PERSONALIZED WINE GLASSES

The perfect wine glass that brings out the best in the wine you choose.  Many people spend their time on selecting the perfect wine or on pairing that wine with the perfect dish, but fail to consider the glass they will use to serve that wine to their dinner guests. There are specific pieces of stemware that can enhance the taste of each wine. Wine glasses and all stemware have three important parts:

• the foot
• the stem
• the bowl

The size of the bowl is what leads to the distinction between wine glasses.  Custom made wine glasses can be used for special occasions or as wedding or anniversary gifts. The customization of personalized wine glasses speaks to a design or words engraved onto the bowl and not to the customization of the size and shape of the glass.

The shape and size of the bowl will affect not only the taste, but also the aroma and the look of the wine. Glasses must be clear to really appreciate a wine fully.  Many home décor brands have created wine glasses that match the colors of the room or the tablecloths. These are wonderful to hold water, but are not recommended for wine appreciation.

CUSTOM WINE GLASSES

Express your individuality with custom engraving. Perhaps the date of your wedding as an anniversary gift would make your wine glasses personalized.  Other popular options include family crests, engraved pictures and initials.

One need not have a degree in wine appreciation to learn the essential basics of choosing the right glass. Keep these overall themes in mind and you will be fine: The heavier and darker the wine, the bigger the bowl and the shorter the stem. The lighter the wine, in color and taste, the more narrow the bowl will be and the longer the stem.

STEMMED WINE GLASSES

Stems on wine glasses are important for two reasons. Swirling the wine before you smell and taste it can cause the wine to “open” and you will experience more of the aroma and flavor after a few swirls.  Stemless wine glasses, growing in popularity, make this more difficult but not impossible.  One can easily create personalized stemless wine glasses just as easily as creating personalized wine glasses as the design has little to do with the length of the stem.

The second important feature of the stem is to insure that the warmth that is normally generated by human hands does not warm the wine inside. With stemware, the hands’ warmth only touches the stem. With stemless wine glasses, the bowl of the wine glass rests squarely in the palm of the drinker’s hand and may artificially warm wine and affect the taste, especially of the lighter varietals.

Certain wine glasses take their names from the varietal of wine that is best served within them. Bordeaux glasses will have large bowls and sturdy stems to hold the deep dark rich wines of the Bordeux or Cabernet variety.  Merlot glasses are quite similar, but with some subtle differences to the shape or the bowl.  Serving a Merlot in a Bordeaux class is perfectly appropriate if you do not have the full range of glasses.  Usually only restaurants will make these distinctions. Pinot Noir, while still considered a red wine will have a smaller and more U-shaped bowl. This is a distinction even a casual wine drinker would note on sight and if one is fond of Pinot Noir, investing in these glasses is recommended. That is why it is somewhat of a misnomer to speak of “red wine glasses.”  The Bordeaux and Pinot distinction is important in terms of flavor and aroma allowed to be experienced by the proper bowl size.

The same can be said for “white wine glasses.” A glass for Chardonnay will be have a more full at the bowl than a glass for Champagne.  If you only have room for two types of glasses, then make this distinction, but if your shelf space allows, most wine will be fine in 4 different types of glasses.

When choosing personalized wine glasses as a gift, the safest choice is the Pinot Glass. If you only want to buy a set of two. If you could buy a set of 4, then the Pinot and the Chardonnay would be useful for nearly every variety for day to day use.  A Pinot sized glass set is an ideal choice if you are focusing on one size for your design idea.  For a personalized wine glass, find a design that fits the occasion, then choose the perfect wine, then have the design placed on the perfect glass and you have created the ultimate wedding, anniversary or house warming present.