Glassware

Here at The Dinner Party we frequently get the question, "Does glassware really make that much of a difference in the taste of wine?" In short, you bet it does. However it does not need to cost a fortune to purchase glassware that will enhance the aromas and flavors of your wine.

Glassware in fact does make such a difference that when we started the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo Wine Competition, Scott Conant of Vehrs, one of our great local distributors, offered to donate Riedel tasting glasses for the judges. He was so concerned about how the wines would show using inferior glasses he wanted to ensure the wine would be the best it could be.

Similarly when we were picking the glassware for the fair tasting we spent a little more to get an unbranded Riedel designed glass to have logoed for all of those who attend the event on Aug. 28. The glass is a similar design and shape so you will taste from a glass remarkably like the one the judges used when rating the wines.

So apart from the fair here are a couple of design features and brand names to watch for. For decades Riedel has set the standard for varietally designed crystal stemware. Each glass is designed with bowl shape and bowl size to enhance the aromatics and palate flavors and finish of the grape varietal used in a particular wine. The trade off though is the glasses can be "spendy," especially if you are contemplating acquiring multiple designs, as the glasses start around $25 per stem.

A money saving step with Riedel though is to buy one white varietal design and one red varietal design based on which wines you like to drink most. This is a clear option as many of the designs are very close in appearance and functionality. Your wine shop professional can help you with the likely cross uses. Another option is to buy just one stem at a time until you have your full set built. Here at the dinner party we sell all of them individually to help make the purchase affordable.

In addition to Riedel there are other brands that offer both stemmed and stem-less crystal varietal designs, again by consulting your local wine professional you can learn more about the alternatives.

If crystal is just not in the budget or if you are concerned about breaking expensive glassware here are some features to watch for. The edge of the glass is very important. A cut edge is always better for enjoying wine than a rolled edge. A rolled edge looks like a small semi-circle on the edge of the glass you drink from while a cut edge is completely flat. The cut edge delivers the wine more cleanly onto the front to mid-palate in your mouth enhancing the taste.

Bowl shape is also very important, first of all be sure there is a definite bowl in the glass as opposed to a straight side. A bowl shape is actually more important to the aromatics being fully expressed. All you have to do is smell the wine from a glass with straight edges versus one with a bowl and you will get it immediately. Rolf Glass, a domestic manufacturer of all kinds of glassware, has one of the best designed wine glasses that have the benefit of also being gently priced. His cut edge stemmed wine glass retails for $13.95 and the stem-less version retails for $10 and in our experience is one of the best for enhancing both white and red varietals.

With summer being in full swing another option is the wide assortment of acrylic glasses available. Design and manufacturing technology has come a long way and the acrylics available today are really superior to those from just a couple of years ago, and no need to worry about breakage on the boat, or when entertaining outdoors. Stemmed acrylics are priced at $8 and stem-less for $6. The drawback though is they do not do well in the dishwasher.

Finally, there are many decorative designs that add some fun to your wine drinking experience while still providing the aromatic and palate enhancement you desire. For the fisherman try the wine glasses hand painted with fly fishing lures. In champagne flutes check out those enhanced with a pewter salmon or moose on the glass. All will treat your wine well and still help it to taste great!

One final tip, when you are drying your stemware, make certain to hold it by the bowl and not the stem. Many a wine glass has been broken by twisting the stem right off the bowl during drying.

If there is a topic you would like to read about or questions on wine you can e-mail George@thedinnerpartyshop.com or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d'Alene Press.

George Balling is co-owner with his wife Mary Lancaster of the dinner party a wine and table top decor shop in Coeur d'Alene. George is also the managing judge of The North Idaho Fair and Rodeo wine competition. Information: www.thedinnerpartyshop.com