Why are red wine glasses wider than white wine glasses?
I understand that one of the important aspects of a wine glass is that it has smaller opening at the top, which is going to help concentrate the aromas.
But why are glasses for red wine generally wider than those for white wine?
Also are there any reasons for white wine glasses to be narrow?
Summary of the question is really; why have two different sizes for wine glasses?
Best Answer
As baka has said, more volatile components of the wine will be released with more wine surface exposed.
Also, this not only releases aroma but also helps the wine to "breathe" and oxidize, which is why you open the red wine bottle half an hour before serving it (so that this process starts), and why you might pour the wine into a decanter.
This process accentuates the flavors and aromas of the wine. It is not very much necessary with younger, colder served wines (e.g. vinho verde).
In young, sparkling wine, a larger glass will disperse the bubbles faster, as well as warming it. This is undesireable, hence the smaller, narrower glasses.
Aged white wine should behave similarly to aged red wine, although it doesn't need to breathe as much.
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Quick Answer about "Why are red wine glasses wider than white wine glasses?"
Typically, with red wine you want your glass to have a larger bowl when compared to a white wine glass. This is because red wines will typically have bolder tasting notes and benefit from being able to “breath more” than their white wine counterparts.Why are white wine glasses smaller than red?
White wine does not need as much space to breathe as red wine. White wines often need a smaller glass to preserve the delicate and subtle aromas. These tighter, narrow bowled glasses concentrate and preserve the wine's qualities. You will also find that white wine glasses have shorter bowls.Are red wine or white wine glasses bigger?
White wine glasses are generally smaller than red wine glasses. This shape preserves floral aromas and helps maintain a cooler temperature. Full-bodied whites like Chardonnay are served in a glass with a bowl that is smaller than a red wine glass but larger than a light-bodied white wine glass.Why are some wine glasses so big?
Wondering why wine glasses are so big? Generally, red wines have larger bowls to highlight their aromas. To maintain their temperature, white wines have smaller bowls. The lip of the glass is usually made quite thin so it's out of the way and doesn't affect the drinker's experience.Why are Burgundy glasses wider?
The Burgundy glass is designed for lighter, full-bodied wines like Pinot Noir. This glass is shorter than the Bordeaux glass but it has a bigger bowl so the wine is directed to the tip of the tongue so the drinker can taste the more delicate flavors.Which Wine Glasses for White and Red
More answers regarding why are red wine glasses wider than white wine glasses?
Answer 2
My guess is that it has to do with typical serving temperature. Red wines are generally served at warmer temperatures, so they need less concentration at the nose, because the aromatic compounds are more volatile at warmer temperatures. Basically, "more" smell is coming out of a warmer liquid than a colder one, so to get the full experience, you can get by with a larger-mouthed glass.
I have no idea if this is true, though.
Answer 3
As has been said, red wine glasses are generally wider because increased exposure to air helps the deeper and generally more complex flavors of red wine develop fully. Larger surface area means higher air exposure, and the wider bowl of red wine glasses allows for more wine to be exposed at any given time.
In general, white wines do not require as much oxidation for the flavors to expand, thus partly explaining the narrower shape. However, there are other reasons. Heat transfer is another big reason for the more narrow shape of most white wine glasses. Larger surface area means higher oxidation, but it also means that more heat will be transferred into the wine from the surrounding air. The larger the surface area of a cooling/warming object, the higher the rate of heat transfer, so having a narrower opening decreases the exposed surface area, ultimately keeping the wine chilled longer.
One of the biggest reasons, however, is flavor distribution. Different kinds of glasses are made to deliver different sorts of flavors to the optimal part of your tasting apparatus. Generally, red wines tend to feature flavors that are best tasted with the tip of the tongue and the front of the mouth, while white wines are usually comprised of lighter flavors that can be more thoroughly processed by the back of the mouth. The wider bowl of the red wine glass and narrower shape of the white wine glass both cater to this trend, respectively.
For more information on different types of wine glasses (including a break down of some of the different types of red wine glasses), take a quick look at this article. It details all of the different types of glasses, as well as which type of wines they are designed to optimize.
Answer 4
Because red wine needs to breath! I also made a video on white wine glasses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viimmjEwHAE
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Images: Los Muertos Crew, Pavel Danilyuk, Elle Hughes, Craig Adderley