Wine Glasses Demystified

Chris Turyk - I love wine, a lot. I’m a Certified Sommelier, WSET Diploma graduate, and get in everyones way at unsworthvineyards. Follow my personal antics @farmersomm

Well understood now is that sparkling wine should not solely be reserved for special occasions. Allow me to rephrase; every occasion becomes special by virtue of opening sparkling wine. Other than the obvious bubbles, hidden are myriads of subtle, complex and fascinating aromas that compliment the carbonation in the pinnacle of fine wine. Long has the wine community on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland screamed for the Island to make sparkling wine our signature style. With all do respect to Pinot Noir, we received the message loud and clear.

Commonplace is the flute as the sparkling wine glass of choice, largely to preserve the bubbles in the glass. Its’ long, thin and elegant bowl provides less surface area at the bottom of the glass for the bubbles to escape and bead to the rim. Resulting in a picture perfect stream of pearls that are as persistent from first sip to the last. As prototypical as this is, I argue some of the potential for enjoyment is lost with such little room in the small, narrow glass for aromas to gather, let alone fit my ample nose.

Some fashionable bars and restaurants are opting for the throwback coupe style glass. Close your eyes and picture drinking wine in the 1930’s - that glass. Certain fun, perhaps even a guilty pleasure arises in sipping bubbles (especially Champagne) from this timepiece which always results in a smile. A few spills aside this can be a lighthearted choice in lieu of the flute, but unfortunately still doesn’t solve the problem of not being able to smell what is in the glass.

Alas, when drinking sparkling wine more often than not, I utilize my staple white wine glass. Specifically the Riedel aromatic white glass which can be sourced at most home stores and certainly online. Splitting the difference between preserving the carefully attained bubbles and actually being able to fit my nose in the glass for a good whiff, the white wine glass is perfect middle ground and whittles down my constantly packed glass cabinet. The tulip shape allows the wine to be swirled

to further coax aromas out of the wine, and easily detected are more subtle and shy notes of complexity and age particularly associated with traditional method sparkling wine.

Often in wine, like life, there is no single right answer. What matters often is the path leading to enjoyment and harmony. A path with sparkling wine will seldom disappoint.