[Drinking wine] Part 1. About wine glasses

Come to think of it, I don't have any wine glasses.
Iwasu-san, what do you recommend?

I agree.
First of all, I think glasses that are thin and have a fairly large capacity are easy to use.

That's because a wine's full potential is revealed by the glass it is served in.

Are we trying to talk about something difficult again?

No no (laughs)

A larger glass increases the surface area that the wine comes into contact with, which helps release the wine's aroma and reduce its astringency.
Occasionally there are wines that don't taste as good when served in a large glass, but those are the exception.

I see~

I feel like I understand it, but maybe not... (laughs)

For example, a Bordeaux glass is a slightly larger glass that is relatively thin and can be used for any type of wine, so it will come in handy.

…However, thin and large glasses

... It will break.

It takes up space and breaks easily.

It even hits the table and knocks it over.

Yes, this is a very big problem.

Drinking from a high-end glass gives a very luxurious feel, and it's certainly nice, but it's still a glass product after all...
It's true that wine glasses tend to break easily...

Iwasu-san, you've had a lot of bitter experiences... (laughs)

That's right (sweat)

However, it's common for a wine glass to cost 2,000 to 3,000 yen, and some are even more expensive, costing around 10,000 yen, so if you were to break one, it would be quite sad.

And the thinner and better the glass, the more it shatters and the harder it is to clean up (laughs).

If something like that happens, I'll hate it.

It would be best if you could say, "I have some good wine today, so I'll drink it in a nice glass for once," take out the wine glass you have stored away on the shelf, handle it carefully, and put it away again.

However, I personally think that it would be good for beginners like you two in particular to make wine a more integral part of their daily lives , so I don't think that fancy wine glasses are that necessary.

Wine glasses come in different roundness and shapes for the drinking rim, which affect the aroma and taste.
There are various types depending on the company, but these three are the most common.

The "Bordeaux type" glasses are slightly larger and allow you to enjoy the taste and aroma of the drink in an elegant way. You can't go wrong with these glasses.

The "Burgundy type" in the middle is larger and rounder than the Bordeaux type. It is a little difficult to handle, so it may be a bit difficult for beginners to handle glasses.

Even the medium-sized glass on the far right, used for white wine, can be used to enjoy a variety of wines. This is often referred to as an "all-purpose type."

If you're only going to use one at home, I'd recommend something under 1,500 yen so that you don't mind if it breaks.

We also recommend tempered glass, although it is a bit thicker.

I personally think that crystal glass made by the German company Schott Zwiesel and fine crystal made by Toyo Sasaki Glass in Japan are the least likely to break. I use this glass in my shop, Bokumo, and it seems to be less likely to break.

Although they may be a little heavy and a little thick, I think using wine glasses that are less likely to break is the best value for money.

By the way, the most popular glass manufacturer in the world of wine is the Austrian brand "Riedel" . Wine glasses are loved all over the world. Using Riedel at home really makes you feel like a rich person.

I actually just bought a Riedel!

When did this happen?

That's right~

I bought one without legs, and it's so versatile.
Regular stemmed wine glasses are only suitable for wine, but stemless glasses are great for sake, whiskey mixed with soda, and even beer! So I think they're pretty cost-effective.

Wow~

That's true, you don't put beer in a pot with legs.

That's right, it was cheaper than the one with legs, so it was a good purchase.

You've been talking about legs all this time, what do you mean legs?

A stemless glass looks like this.

Oh, there's something like this! This looks easy to use!

They're proper wine glasses, just without stems, there's no risk of them accidentally tipping over on the table, and they're easy to handle.

The most representative stemless glass is Riedel's " Riedel O. " It is said to be a product made with the American market in mind, and is very practical. You can put a variety of things in it and it tastes delicious.

I think stemless tumbler glasses are a great choice for drinking at home. Nowadays, there are many brands other than Riedel that sell them.

Nowadays, when people say things like "It's stemless, isn't it?" about stemless glasses, it's not like that anymore. Once you get used to it, you can even swirl it around.

Also, a glass without legs makes it easier to control the amount of wine that gets into your mouth.

Speaking of Riedel, they used to make glasses for drinking Pinot Noir from the Central Otago region of New Zealand, which is introduced on this site.

Oh, you mean it's exclusive?

Wow, that's interesting!

That's right, it was developed as the perfect glass for tasting Central Otago Pinot Noir. It's no longer on sale, but the same shape is sold as a "New World Pinot Noir" glass.

Riedel designs many wine glasses to suit the characteristics of different grape varieties. There are so many different types.

Come to think of it, I think there were a lot of different types of tumbler cups! It's a fascinating world.

Maybe I should just buy some proper glasses after all.

But when I drink at home, I use plastic ones too, because they don't break (laughs).

Eh, I'm surprised that Iwasu-san is in plastic surgery (laughs)

Some people are concerned about the taste, so I can't recommend it to everyone, but if you're drinking a wine that costs less than 2,000 yen, I think this type of wine is fine as long as you don't mind the taste.

Actually, thinking about the future, I want to get some dishwasher safe glasses... is that totally okay?

Eh, that's surprising, Natchan (lol) That's great lol

I want to have them all in the future (lol) That would be easy lol

Yeah, I think that's totally fine.

However, shatter-resistant glass is thick and the part where the mouth touches is reinforced, so there is a bump.
So, this protruding part, like a bump, temporarily blocks the liquid.
So, strictly speaking, the more you tilt the glass, the less wine gets into your mouth.

Umm, I don't know what you're talking about (laughs).

Hahaha (laughs)

In short, glasses that are designed to be shatter-resistant do not necessarily have a smooth mouth!

Thank you, I understand (lol)

That's fine on a normal basis, but if you're drinking a special wine with a delicate aroma and flavor, it can be disappointing.

That's right.

The price of the glass is proportional to the price of the wine.

That's absolutely true.

As you say, choosing a glass is similar to choosing food.

If you're drinking a 5,000 yen bottle of wine, it doesn't really seem like a good match to have snacks from a convenience store. You might be able to eat and drink them deliciously, but matching the quality of each wine leads to a sense of satisfaction, and if the quality is right, they naturally start to blend together - this is common in the world of wine.

I don't think it's a bad thing to deliberately have fun with mismatched ranks, but as a theory, it's important to first make sure that the ranks are consistent.

It's not okay to drink a bottle of wine that costs 5,000 yen out of a paper cup.
It smells like paper, you can't smell anything, you can't see the color, and it's not elegant.

If you keep these things in mind and do the right thing, I think it would be a good idea to have some slightly more expensive glasses for occasional use, and cheaper everyday glasses for everyday use.

So, once I get used to drinking wine and I'm ready to try a slightly better wine, should I buy a new glass?

I agree.
However, one thing that applies no matter what glass you use is to never get overconfident when you're drunk.

Lol, it's the one that breaks it lol

Iwasu-san, you really messed up lol

yes…
I've been working with wine for quite a few years now, but I still make mistakes.

I make a mistake...

yes…
I'm not used to washing fine wine glasses at home, although I do wash them at the store.
That's why I got a little careless and broke it the other day...

That's sad...

Yes, it's important to be careful when you're drunk... handling high-quality glass is itself a dangerous process.

So if you're drunk, it's best to just soak it in a little bit of water and then wash it the next morning (laughs).

If it's a high-quality, thin glass, will it break if you just apply a lot of pressure when wiping it?

It will break. If you put too much force into it, it will break.

Ah... it's definitely a high hurdle...

Yes, I think you should choose your glasses based on your own experiences and lifestyle.
There's no good in suddenly reaching out too much.

I said earlier that I recommend something around 1,500 yen that you won't mind breaking, but if I were to give a more specific standard, I would say it's best to keep the price of a single glass to about half the price of the wine you usually drink .

Oh! I see!

That's super easy to understand!
If you often drink 2,000 yen wine, a 1,000 yen glass would be a good choice.

I agree.
But yeah, that glass...
It depends on how many times you break it, but it will eventually break (laughs).

After all, there is a "break" at the end (laughs).

Yes there is! (laughs)
I don't think it will ever completely break.
So if it breaks after 100 uses, I guess you've gotten your money's worth!

Hahahaha (lol)

It's hard to count 100 times (lol)

But if you think about it like that, it's a good guideline for people like me who are choosing for the first time.

That's right. Even if you buy a nice wine glass, it will all be for nothing if you drink a 500 yen bottle of wine from the convenience store, get drunk and break it.

It's so sad.

That's not a good balance.

I've broken high-quality glass at home many times, so I don't want you to follow the same path...!

I want to make it a good memory (laughs).

Yes, I want to always have fun and drink wine! (laughs)

Find the glass that's right for you!