The Right Glass

Good wine without proper wineglasses is not just a mistake, it's a travesty. Try tasting your Château-oh-so-nice out of a kid's plastic cup and you'll know exactly what we mean.

Most self-respecting wine-drinking households have at least one set of designated wineglasses of reasonable quality, and perhaps flutes for sparkling wine and smaller glasses for Sherries and ports. The more discerning may have a set of glasses for each red and white wine, and maybe even a set of German "hock" glasses. Connoisseurs with the funds and the storage space, on the other hand, may have numerous sets of glasses for a variety of different types of wine.

Generally speaking, we find the experience of wine is enhanced when wineglasses have the following four attributes:

• They are uncolored, uncut and without engraving so the visual experience of the wine is not diminished.
• The size and shape is appropriate to the wine (a large bowl-like glass for reds so the aromas have a chance to escape).
• The glasses have stems so no warmth is transmitted from the hand through the glass to the wine.
• The glasses are as thin as possible so that there is the least amount of physical presence between your palate and the wine.

Just remember that a good wineglass is not necessarily an expensive one.