Does the shape of a wineglass actually matter?
Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And don't worry, I'm no wine snob—you can also ask me those "dumb questions" you're too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And don't forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.
Dear Dr. Vinny,
Does the shape of a wineglass actually matter?
—Martin, Quebec, Canada
Dear Martin,
I’ve been lucky enough to sit through side-by-side tastings with wine served in differently shaped wineglasses and, at least for me, there absolutely is a difference. Things like the height, size and shape of a wineglass change how the wine is perceived. They might look subtle, but the difference can be enormous.
But not everyone has the budget or cupboard space for a collection of glasses for every type of wine. I have some good-quality everyday wineglasses and a couple of fancier ones for when I’m opening special bottles. If you have the opportunity, you should test out some of the different shapes and figure out what makes the most sense for you and your tastes.
—Dr. Vinny
