The wine drinking experience can be enhanced or diminished by factors such as the shape of the glass and the type of wine used. Wine connoisseurs swear by the use of particular types of glasses for specific types of wines- for example, using a Burgundy glass for distinctive red wines and a Chardonnay glass for specific white wines. But does anything else contribute to the taste? For example, some people say that their wine tastes better in a thin glass. The thickness or thinness of the wine glass is a crucial part of a wine glass structurally and a contributor to a person’s perception of wine taste.

Wine Glass Shape and Size 

Wine glasses are made up of the foot of the glass, the stem, the bowl, and finally, the rim. These components combine to create the standard wine glass. There are variations of this structure depending on the type of wine glass, but the one common denominator they share is their thinness.

A wine glass must be thin to be a good wine glass. Thick glass in a wine glass is usually an indicator of being made cheaply and of poor quality. A thin and light glass gives the impression of sophistication, elegance, and quality. An added benefit of the thinness is the lovely clinking sound when tapped against each other(gently).

The ultimate thin glass is a crystal wine glass. Crystal wine glasses can be made incredibly thin, especially around the rim of the glass. This makes for a luxurious wine-drinking experience.

The crystal wine glasses are very thin, but they are made with minerals that help them maintain durability. On the other hand, glass wine glasses are not quite as thin and may have a lip on the rim that is not as thin as crystal. However, the glass can still be made fairly thin, with the added benefit of being dishwasher-safe, durable, and less expensive than crystal.

How Does a Wine Glass Help Wine Taste Better? 

Wine’s taste is influenced mainly by the size and shape of the glass. For example, the surface area within the bowl helps the aeration and oxidation of the wine to enhance aromas and flavors. There are specific glasses that tailor to the specific needs of different wines.

Specifically, aromas play a significant role in making wine taste better. An interesting fact you might not be aware of is that your nose, rather than your mouth, perceives a considerable part of the taste of wine. Therefore, if you can’t smell the aromas of the wine, you are missing out on the total wine-drinking experience.

Temperature also plays a role in the way wine tastes. White wines are usually served at cooler temperatures and red wines at room temperature. These differences play a role in the overall sensory experience of tasting wine.

Wine Glass Thickness

Thinness is not a main contributor to making wine taste better. There are valid reasons for people to think that wine tastes better in a thin glass, however. One of the first reasons is because the thin rim creates a smooth transition from the glass to the mouth. This effortless transition is an excellent feature of wine glasses and adds to the luxurious feeling of drinking out of wine glasses. Because the thinness helps the smooth transition, it makes sense that we would think that it is enhancing the taste because it is enhancing the drinking experience.

So part of the reason people think the wine tastes better in a thin wine glass is psychological. If someone is drinking from a thin red wine glass, that is already a sign of a high-quality glass which creates positive connotations about the wine drinking experience overall. If we know we are drinking from a fancy, handmade, thin white wine glass, for example, we might already be inclined to have a favorable opinion on the wine-drinking experience.

Thin Crystal Wine Glasses

Crystal wine glasses are a luxurious item made incredibly thin. This delicate glass is so thin that the lip of the rim is virtually nonexistent, which makes the transition between glass and mouth that much smoother. It is also said that the rougher surface of crystal wine glasses contributes to bringing about an enhanced flavor of wine.

Wine Glass Thickness’ Overall Effect on Taste

So, does the thinness of the glass actually enhance the taste of wine? Not to a large extent. It is probably more important to focus on the size and shape of the glass when considering what glass makes wine taste best. Nonetheless, the wine drinking experience and the perception of the taste of wine can be enhanced through the use of thin wine glasses. Thin wine glasses can elevate an average wine drinking experience to one of elegance for an overall excellent wine-tasting occasion.

The thinness of your wine glass is an excellent indication of the quality and can add to the perception of a positive wine tasting experience. Glass.com has a collection of elegant, thin wine glasses that can highlight any of the wines in your cabinet. Also, let us know if you’ve noticed any changes in the taste of wine based on the thinness of a wine glass in the comments!