Wine glasses: does size matter?

Tiny food on enormous plates is now considered passé, so are oversized wine glasses merely a fad?

While for many of us a large glass merely means more wine, Canadian wine glass manufacturer John D’Addario insists there are real benefits to tall wine glasses that actually make for a more nuanced and fulfilling wine-drinking experience.

D’Addario may have a vested interest in convincing diners of the advantages of the oversized glass — his company 12 Obsession produces one of the largest glasses on the market, measuring a staggering 30 cm in height from table to rim.

“We really wanted to design a large wine glass series that not only intensifies wine aroma, but allows the different layers of aroma to come through,” said D’Addario.

12 Obsession’s specialty, lead-free crystal wine glasses are made in a traditional, blown-glass style. Due to its increased size, the glasses are able to support a larger bowl — 15 cm in height — than most stemware.

According to D’Addario, a larger bowl allows the wine to coat a greater surface area of the glass, amplifying the aroma.

As the wine aerates or ‘breathes’, it releases its basic aromas and fruity, mineral or floral notes. Taking in these aromas and notes by sniffing the wine helps to prime the tastebuds, which provides a more satisfying drinking experience.

Most red wines feature 13–15% alcohol. According to D’Addario, alcohol masks the aromas and flavours of wine. A larger bowl intensifies aroma, thereby reducing the perception of alcohol.

The glassware is available in 12 different shapes to optimise the wine-drinking experience of other types of wine and spirits. For port or grappa, D’Addario designed large glasses that feature bowls with a distinct tunnel shape, which helps to channel subtle aromas that a wine enthusiast might otherwise miss.

D’Addario insists his glasses are light and easy to handle, courtesy of the deep bowls which produce a low centre of gravity. But even so, filling them to the brim is probably not recommended — for your biceps or your liver.