Wine Glasses, How Do They Affect Wine? – Episode #111

October 19, 2006

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Wines tasted in this episode:

Today Gary tackles a very important topic that many people discuss and debate at a fever pitch in the wine industry. Gary grabs two great wines and attacks this subjuct head first, please join in the discussion and let us know what you think. Also this is tell your friends thursday. Pass the WLTV word around!

229 Responses

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  1. October 20, 2006

    Mitch

    Gary, I’m a big fan and don’t want to be a troublemaker, but why do I get lots of e-mails touting wines that certain wine publications rated highly when you frequently don’t agree with the ratings? Would you not agree that these wine publications for better or worse help you sell lots of wine, and that some/many are wines that you don’t think are all that good?

  2. October 20, 2006

    Big Billy from Big D

    IMHO The physical considerations for wine glasses:
    1) Tulip shape – absolutely essential for swirling. With the nice tulip shape you can swirl to your heart’s content. Try swirling in a Flintstones jelly glass (preferably with water) if you want a demonstration of the importance of the tulip shape. I think a taller bowl is better than a globe shaped bowl.
    2) A nice big glass (not too big). The bowl size matters I think in terms of the capacity of our sinuses. When the aromatics form from the swirling I want a nice big gulp of those aromatics for my enjoyment. Unlike Bill Clinton, I freely admit to inhaling, it’s essential to the enjoyment of even a moderate plonk.

    I have two basic sizes: a 24 oz Cab/Bordeaux glass that I actually use for every still wine, and a similar smaller 14 to 16 oz like the Chianti glass for whites. The two patterns mostly add an air of festivity at a small dinner party.

    For parties my solution was to but pressed glass stem on sale at Cost Plus/World market. They come in made to measure corrugated boxes so handy for storage. I keep them in the attic. I have 24 champagne flutes, and 24 12 oz cap. still wine tulips. In addition I have about 50 wine charms to help folks identify whicvh of several identical glasses belongs to them at a party.

    It isn’t as elegant, but it is practical.

    I love my big Cab glasses.

    Salud

  3. October 20, 2006

    Tony S.

    Great episode Gary! I couldn’t finish all the way through the Caymus though…got a lot of work to do today. Excellant episode actually.

    As for the QOD: for the last three years, my wife has been getting me one of the Sommelier series of Riedel glasses. The first was the Bordeaux (freakin’ HUUUUGE glass…it’s crazy), the second was the Red Burgundy and last years was the Montrachet (unfortunately, I will probably never get to actually have some Montrachet in my Montrachet glass…but it still works for lower end white Burgs).

    Anyway, I use these sparingly so that I don’t break them. But I use them for nicer wines, and when my wife is having wine with me, she uses our regular old Ikea glasses and we’ll both try the wine from each glass. And like you said, it really, really makes a difference mainly in the nose, but that’s one of the best parts of wine. So, I fully agree that the right glass makes a difference.

    Sorry about your Mets…I was rooting for them. As a Cubs fan, I hate the Cardinals, but they are a good team. Go Tigers. And I know you won’t ever lose interest in your Jets. Football is great all around. Baseball gets boring, it’s a sport I watch when I’m kicking back on the couch and snoozing for an hour or so. Football is when I’m on the edge of the couch at full attention, and I’m sure you’re the same way.

    Alright…see you later,
    GO BEARS!!!
    T

  4. October 20, 2006

    Miguelo DiMarco

    I played the end of this episode a few extra times to make sure I heard it right, but some of you all heard it too: the big contradiction. Or was it a paradox? Did he want to leave us where we started (unconfirmed) so we would ultimately decide the question for ourselves? I always thought big was big and small was different, but the contours of the glass didn’t matter. Now I have to buy some more glassware. . . .

  5. October 20, 2006

    Italian Stallion

    Where’s my buddy SS Chris….you kick ass and your spreadsheet is absolutely AMAZING!!! So you bought Gary that Dwight Bobblehead doll…..where’d you get the bobblehead??

    -Stallion

  6. October 20, 2006

    Lynne

    OK, all,
    I have not the space nor the funds for different types of glasses for specific types of wines…SO..please, someone recommend the preferred type to buy if a person were to own one style for red and one for white.
    Very educational Ep, Gary

    QOD Part I:not enough experience to answer that one
    QOD Part II: You will NEVER stop loving the Jets…You GOTTA love ‘em if you’re gonna own them!!

  7. October 20, 2006

    Eugene

    Gary, thank you for really scientific episode. I feel we’re getting closer to the kitchen blends now (see my comment to one of the previous episodes).

    About the glasses.

    You have deep misunderstanding and underappreciation of the Chianti/Riesling glass.
    For those just starting getting Riedel glasses: This is the most versatile glass.

    It’s very useful for most reds and whites. I actually use it a lot.

    My second favorite is Bordeaux/Cabernet glass.

    On the daily bases I find myself using “O” glasses more often even though I am generally against stemless glasses. But they are less fragile and can go in dishwasher.

    Champagne glasses I use, as one can guess for champagne, which I drink less often than y wife wants.

    All of the glasses mentioned above are Vinum. I wouldn’t even bother with Somalier since they are very fragile.

    A first piece of advice: Get cheep Ikea glasses (which are quite good considering price $2 a piece and they are sturdy) for large gathering and outdoor events. Uninitiated people think they’re nice and people in the know would understand.

    A second advice: don’t wash Riedel on the night of the party (unless you want to shell out $20 a piece next morning to replace broken stems)

  8. October 20, 2006

    Carlitos

    Thanks for a great episode!

    I think we all kind of knew that glasses do affect at least the aroma.

    Free shipping ROCKS! 700+ people! You definitely have to do this more often!!!

  9. October 20, 2006

    MarcT

    DarleneO…you’ve got to start reading the comments!!

    Good statement about the low rated wines BrandonM. Though I have not done what you did, I have purposely bought “cheap, crap” wine and tasted it to search for the flavors and flaws that a “bad” wine produce. It is a very educational experience. I recommend it to EVERYONE that wants to learn more about wine…and you never know…one of the “cheap, crap” wines you try might end up being pleasant to your palate as we are all different.

    Oooops to the Mets. SS Chris. Hold your head up. Your guys did WAY better than my Braves! Even with one of my old pitchers (although he doesn’t have what he used to).

  10. October 20, 2006

    TimF

    Has anyone tried the Trevor Jones Old Tawny Port Jonesy? Looks like they got some more in. That’s got to be about the highest QPR I’ve ever seen: 93RP for $8!

  11. October 20, 2006

    TimF

    Jim Vandegriff: Like Brandon M said, just practice at home. Pour yourself a glass of water and spit into the sink. After a few sessions you’ll have all the confidence in the world at a tasting…

  12. October 20, 2006

    Tony manning

    Thank You, Thank you, now when I look at a wall of wine glasses, I can say what it is.
    Thanks Gary.
    http://www.thewineglass.net

  13. October 20, 2006

    Matty Van, Rochester NY

    Obviously the nose will be differnt in a differnt glass, different air to aroma ratio, but the taste after the split second it hits your mouth your mouth will be just as full no matter what shape the glass is and it should taste the same, only difference is where the first drops hit your tounge. I think drinking out of a super expensive nice glass might just make you think it taste better due to a placebo effect and the good feeling of knowing your holding a $100 glass

    for an all purpose red wine glass and the most bang for the buck here is what I have and recomend…

    Riedel Vivant Pinot Noir Glasses – Set of 4 $39.99

    http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=in_de_detail-buybox-with-variations/602-7040357-5207010?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=&asin=B000B5R05C

    they are super thin which is good but if you just knock one over on the counter it will break, but at $10 a glass its no big deal, but if I had Riedel Sommeliers at $75 per glass I would be pissed, especially if someone else broke one. I would rather save $240 on the set and buy a case of wine.

  14. October 20, 2006

    Dan G.

    I caught the Absolutely not as well. He had to be joking; especially after all that tasting.

  15. October 20, 2006

    Brandon M

    Jim Vandegriff…All you have to do is go home and practice. It just takes some doing. I have a Goatee, so it took me quite a few times spitting without getting all over the goat. But once you get it, you’ll realize your a spitting pro and spit with the best of them.

    B

  16. October 20, 2006

    Darlene O.

    I kind of fast-forwarded here and didn’t read all the comments, but am I the ONLY one who watched the episode all the way through? Did I here you correctly, Gary, that, after going through the gyrations of ‘this is different…that is different’, you say, at the very end that different wine glasses ‘ABSOLUTELY DO NOT’ have an impact on the taste of wine? Just the nose, then? What?!?!?!?

  17. October 20, 2006

    Jim Vandegriff

    Good educational experience in this episode. Thanks Gary. A question for you, and a suggestion follow. When driving back home from Sacramento today, I backtracked a bit to taste at the Jeriko estate winery near Hopland in Mendocino County. Jeriko is owned by the Fetzer family (who don’t own the winery with their name any longer, I believe). They are using solely organic grapes in their new winery, and since I had to drive, I decided to spit out everything I tasted. There were small ceramic dump jars (quite attractive) on the tasting counter, so I used one to spit into. Of course, I did manage to get some wine on my shirt despite being careful, so my request is that you gross everyone out, and specifically show us your swirl in mouth and spit technique. That may be too graphic for wltv, but I think it would be useful. The suggestion I have is for an episode on organic wines. You could have one of the organic wine producers talk about the reasons for organic in their minds, and maybe even one of the biodynamic grapegrowers talk (to us or to you) about their process. I did enjoy a number of the Jeriko wines. Thanks, Jim

  18. October 20, 2006

    Brandon M

    Gary…I’m in a bind and need some help. Can you call me and give the never ending free shipping code.
    Thanks…your the man!

    B

  19. October 20, 2006

    RCP

    Gary

    Super episode!! I think you’ve finally ended all debate on the matter. Your teeth/mouth were the same color as your shirt by the end.

  20. October 20, 2006

    JustinL

    Yes, Gary confirmed via email that he was kidding at the end.

  21. October 20, 2006

    Brandon M

    Right now I am tasting / evaluating the Reserve Perrin Cotes Du Rhone from episode #101.

    My thoughts are this:
    Without a doubt I feel the alchohol all over the mouth. It is drying out my tounge after five or six sip swish spits (say that 10 times fast). I have not mastered the taste of currant yet so I don’t know if that’s there at all, and there is a tiny bit of cherry on the mid-palette, but not enough to make you happy. Man…it feels like I just did a shot of tequila write on the back of my tongue…yuck. There’s absolutly no finish…except the achohol which is lasting a good 4 to 5 minutes.

    Here’s my suggestion…the next time a free shipping code comes along buy a six to eight dollar bottle of wine that Gary has given a PASS on. I did this on purpose with this 84 minus rated wine from Gary. Just buy one bottle and then taste it along side the episode. You NEED to do this if you are a novice to somewhat experienced wine drinker. When you taste the good stuff with Gary it’s all pleasant and there are no rough edges, so how will you know what to taste or smell for when they come along. I believe if you are trying to better your palette, then this is a must in your evolution as an educated wine consumer.

    SS Chris…sorry that you won’t be taking your sons to the WS, but at least you enjoyed more playoffs than I did. Great Great Baseball season, no matter what happens!

  22. October 20, 2006

    Brandon M

    He was most definitely kidding at the end…I Gaurantee it!

  23. October 20, 2006

    JustinL

    Come on, Gary. Are you joking through the whole episode, or are you joking at the end? I am assuming that you were just testing to see how many people were paying attention at the end of the episode, but I’m not sure.

  24. October 19, 2006

    SS Chris

    METS lose…I’m officially in mourning!

    I’ll be gone for at least a month…someone will need to take over SS duties.

  25. October 19, 2006

    SS Chris

    E, That is the Dwignt Bobblehead hiding within the Decanters.

    Dwight…the character for the NBC show, “The Office”

    BTW, that’s a gift from me…..

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