Flute glass
Designed for Champagne, Methode Traditionelle and sparkling wines such as Prosecco, the flute is synonymous with a pre-dinner glass of bubbles.
Their long and tall shape provides the most room for bubbles to fizz upwards and express their aromas.
But due to their awkward dimension and centre of balance, flute glasses account for many a wine-glass casualty.
If you’re worried about breakages, a white wine glass will suffice for most sparkling wines.
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White wine glass
Perhaps the most common wine glass type around, the white wine glass is perfect for stainless-steel fermented wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Albarino.
Also good at keeping the wine chilled, this type of glass is ideal for whites characterised by floral aromas and delicate fruit.
But almost all white wines will happily express themselves in here, the main exception perhaps being Chardonnay.
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Aroma collector
Also known as the ‘Burgundy glass’, this does as its name suggests – communicating aromas to the olfactory senses as the winemaker would have envisaged.
Notice the angle of the glass closes in ever-so-slightly towards the top, allowing aromas to collect at the head of the glass in a similar fashion to whiskey drams.
Aroma collectors are suited to lighter-bodied reds such as Pinot Noir, but Rose and Chardonnay will also express themselves fully in these glasses.
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Oversize glass
The oversize glass, also referred to as the “Bordeaux glass”, is big and bold – and demands wines that match.
Reds that require generous amounts of aeration will benefit from the extra “swirling” surface area offered by an oversize glass.
Importantly, that extra space also allows those upstanding tannins you tend to find in big, opulent reds to soften before it reaches the mouth.
That’s why the likes of bold and tannin-laden Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah (or Shiraz), Pinotage and Sagrantino command the extra breathing room.
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Dessert glass
Most of the world’s dessert wines are harvested with small quantities in mind, mainly owing to their high alcohol content but also their rich flavour and texture.
That’s why you’ll find dessert wine glasses to be far smaller in size to regular wine vessels, which certainly helps to keep our portion control in check!