By Paola Vecchiolla

You know there are benefits to keeping yourself in shape. But did you know there are benefits to selecting a wine glass that is the proper shape?

While you can drink wine out of everything from a coffee mug to a paper cup, there may be hedonistic pleasures to be had in selecting the right glass for a particular wine. The variety of shapes available in wine glasses is almost as abundant as the number of grape varietals. And so are the prices. Crystal glassware from companies such as Riedel, Ravenscroft, and Spiegelau, range from $30 to nearly $100.

Experts say that Claus J. Reidel was the first to discover that the glass from which wine is drunk dramatically affects the bouquet, taste, balance, and finish of the different wines. In the late 1950s, Reidel began to design and produce wine glasses that were thin-blown and simple, basically restricting the design to a bowl, stem, and base. In 1961, Reidel’s catalog featured glasses in various sizes and shapes, a concept revolutionary for the time. While still simple, wine connoisseurs discovered that the shape of the bowl made a dramatic difference in the taste of the wine.

Most people believe that the shape of the wine glass is important because a wider mouth allows certain wines to aerate, or “breathe.”

That’s true, but there’s another factor to consider—the human tongue. Shawn Mulder, wine director for The Wine Shop, 1585 First Avenue, between 82nd and 83rd Streets, points out that “different shapes could allow the wine to flow to different parts of our palates.” If one is forced to hold one’s head in a certain way because of the shape and volume of the glass, the wine flows to different parts of the mouth sensitive to different tastes.

Because of our taste buds and their distribution on the tongue, we generally experience sweetness at the tip and acidity on the sides. Tannin, the flavor you get from drinking a strong cup of leftover tea, is felt on the teeth, gums, and tongue, and fruit is perceived in the overall taste in the mouth.

If you are like most wine buyers today, you are more sophisticated and adventuresome in what you buy. So why not spoil yourself by investing in crystal glassware that can enhance your wine tasting experience?

The Wine Shop is a good place to begin your research. Katherine Joo, proprietor, proudly displays the lovely collection of crystal and glass for sale. There are wide bowls, flutes, glasses with smooth rims and rolled rims, long stems, no stems and on and on. I found tasting a wonderful Brunnello from a wine glass sold for a reasonable $3.99 to be a great experience. Brunello (again, she changed the letters) di Montalcino, made from a Sangiovese clone, is a big, deep-colored and powerful wine. The wine glass was light in weight, easy to hold with its long stem, crystal clear and I could concentrate on the wonderful libation in the glass.

The selection of glassware is more vast on Reidel’s website www.riedel.com (typo?). Type in “Barbera,” or “Bordeaux,” for example, and you have your choice of at least five different glasses meant to compliment (complement?) the wine. Other websites include www.ravenscroftcrystal.com and www.spieglau.com.

Once you have invested in wine glasses, you should use them properly. When pouring wine, fill the glass to the widest diameter of the glass’s bowl so that the bouquet can develop. Always hold the glass by the stem since warmth from your hand could change the temperature of the wine. Swirling allows the wine to release its aroma. Never put your wine glasses in the dishwasher. In fact, never use detergent with any type of wine glass because there often is left over residue which can spoil the taste of the wine. Instead, rinse each glass under lukewarm water, made sure the rim is clean, and let air dry.

Besides The Wine Shop and Williams Sonoma, other places to buy the brands mentioned in the story include:

Astor Wines & Spirits
12 Astor Place
New York, NY 10003
212-674-7500

Chambers Street Wines
160 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
212-227-1434

Dean & Deluca
14 Crosby Street
New York, NY 10012
212-431-1691