Most wine lovers all agree on one thing. If you want to get the most out of your glass of wine it must be served in crystal wine glasses. Some of course will argue this, stating that a good wine is simply good no matter how it is served. But these people are mistaken. Sure the wine will still taste good, but if you want to really get the best smell, look and yes, even taste, a crystal glass is a must.
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Of course not everyone throughout history had access to these glasses. Back in the 15th century, wine lovers were relagated to an enamel glass. These were somewhat larger than what we think of today, holding more than the standard 4 ounces of drink. Then, in Germany towards the end of the 16th century, someone got the great idea to decorate the glasses with etchings. Although this did nothing for the taste, the appearance did seem to make wine drinking more pleasurable. But leave it to the French to bring out the best. Near the end of the 18th century, crystal glasses were introduced in France. Wine drinking has not been the same since.
By the 19th century, these crystal wine glasses were being made in sets of 12. And not just for any old wine. Specific sets were made for burgandy and claret, liqueur, Champagne, as well as port and sherry. It wasn't that long about, sometime in the 1950's, that Reidel Crystal (followed shortly after by other manufacturers) started to turn these glasses into art. Crystal was shaped into many different shapes and sizes to suit any wine afficianado.
That makes choosing glasses easy for you. You want crystal glasses that will do your favorite wine justice. As a personal taste, we prefer to avoid colored glasses and even a tinted base or stem. But what's of great importance here is not just the look, but the way the captures the aroma. This is best accomplished with a glass that has a wider bowl and becomes more narrow as you get towards the mouth. If you think about it, it makes sense. A wide bowl allows you plenty of room to swirl. But if the mouth is wide, the smell spreads and disperses quickly. A more narrow mouth forces the aroma into your nostrils.
Now consider the wines you like to drink. If you are a red wine drinker, you'll probably want a larger glass so it will have plenty of room to breathe and develop. If you prefer sparkling wines, consider using a thin crystal with a straight side. This will keep the bubbles for you.
And if you are going to serve several wines with dinner, you want to make sure you do it right. Think of how they will be used and position the glasses right to left. You'll start on the right side with a tall stem for your white wine. Next you'll position the big wine glasses for the red wine. Finally the smaller and shorter crystal will be used for port or sherry.
Just keep in mind that no matter what type of wine you are serving, using good breathable crystal wine glasses will make the experience better and more enjoyable.
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