Stemware for the Sophisticated

Fancy yourself an oenophile? Then you must already know about the latest issue that has the food and wine industry atwitter. While it’s understandable that you might need a sommelier to help you navigate a wine list, some aficionados are now insisting that each varietal needs its own specific stemware.

According to an article in the New York Times, This Glass is for the Cabernet, That One the Pinot Noir, “…the design of the wineglass — from the shape of the bowl and degree of tapering at the rim, to the design of the rim itself — can affect the way someone experiences the aroma, taste and harmony of a wine.”

For most entertainers, having three different sets of glasses - large bowl for reds, smaller bowl for whites, and a flute for Champagne (to preserve bubbles) is all they really need. For true connoisseurs (or simply those that buy into this theory about varietal specific stemware), Riedel has created three tiers of glasses that range in price and crystal quality from Sommelier (reserved for prized vintages) to Grape (for sophisticated entertaining) to Vinum (for everyday use).

The Vinum Starter set, available at Williams Sonoma, is the best value at $120 for those who entertain occasionally and appreciate a fine wine. The sampler features 6 glasses in total with 2 each of the Chardonnay, Bordeaux and Burgundy glasses as well as a decanter.