When it comes to having a cocktail or beer, speciality glasses exist that enhance the drinking experience. A strong, powerful beer is served in a strong, wide-mouthed mug, while a lighter, crispier beer is served in a tall pilsner glass. But with wine glasses it is about much more than enhancing the experience of tasting of the wine, but actually enhancing the flavour.

The effect of the shape of the glass serves to enhance the aroma and bouquet of the varietal’s characteristics. For example, having a larger, wider mouth serves to enhance flavours more complex wines such as Pinot Noirs; directing the flavours to the tip of the tongue. Whereas a slightly smaller mouth helps direct stronger, bolder flavours like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrahs to the back of the mouth.

With white wines the same principals apply. With wines like Chardonnay, a wide and shallow glass may enhance the characteristics of this full bodied wine by allowing oxidation, whereas a Riesling (a lighter, crispier wine) a smaller mouth is desirable.

Finally, when it comes to champagne and sparking wines, the small mouth and long tube serve to help retain the nature carbonation in the wine. Serving champagne in a merlot glass would be a waste, as the wine would quickly become flat almost 7 times as fast as it would in a champagne flute.