Questions often asked: glasses and “shiraz” or “syrah”
One of your most frequently asked questions centers around wine glasses or stemware as the industry likes to call its products. The questions e-mailed to me include: “Why do I have to have different glasses for different wines? What about those “O” style glasses? Do better glasses really make the wine taste better?”
Of course, any glass will work, but if your knowledge of wines continues to grow, it naturally will extend to the vessel you drink from. The wine glasses I see in some stores, even wineries that should know better, make me chuckle.
These are the multi-colored courtesy renderings of grapevines, wine drinkers, even a hedonistic Bacchus, the god of wine, cavorting around adoring maidens. What a hoot! How can you expect to properly taste wine with those busy obstructions.
Wine glasses should be clear, with a tulip-like shape, preferably handmade of 20% to 24% crystal. The rim of the glass should be thin and the stem, long and thin. Your hand should be holding the glass at the stem, not on the bowl where it will drive up the temperature of the wine. There really needs to be only three types of wine glasses: a Burgundy (pinot noir) glass, a Bordeaux (cabernet) glass, and a Chardonnay (Chablis) glass. The differences are the height and bowl diameter to fully exploit the wine’s ambience and deliver the best enjoyment.
If I had but one choice, it would be the Bordeaux glass, the tallest, standing about 10 inches. A glass of this structure can cost about $20 each. This allows for a pour up to the widest point of the bowl (less than a third of the glass), so that the taster can look down into the bowl, swirl the glass to allow oxygen into the wine for best taste, and smell the bouquet of the wine awakening the senses.
The two names to look for that are of top quality are Riedel and Spieglau, both European brands. They take great care in shaping the flow of the wine to the taste buds of the tongue, and independent experts swear the wine actually can taste better in these glasses. The wine is then able to achieve its fullest expression.
Regarding the “O” glass, I don’t recommend it. The bowl is the entire glass, so it has to sit on the palm of your hand. Swirling is impossible and smelling the bouquet is also out.
Some cautions when ordering wine by the glass in a restaurant. Try to avoid this practice. You never really know what you are getting when you don’t see the bottle it came from. Chances are the wait-help will bring out a small glass and over fill it, canceling any taste testing. When you order a bottle, be firm about a proper sized glass, and don’t let them over fill it. Another thing, make sure it is a crystal clear, clean glass.
And you thought the wines were a lot to learn about!
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Another frequent question I get is the difference between syrah and shiraz. Well, they’re both the same grape. The only difference is where they come from.
The only true shiraz is from Australia, even though you may see the name cropping up in some California wineries trying to capitalize on its popularity. Elsewhere in the world, the term is syrah. This is an old world grape, originally from the Rhone district of southern France, possibly going back to 500 B.C.
It’s one of the fastest growing varietals in California going from 1,200 tons in 1992, to over 100,000 tons a few years ago. It is a forgiving grape and will survive much stress.
A man who can talk for hours about his “Val de la Mer” Syrah is Leon Santoro of Orfila Winery in Escondido, who grows his sun-loving Syrah in the hills next to his winery. A rich jammy flavor ensues, with strong flavors of wild berries and cherries. His vintages have taken many gold medals. Visit at will.The Local Sip
Wine Merchants of Carlsbad is today unveiling its new Italian Vineyards portfolio. Tasting starts at 2pm. Fee is $20. Call 760-804-9994 for the lineup.
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The premier winemaker series at Four Seasons Aviaria continues on Tuesday April 3rd at 6:30pm, with the presentation by Larry MacGuire, owner of Far Niente Winery in Napa. This is a fabled property with heavenly wines of exacting standards. The winery’s gardens reportedly has the largest collection of Azaleas in the world. Cost is $160. RSVP at 760-603-3790.
10631 Vinedale Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352 - Phone (818) 767-3413 - Fax: (818) 767-1410
