red wine glasses to have large capacity bowls which are only designed to be filled around a third. This larger size combined with a rounded shape gives you more room to swirl your red, helping increase the oxidation process.
The wider mouth of a red wine glass also helps speed up the oxidation process by simply letting more oxygen reach the wine, while also allowing you to get your nose closer to your chosen tipple to experience the broad range of scents emanating from the glass.
There is a wide variety of red wine glasses that are ideal for use with different wines to best suit their bouquet, however there are two common types of red wine glasses.
Bordeaux Glass
The Bordeaux wine glass is designed for full-bodied wines such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, and is shaped to allow the wine to reach the back of the throat.Burgundy Glass
A Burgundy wine glass is best used when serving finer wines such as a pinot noir, and is shaped to help you appreciate the aromas of your wine.White Wine Glasses
White wine glasses are characterised by the following attributes,- Longer stem
- Smaller/narrower bowl
- Narrow mouth
White wine is best served chilled, so the longer stem found on white wine glasses allows you to hold the glass without having to grasp the bowl, warming the chilled contents with your hand.
While red wines are enhanced by oxidation, there is less need to aerate a white wine, so the bowl is usually narrower, giving less surface area to the contents, allowing less air to react with the wine.
Acting just like the smaller body of a white wine glass, the narrower opening ensures less air can initially enter the glass, helping reduce oxidation, and this also allows the more delicate aromas of a white wine to be concentrated towards your nose when sniffing.
Although there aren’t specifically named white wine glasses like there are for red wines (Bordeaux glass and Burgundy glass), there is a couple of basic rules you can follow when selecting the right glass for your favourite wine.
For delicate wines such as Riesling or Pinot Gris, choose a narrow glass with a narrow opening to allow the more subtle aromas to travel up the glass.
When sampling more spirited white wines such as a Sauvignon Blanc or a Chardonnay, choose a shallower glass with a slight taper towards the mouth as these wines benefit from slight oxidation.
Stemless Glasses
Stemless wine glasses are available for both red wines and white wines, and are commonly chosen for their unique presentation style. While you can serve white or red in a stemless wine glass, they are perhaps best suited to reds because your hand will affect the overall temperature of the contents which goes against the need for a chilled white wine.
It is common when serving wine to hold the glass by the stem to ensure the clarity of the glass bowl isn’t affected by fingerprints. A glass covered in fingerprints can get in the way of appreciating the colour and clarity of the wine, which is all part and parcel of fully appreciating your wine.
Wine Glasses
Whether you enjoy a glass of red wine with your meal or love to relax with a glass of white wine in the evening, choosing the right wine glass is essential for enjoying your bottle of vintage. Our extensive range of wine glasses and wine goblets cater for every taste and every type of wine, including red wine, white wine and rose wine.
Ideal for dinner parties and at home, we offer a range of versatile and durable wine glasses that can be used daily. Many of our cheap wine glasses can be used for both red wine and white wine. If you're looking for something a bit different, we offer a range of wine tumblers, reusable plastic wine glasses, disposable plastic wine glasses and novelty wine glasses.
For use in commercial establishments we have a wide selection of LCE wine glasses, which are lined to a legal metric wine measure. Our selection of professional quality wine glasses include tempered wine glasses and toughened wine glasses that offer a durable and safer finish.
For the wine connoisseur, we have a selection of wine tasting glasses and grape specific wine glasses, which include designer wine glass manufacturers such as Riedel glassware, Arcoroc glassware, Luigi Bormioli glassware and LSA glassware. Choose from our selection of luxury wine glasses, including handmade wine glasses, hand painted wine glasses and crystal wine glasses.
