A Special Moment with Stemware

Sometimes we have a moment that feels like pure perfection. I had one this week at a rehearsal for JAN Franschhoek Season III. With the Franschhoek mountains covered in snow, I had a cosy spot next to the fire and when I sat back and swirled my glass of Chardonnay, I felt utterly content. There are many reasons for that moment of wellbeing, but ultimately it was about the glass in my hand. Not even the content, as much as I enjoy our latest Chardonnay vintage, but the glass itself. Perfectly shaped and expertly moulded, the glass allowed for a spectacular showcase of the wine in the way it swirled, shared its bouquet and eventually its palate. Is it possible for a glass to do all that?

It is, actually. Of course, you don’t need expensive and fancy stemware to enjoy your wine. In essence, a glass is a vessel with a purpose almost like a car that must be able to start and to stop. You can easily drink your wine from an average wine glass, tumbler or a coffee mug if that is what you have. Just like a car’s add-ons and luxuries can make the journey more enjoyable, I can, however, guarantee another level of enjoyment when you sip your wine from a certain type of glass. And that was at the heart of my special moment with stemware this week.

Other than an elegant thin rim, a sleek stem or perhaps even artistry in the shape and the way the glass displays on your table, what difference does the stemware make to the taste of your wine?

The specific shape of the glass has to do the following:

• Deliver the quality and intensity of the wine’s aroma.
• Highlight the texture or mouthfeel.
• Create a balanced interaction between fruit, minerality, acidity and the bitter components of the wine.
• Offer a pleasant and lingering aftertaste.

Let’s stay with the Chardonnay example. Pioneering varietal-specific stemware since 1958, RIEDEL has the following to say regarding the ultimate Chardonnay glass for an oaked white like I enjoyed: “Oaked Chardonnay glasses feature a much larger, wider bowl that helps reveal the intensity of full-bodied, oaked white wines, including the wine’s multi-layered aromas. A smaller wine glass can see fuller-bodied white wines become over-concentrated, whereas our larger RIEDEL Chardonnay Glasses emphasize the wine’s finesse while allowing richer-style white wine qualities to expand and deliver to the nose and palate in a more balanced manner.” Read more.

The last thing we need is another barrier when it comes to wine enjoyment and I know that you can enjoy a special wine regardless of the vessel you sip it from. For me, something like varietal-specific stemware is almost like terroir. You don’t need to understand anything about soil and oceanic influences to enjoy your wine, but if you do, it makes the wine more interesting. Isn’t that a big part of why we love wine? It can be an uncomplicated glass, but it can also be so much more.

One glass we are not negotiating about is the Champagne flute, am I right? Is its tall shape, not the ultimate way to display the beautiful stream of bubbles? Visually, the elegance of the traditional flute brings the x-factor to any occasion, turning it into a celebration. You might, however, be surprised to hear that a slightly wider glass might be better in some instances. Champagne’s complex characteristics might require a wider glass for optimum development and the release of all those beautiful flavours. Riedel offers 15 different Champagne glasses ! From the classic flute called Superleggero that is recommended for light, fresh, dry Champagnes, Prosecco?and sparkling wines to the Sommelier black tie vintage glass for beautifully developed vintage Champagnes and then they have the Widewings with its unique flat-bottomed design or the exceptional red stem Fatto A Mano Performance glass for the ultimate celebration of the wine’s?complexity of flavour and texture.

It might already be overwhelming to choose your bottle of Champagne, and?now we suggest you go to so much trouble with the glass?!?I suggest you worry more about the wine than the glass, but if you have an opportunity to taste from varietal-specific stemware, do try it, it is interesting and entertaining and you never know, you might even consider adding another glass or three to your cupboard. (Click here for a varietal-glass-specific tasting experience )

On 1 September, South Africa celebrates Cap Classique, the South African version of Champagne. Made using the same méthode traditionnelle used in France’s Champagne region, these South African sparkling wines come in a wide variety of styles and offer exceptional quality at prices a little more affordable than their French counterparts. The Franschhoek Valley is famous for its Cap Classique wines and we will definitely raise a glass or two this weekend. Join us, whether you prefer your bubbles in a pretty coupe, classic flute or even a stemless glass that is just more practical for picnics and pool-side parties. Cheers!

Read more: The science behind wine glass shapes The importance of the wine glass Wine snobs are right – glass shape does affect flavour Fundamentals of wine glassware