Posts Tagged ‘wine glasses’

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The Importance of the Right Glassware for Wine

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Choosing and using the right glassware is an integral part of the wine drinking experience. t’s true that you can get wine in cans or cardboard cartons and perhaps there may come a time when we drink wine through straws.Hopefully that day is a very long way off, because that would ruin many excellent wines!

Good glassware (not necessarily expensive glasses)   is central to the enjoyment of a good wine.In fact, very expensive glassware is often not a sensible choice as the designs tend to have long stems and a high centre of gravity.  A glass filled with wine is inherently unstable and there can’t be anyone who drinks wine who hasn't tipped over the occasional glass during a conversation or meal.Wine glasses will break. Accept it and buy glasses that are fairly sturdy and reasonably priced.

A good wine glass is basically quite simple – ideally it should be made of glass and no other material. It should be perfectly clear with no tints or opaque colours because apart from just holding the wine, decent glassware should also display it. The true deep colour of a wine can be a beautiful sight in a clear, clean glass just as a range of bottles can be impressive in a well constructed wine rack.A glass should also enhance and preserve the wine's bouquet. Superior wine glasses are narrower at the top than at the bottom to concentrate the aromas of the wine. Experienced wine drinkers swirl the wine in the glass to release more of its bouquet.

So if you plan to buy wine-related gifts this Christmas, any decent collection of glasses will do the trick. The only truly unacceptable wine glass is the one most associated with the high life in popular culture and the cinema - the saucer-like champagne glass - guaranteed to make the wine go flat in record time. It is perfect for a shrimp cocktail starter, but otherwise for champagne and sparkling wines use a flute.

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The new pint glass for women

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Pubs and clubs across the UK could be getting a new pint glass available soon. Say hello to the 'Schooner' glass. Basically, the schooner glass is a glass that holds two thirds of a pint. The move follows mixed pressure from the pub trade which wants the option to sell stronger beers and ciders in smaller measures. Reports have also claimed that this beer glass will give females a chance to order a beer in a smaller measure as reports have suggested that women think the pint is too much.

The name, 'Schooner' comes from Australia, where it was introduced because full pints got too warm in the sun. Why people think that same methodology will apply to us in beyond me but pub landlords in the UK are taking it very seriously indeed. Yet, some critics from around the country are scared that the schooner will create a boycott effect on the pint glass. Currently, pubs from around the UK are only allowed to sell pints in a pint, half pint and third pint. The slightly smaller shaped glass will no doubt cause a headache for pub staff all over the country cutlery as the glass itself looks almost identical to a pint glass and there will no doubt be mistakes. The idea to try and drink less is always something that the Government would want to push as much as possible. It is the same with wine glasses. In loads of clubs and pubs they will only ever sell a larger glass wine glasses in the bar and in their dinnerware.

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association said there was hardly any reason behind this new glass and claimed that it would not be good for anyone. Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson said: 'There is no question of replacing the British pint, but introducing the option of a brand new imperial measure is good for consumers and providing them with far more choice.

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The Most Important Types Of Wine Glass Explained

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

The shape and size of glass from which you drink a wine is often not something people are concerned about. The flavours will be unaffected right? Well, owning a whole range of different glasses for drinking various wines is something that is becoming increasingly popular.The grandfather of Mr Riedel (The well known wine glass brand) was the pioneer of the different shaped wine glasses and was the first to produce special designs for different wines.Since then lots of people have joined this train of thought and expressed a noticeable difference in wine taste. Shaun Green, buyer for San Francisco based Wine Merchant K & L is someone who believes in this passionately, saying “It really does make a difference”.  Riedel now have over 40 different types of wine glasses, but if you can’t afford, or haven’t got space for these glasses, which ones are vital to own?

Red Wine - You really need a big-bowled smooth and basic glass for the drinking of red wine. This allows you to swirl the wine in the glass and release it’s flavours. It also allows you to fit the whole nasal area into the glass to soak up the rich aromas. This is a characteristic that is also seen in whisky glasses

White Wine – The smaller-bowled glass with a higher rim is needed for drinking white wine. The creates a nice compact space for the flavours to swell and prevents any of the aroma from exiting the glass.

Champagne – The long thin iconic shape of champagne glasses is needed to drink this luxury product. The flute preserves the bubbles better than any other shape and the small circumference prevents the strong gases from the bubbles overpowering the sinuses.

Almost all other wine types can be drunk out of these 3 basic designs so no need to fork out for a massive set. So if you haven't got these 3, you might have some shopping to do.

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Which Glass To Serve Your Beverage In?

Monday, August 17th, 2009

Not many people fully understand why you can buy so many different shaped glasses in the shops these days. Not many people think that a drink can't be changed very much by what it is drunk from? Well you might be interested to learn that they definitely can, and here is an explanation why.

Whisky Glasses. There is a very good reason why people consume whisky from large-diameter glasses rather than the tall thin variety. Whisky is often served in small amounts as it is frequently enjoyed straight, rather than being added to a mixer. The result of this means that if whisky was served over ice in a narrow and tall glass, the area of the drink in contact with the ice would be quite small as the ice would be stacked up the glass. As ice is necessary to chill the whisky and release its deeper flavors, it’s best to serve the drink in a wide shallow glass where the ice can move around and have more contact area with the liquid, thus chilling the whisky more.

Champagne Flutes.Champagne is traditionally served in a tall, thin flute and there is an interesting reason as to why. As champagne contains lots of little bubbles, it releases a constant flow of powerful gas into the glass as they float up and reach the surface. If the glass was wider then your nose would enter the glass when drinking and the gas would enter the sinuses, having a negative effect on the flavor.

White and Red Wine Glasses. You will find that red wine glasses tend to have a large, deep-bowled body. What this means is that you can swish as swirl the wine about in the glass, breaking up the flavours and releasing more of them into the body of the wine.  Also a wide glass means your whole nose can easily fit within it, which is important for soaking up all the rich aromas. White wine glasses are generally smaller and thinner. The reason for this is that white wine tastes better when the flavours are condensed in the glass and the aromas not absorbed so much via the nasal passage.

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The Gift of a Wine Basket

Friday, July 10th, 2009

wine kitchen accessories

You can turn a normal evening into an exciting night filled with passion and fun with the gift of a wine basket. There are many reasons to consider giving a wine basket, but you don't always need a reason to give someone a gift. Instead, try giving a wine basket at a random occasion just to surprise a friend. Watch their eyes light up as they see the wonders inside a wine basket. You can pop the cork on some good stuff and enjoy the magic together.

Valentine's Day is the ultimate opportunity to consider giving a wine basket. Just think of the look on your sweetheart's face when they open up the big box to find a stylish gift basket filled with all sorts of wine goodies, crackers and other items to sweeten up the day. There is nothing more elegant and delightful than the gift of a large quantity of fine wine on a special day. Romance will certainly be in the air, whether you elect to sample the Riesling or the Pinot Noir.

Wine gift baskets are also the ultimate opportunity to show your class on someone's birthday. Wine gift baskets are often available online, enabling you to have one express ordered halfway across the country for less than you would expect. With a special birthday wine gift basket, you can include a whole pile of specialty items including chocolates and soothing spa accompaniments. You never know the types of joy you can unleash on someone's birthday with a delightful Merlot gift package.

Most of the websites that offer gift baskets also offer a lot of other options. Think of combining a gift basket package with a popular spa package. This gift would not only include the great wine but also a little bit of Shea butter and some fantastic spa materials. Think of the romance that will unfold when you give this to your significant other. Pop the cork on a great bottle of bubbly and let the spa package work its magic, any night of the week.

Other gift packages can include some more practical wine options, including a set of wine kitchen accessories. With these accessories and your gift pack of wine, you can be the hit of any wine club party. A wine basket can really increase your social aptitude, giving you the chance to show off your brand new collection of corkscrews and special wine glasses specifically designed for your choice of wines.

A wine basket is the ideal option for friends and family that are into wine or really confused about wine. Providing a lot of wine, in sample sizes, to your friends is a great way to give them a boost and help them learn about wine at the same time. That way they can pick out the selections they enjoy and start exploring wine tasting with a bit more fervency. After all, with the right connections, you may be the next one getting a wine basket from a friend.

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