Wine Glass Shootout: Taste the Difference

Submitted by ted on 22 August 2008 - 6:22pm.

Drinking wine is all about the aromas and flavors — a subtle hint of mint is complex flavor in a Bordeaux blend, but perhaps the scent of gasoline could make or break an aged Riesling. And vintage to vintage, wine is going to taste slightly different. It’s impossible to grow and mix the grapes exactly the same year to year, especially with the varied weather we’ve been seeing recently.

If wine can taste different year to year with a little more sunlight or a little more rain, what about the glass you drink the wine out of? Can your wine glass really make wine taste different—for better or worse? As daily drinkers of wine, Jon and I had to find out for ourselves. Forget the marketing hype, let’s taste the wine and see if there really is a difference. Continue reading to see what we found out…

The Setup

One bottle of Los Vascos 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. Los Vascos is an excellent, cheap cabernet that would serve as a nice benchmark. We popped the cork and let the bottle sit open for 10 minutes to breathe.
3 types of wine glasses, with wine further decanted for 6 minutes in each glass:
- Crate & Barrel glass ($2), the small glass
- Riedel Vinum Bordeaux glass ($24), the medium glass
- Eisch Breathable Bordeaux glass ($27), the largest glass
2 wine drinkers: Ted and Jon
1 delicious pizza, from Trader Joe’s of course

Physical observations

Crate & Barrel – smallest volume & diameter, with no stem and thickest glass walls
Riedel – largest volume and diameter, 4 finger stem (e.g., 4 fingers from base to glass), thinnest glass walls, highest pitched “clink” sound
Eisch – medium volume and diameter (just slightly less than Riedel), 6 finger stem, ridge bottom to perhaps prevent sunction-itis (e.g., when your glass sticks to the table because it is slightly wet)

Our observations

Jon
- Crate & Barrel – This one has the thickest walls. It feels sturdy, but cheap. I smell more barnyardy aromas like dirt and mustiness. Not as much fruit as the others.
- Riedel – Thinnest walls. It fits my mouth and nose just right when gulping. When you put the glass down on granite it makes a night “ching” noise. Spice.
- Eisch – Solid fruit flavor with some mint. Nice.
Ted
- Crate & Barrel – most constricted, hardest to swirl, heaviest finish, most tannic
- Riedel – a little less fruit, smooth finish, easier to hold and swirl, smoothest overall
- Eisch – bright fruit, smooth finish

Our recommendation

Both Jon and I agreed, the Riedel glass was our overall favorite. It was easier to hold, sounded more fancy when clinked, and the wine tasted overall slightly more complex when compared to the Eisch. The Eisch was a close second for taste, but a much farther second in terms of glass aesthetics. As for the Crate & Barrel, you get what you pay for, $2 that is :)

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65 comments

neharriman wrote 1 year 42 weeks ago

This comment is not pertaining to your critique on wine glasses,but incidentally, my Crate & Barrel glasses, not the $2.00 type, are great. But what i am really commenting on is the identity of Jerry G., strong supporter of French wines. I think he is my husband!

hampers wrote 38 weeks 21 hours ago

There is an art in wine drinking according to wine enthusiasts. The taste difference is known by them considering their expertise in this field. It’s quite amusing to know.
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meryleu089 wrote 27 weeks 6 days ago

The glasses are so nice. I want to buy them for friends and house use. How I can have them?

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jonabdel wrote 27 weeks 4 days ago

I like the middle one of this photo. But i like to drink in little glass.

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Aniie wrote 23 weeks 6 days ago

Tasting the different in vines is so delicious, essay sample made it even better for wine blogs

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turlington.christy wrote 23 weeks 3 days ago

you get what you pay for, $2 that
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swan10 wrote 22 weeks 4 days ago

Those are really nice. But among those I like the last one. The bigger one as it has a good looking as well as it’s length is also nice.

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jacleung001 wrote 22 weeks 2 hours ago

I have showed this to my friends to choose one for me and they all voted for the middle one. My choice is also the same.

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chris251984 wrote 21 weeks 6 days ago

Too good, thank you for the share.
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sarahmcfarland007 wrote 21 weeks 6 days ago

The taste difference is known by them considering their expertise in this field. It’s quite amusing to know.

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donaldlifeden wrote 21 weeks 4 days ago

I have not enough idea about wine,after reading this blog i feel little interest to check out some flavor of wine.

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Allen wrote 21 weeks 1 day ago

It is very useful article for me.I like wine very much. I like all flavor of wine. Taste does’nt matter for me. The wine gifts is the best gift for me.

JuliaJones wrote 20 weeks 6 days ago

You raised a very interesting question. I tasted a really good sorts of wines after my aunt finished her dissertation writing. But in fact I understand absolutely nothing in good sorts that is why I especially appreciated your post.

AbelLANQUIST wrote 19 weeks 6 days ago

This is a new observation for me, I haven’t even thought of these facts. Not only me it will be common for many people. Everyone tastes only wine not the glass :)
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deff_lepp wrote 18 weeks 3 days ago

Los Vascos is an excellent, cheap cabernet that would serve as a nice benchmark. We popped the cork and let the bottle sit open for 10 minutes to breathe.
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zeveralinks wrote 15 weeks 5 days ago

The glasses are beautiful. can i know what price range are they available in. i woul love to have a set of each.
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The glasses are beautiful. can i know what price range are they available in. i woul love to have a set of each.
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RhiannaHAS wrote 15 weeks 5 days ago

Does it really matter the size of the glass to the flavour of the wine? I am not too convinced about it.
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wine is the most sophisticated and classiest of all the drinks.

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