I was at dinner last night enjoying a celebration with my husband and youngest daughter. I ordered a glass of California Sauvignon Blanc to drink with my Ceasar salad. The five ounces of wine came in a glass with a seven-ounce bowl. I couldn't begin to swirl it to enjoy the aromas, (and I am an expert swirler!) I didn't want to complain and the wine was not one of their high-end by-the-glass offerings, so I let it pass.
My main dish was a medium-rare Prime Rib and red potatoes. I ordered a Bordeaux red blend to go with this course, one of their most expensive reds by the glass. It came in a rounder, red-wine-style glass, yet still only offered seven-ounces of room in the glass. I took a few sips and started to get frustrated.
In this case, I was paying a lot of money for this glass of wine, which I could tell was a really nice blend. Yet, I couldn't swirl it to enjoy the aromas. The experience of wine is upwards of 85% aroma therapy. Your nose is truly the blessed sense with a beautiful glass of wine. And I was being robbed of the full enjoyment of this wine.
Think of serving your specialty dish with a piece of Saran Wrap over it.
I called the manager over to ask about the glassware. I suggested that either...
1) they buy some quartinos, one-glass-sized carafes, to carry the by-the-glass wines to the table and pour only two or three ounces into their small wine glasses;
OR
2) they find some larger stemware, particularly for their more expensive offerings.
He said he'd take care of the problem immediately and took my glass away, returning with it in a very nice, large crystal wine glass. The difference in the wine was absolutely stunning. Instead of just the experience of flavors in my mouth, I was able to swirl and smell adding tremendously to the wine, and even the Prime Rib.
The dinner became exquisite.
So yes, glass size truly does matter. Please allow room for swirling so your customers who love wine can fully appreciate your restaurant.
My main dish was a medium-rare Prime Rib and red potatoes. I ordered a Bordeaux red blend to go with this course, one of their most expensive reds by the glass. It came in a rounder, red-wine-style glass, yet still only offered seven-ounces of room in the glass. I took a few sips and started to get frustrated.
In this case, I was paying a lot of money for this glass of wine, which I could tell was a really nice blend. Yet, I couldn't swirl it to enjoy the aromas. The experience of wine is upwards of 85% aroma therapy. Your nose is truly the blessed sense with a beautiful glass of wine. And I was being robbed of the full enjoyment of this wine.
Think of serving your specialty dish with a piece of Saran Wrap over it.
I called the manager over to ask about the glassware. I suggested that either...
1) they buy some quartinos, one-glass-sized carafes, to carry the by-the-glass wines to the table and pour only two or three ounces into their small wine glasses;
OR
2) they find some larger stemware, particularly for their more expensive offerings.
He said he'd take care of the problem immediately and took my glass away, returning with it in a very nice, large crystal wine glass. The difference in the wine was absolutely stunning. Instead of just the experience of flavors in my mouth, I was able to swirl and smell adding tremendously to the wine, and even the Prime Rib.
The dinner became exquisite.
So yes, glass size truly does matter. Please allow room for swirling so your customers who love wine can fully appreciate your restaurant.
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