Wine & Sommelier Science
Wine Glass Types & Shapes
Unlock the aroma and taste of your wine. Discover why bowl volume, headspace, and rim tapering directly influence ethanol vapors and fruit notes.
Select Stemware Glass Type:
Sommelier Glass Architecture
Bordeaux Glass (Cabernet / Merlot)
Rim: Medium
Bowl Anatomy:
Tall, broad bowl with generous headroom
Ideal Varietals:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Bordeaux blends, Syrah / Shiraz.
Aeration & Sensory Physics:
Tall height creates distance between the wine and nose, allowing ethanol vapors to soften before reaching your olfactory senses, spotlighting black fruit aromas.
🍷 Why Hold a Wine Glass by the Stem?
Holding a glass by the bowl transfers your 98.6°F (37°C) body heat directly into chilled white wine or cellar-temp red wine, dulling delicate fruit notes and exacerbating harsh alcohol vapor. Stems also prevent unsightly greasy fingerprints that obscure wine clarity during visual inspection.