Wine Glass Tips

Try these tips for maximising your enjoyment of wine. Serious wine lovers should check out the varietal stemware available at Matchbox for glasses that have been designed for specific wine varieties.

Filling the glass
Fill the glass only to the widest diameter of its bowl. This will ensure maximum development of the wine´s bouquet, and also provide the most elegant table setting.

Holding the glass
The appropriately filled glass should always be held by the stem rather than the bowl, as heat from the hand could raise the wine‘s temperature above its optimum and negatively influence the bouquet of the wine.

Swirling the glass
Carefully swirling the glass allows oxygen into the wine by increasing its surface area and helps release the wine´s rich, mature aroma.

Why and how to decant wines
To decant wine means to transfer it from its bottle to a decanter or carafe before drinking. During storage or aging, wine can develop a solid deposit or sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Decanting is an easy means of separating the sediment from the wine. Decanting also helps the wine breathe, as the greater surface diameter of the decanter lets more oxygen reach the wine than the bottle‘s does. Red wines should be decanted well before serving and allowed to rest at room temperature for up to one hour to allow the wine to fully develop its bouquet.

Wine temperature
Before decanting and/or serving wine, please store it at appropriate temperature (red wines at 15°-17°C, white wines at 10°-12°C). The proper serving temperature enhances the quality of the wine by allowing it to fully develop its characteristic aromas and flavours.

Washing the glass
Glasses should always be washed carefully, preferably by hand. Some glassware brands are dishwasher safe, but they are still best cared for by avoiding harsh detergents and choosing a cool, short dishwashing cycle. To avoid detergent residue, rinse glasses thoroughly in clean water. When drying the bowl of the glass, avoid holding the glass by its stem or base as this can, in extreme cases, cause the stem to break at its narrowest point.

Wine Glass Tips courtesy of Spiegelau – www.spiegelau.com