For The Love Of Port

Dear all,

Wine glass companies have developed a wide array of glass to drink all the styles of wines there are.
Of all of them which do you think is the most appropriate to drink Douro reds?

Cheers,

Joao

More seriously, my wife typically uses a California Cab or Bordeaux-style glass. The first or third from the left.

Glenn E. wrote:More seriously, my wife typically uses a California Cab or Bordeaux-style glass. The first or third from the left.

glasses.jpg

I would agree with Glenn's wife.

I tend to prefer a Burgundy shape for most Douro reds or a larger Bordeaux shaped glass if no Burg style. Given time I'm sure Reidel will make a specific Douro red glass to try and peddle to us

"Too much is written about the appropriate glasses for different wines. There is one perfect glass suitable for all wines. It is made of thin crystal with a base of about 2.75 inches diameter with a stem 2.5 inches long. The bowl is tulip shaped about 3.5 inches in depth with a diameter of about 3 inches in the middle and tapering to 2.5 inches at the lip. This is the most suitable shape for red or white table wines, fortified wines or brandy. It is not wrong either for sparkling wines, although for these I have a strong preference for the conical glass used in Champagne." Allan Sichel.

He adds that the half sphere shape used for VP may be better since it does not concentrate the already powerful bouquet as a tapered glass would. Also that a smaller version of the all purpose glass is suitable for Sherry or Port as they are generally drunk in smaller quantities than table wines. He considers large glasses may be used to display the qualities of good Cognac, but that he has a sense of unease about a fine red wine nestling at the far end of several square inches of glass.

I have a couple of the half spheres that were a “gift” with some Port I bought 4 or 5 years ago, but otherwise all our wine glasses are the size and shape Sichel recommended, with half a dozen of the smaller size. They are thin glass though, not thin crystal. One broken is not a big loss. I do have crystal for my Whisky.

Unless I misunderstand the measurements, that sounds like a Riedel Vinum Port glass, only somewhat larger.

Like Andy, I also use Burgundy glasses for Douro reds, especially when they've been decanted appropriately for their age. If pop and pour, usually Bdx glass.