Red wine glasses enhance the color, texture, and aroma of the wine. Bordeaux glasses are for heavier reds, while Burgundy glasses are for lighter ones. Specialized glasses for each variety of red wine are also available. All-purpose wine glasses are a compromise between red and white wine glasses.
Red wine glasses are specialized vessels used for serving and enjoying red wine. While wine can be consumed from any type of glass, a red wine glass allows the wine to show its color, texture and aroma. The most common types of red wine glasses are the Bordeaux and the Bordeaux glass, although modern glassmakers have branched out to create specially designed glasses to meet the needs of other varieties.
Traditional red wine glasses are most often seen in two varieties. Heavier red wines are often served in a glass called a Bordeaux glass. These glasses have a modestly wide bowl that curves only slightly as it approaches the rim, allowing the wine to reach the back of the tongue more easily, where the richest flavors can be enjoyed. The wider opening of the Bordeaux glass also allows the wine to aerate or breathe, which is necessary to unlock flavors in wines like cabernet and tampranillo.
Lighter reds, such as Pinot Noir or Beaujolais, benefit from a glass called a Bordeaux glass. These tumblers have a rounder bowl that narrows as it reaches the lip. The narrowing of the bowl to the top keeps the aroma inside the glass so you can enjoy the more delicate nose of the wine.
Both Bordeaux and Bordeaux glasses are large compared to general purpose glasses or glasses intended for white wine consumption. They generally hold between 10 and 22 ounces (0.3-0.6 L), although a typical pour of red wine is between 6 and 8 ounces (0.18-0.24 L). The reason for the large body is that the red wine can be swirled in the glass. Swirling red wine helps oxidize, releasing the flavors and aromas of the wine.
Some wine glass makers have gone beyond traditional claret and burgundy glasses to design specialized wine glasses for each variety of red. These varietal-specific glasses adjust the size of the bowl and the angle at which it rises to help unlock the aromas and flavors of each type of wine. There are red wine glasses made for Cabernet, Syrah, Merlot and other types of wine.
An all purpose wine glass can also be used to serve red or white wines. These glasses are a compromise between the wide bowls commonly seen in red wine glasses and the narrow ones used for white wine. The California Wine Institute has developed a standard wine glass that is 2″ (14cm) tall and has a 1.75″ (4.5cm) stem. The bowl of this glass is shaped like a tulip.
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