Picking the right wine glass for your favorite wines

Size does matter, but bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. Of course, I am referring to wine glasses. From my experience, glasses often enhance my drinking experience. They can make a so-so wine taste decent, and convert a good wine into a great wine. In general, red wines are better served in larger glasses, with an enlarged surface that will allow more air contact and thus facilitate the development of aromas and flavors in the glass. For whites and rosés, medium-sized glasses with a smaller surface are a better pick to ensure that the fresh fruit character can come through better. For most Champagnes or sparkling wines, I prefer flute glasses. The slender shape and narrowed opening slows down the dissipation of the bubbles and also helps to magnify the aromatics. Fortified wines such as a Port or Sherry are better served in small glasses to highlight the fruit aromas and downplay the high alcohol content. Since you will need to swirl and hold up the glass many times during a tasting or a meal, the lighter the weight of the glass the better. Riedel and Spiegelau are both reputable glass brands with stores in Beijing. Cheers!