Last month, I shared basic food and wine pairing tips. This month, we’ll focus on the age-old question of how many wine glasses you should have.
One of the top producers of wine glasses is Riedel (pronounced: Needle). Last month, I visited their website.
I stopped counting when I got to 11 lines of different glassware. Each had between six and 20+ glasses.
When I was learning about wine, I had an instructor from Australia who remarked one day that having too many different types of wine glasses was like ironing your underwear. Nice to do, but completely unnecessary.
So, with that in mind, I’m going to suggest that you buy a set of universal red wine glasses and a set of universal white wine glasses. They are practical, approachable, versatile, and convenient. Wine Enthusiast magazine found that a “well-designed universal glass performs remarkably well across the board.”
When you are buying your universal red wine set, look for wide enough bowl to aerate red wines. A standard five-ounce pour should reach the widest part of the glass.
If you put white wine in a red wine glass, it could over-aerate the wine, and it will most likely flatten sparkling wines. While you’re at it, “ditch the flute.”
Use your white wine glasses for sparkling wines. You’ll get better aeration and better sensory tasting experience.
With universal glasses you will miss some nuances that you would capture in a varietal-specific glass, but it’s good enough for everyday use. A wardrobe of wine glasses is mostly about marketing and prestige.
I am partial to old world Pinot Noir, so I’ve treated myself to some varietal-specific glasses to enhance those wines, but my go-to glasses are from Amazon. Six Schott Zwiesel Tritan glasses are on sale for $47. I use Spiegelau Vino Grande white wine glasses. A set of four retails for $47.
If you prefer universal stemless wine glasses, look for one that has an indentation for your fingers to hold the glass. That keeps your hand from warming the wine. Fill your glass to just below the indentation. Cheers!
