WINE GLASSES: THE SHAPES YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Bordeaux
This large, tapered glass is intended for big strong wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It provides plenty of surface area for the wine to aerate, and the big aromas to swirl, while its large rim slows the wine down in your mouth, tempering the tannins. For Cabernet and Merlot.
The Burgundy
This glass is designed to temper the acidity of light reds, with the contours causing fast delivery into the mouth, tipping it into the front of the tongue and zipping it down the middle, so that the fruit and tobacco notes are accentuated. Good for Barolos, Nebbiolo and Beaujolais wines, such as Gamay.
Cuvee Prestige
Etchings at the bottom send a beautiful double helix of bubbles upwards. This shape is ideal for a wine as acidic as fizz (better than a coupe), since the tipping motion required to sip it sends it straight along the tongue to the back of the mouth, where the fruit and deeper notes are expressed.
Montrachet
Montrachet is a Burgundy – and this white wine glass is meant for seriously huge oaked Chardonnays, of which Burgundy produces many, such as Pouilly Fuisse and Puligny Montrachet. The big bowl calms the aromas and balances them. Use this glass for oaked New World Chardonnays too.
Sauvignon Blanc
Big enough to let the fruit notes sing, but tapered enough to intensify the aromas, this glass sends the wine to the middle and back of the throat so that the tongue picks up the full freight of fruit and alcohol, and the acidic notes are tempered. Best for Pouilly Fume, Sancerre and Gruner Veltliner.