Good Glasses = More Wine Enjoyment.

I'm the last one to get all mental over the "proper" glasses to use when drinking wine. You won't see me turning down a drop just because somebody has the wrong glasses. If all you have is some rinsed out paper cups from your last visit to Tim Hortons then that's what it's going to be. Having said that . . .

There are a few things to consider if you want to get more enjoyment out of the daily tipple.

Use glass. Use clear glass that's free of colour or busy cut designs. Glass allows you to examine the brilliance of the wine. You pay for all that fining and filtration; you might as well enjoy it!

A stem on the glass will provide a place to put your mitts and cool wine will stay that way longer.
Also the bowl won't get all mucked up with bits of crab cake and dip. To every rule there is an exception or... if you're going to break a rule, break it good. Riedel makes these great tumblers specifically for big reds like Merlot and Cabernets. A little palm heat won't hurt them.

A glass with a generous bowl and a slightly narrowed opening will allow aroma to be concentrated where your nose can appreciate it. And get glasses that will hold at least 14 ounces to the brim. Of course, only put 6 or 7 ounces in the things. Exception: smaller glasses for bits of ice wine and the like.

The word on crystal: the deal here is that wine just might be better in crystal. Apparently the surface of crystal is far more serrated than regular glass. This creates more ripping and tearing and oxygen introducing type action as the wine moves about the glass which creates a more dominant aroma. I sat through a seminar and demonstration by a crystal salesman on this subject and he was better than Reveen. We were all pretty convinced and planned to drink all our daily beverages out of crystal. Do a side-by-side for yourself and see what works for you.

When you go for your crystal remember that all luxury goods have that "name" thing going on so you may want Riedel (Mercedes) but why not try the Spiegelau (Audi) ? Ninety-nine percent of your drinking friends won't be able to tell the difference.