Wine glass facts for kids
A wine glass is a special type of glass used for drinking and tasting wine. Most wine glasses have three main parts: a bowl to hold the liquid, a stem to hold the glass, and a foot (or base) to make it stand steady.
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Why Glass Shapes Matter
People often discuss if the shape of a glass really changes how wine tastes. Some believe that the right shape helps to focus the wine's smell and flavor. This is thought to highlight the unique qualities of different wines. However, scientists are still studying this idea.
Most wine glasses are stemware. This means they have a stem, like a goblet. The opening of some glasses is narrower than the widest part of the bowl. This design helps to keep the wine's smell inside the glass. Other glasses are more open, like an upside-down cone.
There are also "stemless" wine glasses. These are like tumblers and come in many sizes and shapes. People often use them for more casual occasions.
Let's look at some common types of wine glasses.
Red Wine Glasses
Glasses for red wine usually have a rounder, wider bowl. This shape allows more air to mix with the wine. When wine mixes with air, its flavors and smells can change slightly. This process is called oxidation. Many people think oxidation makes red wines taste smoother and more complex.
Here are two popular red wine glass styles:
- Bordeaux glass: This glass is tall with a wide bowl. It's designed for strong red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. It helps direct the wine to the back of your mouth.
- Burgundy glass: This glass is wider than the Bordeaux glass. It has a bigger bowl to gather the smells of more delicate red wines, such as Pinot noir. This glass style directs the wine to the tip of your tongue.
White Wine Glasses
White wine glasses come in many different sizes and shapes. They range from the slim Champagne flute to wide, shallow glasses for wines like Chardonnay. Each shape is designed to bring out the best in different white wines.
Wide-mouthed glasses work like red wine glasses. They let more air mix with the wine. This is good for full-flavored white wines, like oaked Chardonnay, which taste better with a little oxidation.
For lighter, fresher white wines, less air is better. Too much air can hide their delicate flavors. So, many white wine glasses have a smaller opening. This reduces the amount of air that touches the wine, keeping it crisp and clean. For sparkling wines, like Champagne, an even smaller opening helps keep the bubbles in the glass longer.
Champagne Flutes
Champagne flutes have a long stem and a tall, narrow bowl. This shape is perfect for keeping sparkling wine bubbly and enjoyable. Like other wine glasses, you should hold a flute by its stem. This stops the heat from your hand from warming the drink.
The narrow bowl helps keep the bubbles in the drink. It also makes the champagne look more appealing. The bubbles travel further up the tall, slim glass, creating a beautiful visual effect.
Sherry Glasses
A sherry glass is used for serving strong, aromatic alcoholic beverages. These include sherry, port, and liqueurs. The copita is a type of sherry glass with a narrow top. This shape helps to focus the drink's smell.
Boccalino
A boccalino is a type of mug used in Ticino, Switzerland. People use it to drink local wine, like Merlot. It holds about 200 milliliters of liquid.
How to Hold a Wine Glass
Many experts suggest holding a wine glass by its stem. This helps in two ways:
- It stops your hand from warming the wine.
- It prevents smudges or fingerprints on the bowl of the glass.
What Wine Glasses Are Made Of
In the past, high-quality wine glasses were often made from lead glass. This type of glass was heavier and sparkled more. However, because of worries about lead getting into drinks, most wine glasses are now made from lead-free glass.
Wine glasses are usually clear, without color or frosting. This is so you can fully appreciate the wine's color. Some companies now add titanium to the glass. This makes the glasses stronger and less likely to break.
Decorating Wine Glasses
In the 1700s, glass makers would add cool spiral patterns to the stems of glasses. If they used tiny air bubbles to make the spirals, it was called an "airtwist." If they used thin threads, either white or colored, it was called an "opaque twist."
Special Wine Tasting Glass
There's a special glass designed for professional wine tasting. It's called the INAO wine glass. This glass was made official in France in 1970 and later became an international standard.
This tasting glass is made of crystal. It has a specific shape: a bowl that looks like a stretched egg, supported by a stem and a base. The opening of the glass is narrower than the widest part of the bowl. This helps to concentrate the wine's smell. The glass holds about 215 milliliters, but it's meant to be filled with only about 50 milliliters of wine for tasting.
Images for kids
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Pair of 18th century opaque twist stem glasses
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In the EU, fill lines are legally required on commercial glassware as a consumer protection measure.
See also
In Spanish: Copa de vino para niños
