Use the Right Glass For Champagne

I just came across this excellent image of a collection of champagne flutes , each containing a different sparkling wine or champagne. It reminded me of how important it is to serve champagne in a good quality champagne flute.

Plain old wine glasses are just not the same. A few weeks back I was at a wedding where the champagne was not only warm, but also served in wine goblets.

Champagne flutes are tall and narrow for a reason. Holding the glass by the stem minimises the warming effect that your hand has upon the champagne and the narrow bowl minimises the release of carbon-dioxide, retaining the fizz where it is needed, in the drink.

So, do make certain that you use good quality champagne flutes or glasses and your guests will get the most enjoyment from their champagne.

Why Use a Wine Decanter

There are severaly reasons why wine might be decanted into a glass decanter. One of the key reasons is simply presentation. Using a beautiful crystal glass decanter is often preferable to a dusty wine bottle retrieved from the wine cellar.

The key reasons for decanting wine are firstly to deal with sedimentation. Sedimentation occurs in all wines but red wines in particular are susceptible to the development of potassium bitartrate crystals which collect in the wine bottle. Careful decanting of the wine from the bottle to a glass decanter is used to separate the sediment which is left in the wine bottle.

The second key reason for decanting wine is oxygenation. Many young, full-bodied wines benefit from the decanting process as the aromas and flavours contained within the wine are released.

The decanting process is tradtionally carried out by candlelight. The wine is poured, ever-so-slowly from the bottle into the glass decanter whilst being watched closely for sediment. As soon as some of the darker sediment is spotted flowing towards the neck of the bottle decanting is stopped. The decanter may be left open for a period before serving in order for the wine to breath.

But lets not overlook the fact that a beautiful glass wine decanter can elevate the appearance of a well set dinner table, enhancing the experience and enjoyment of your dinner guests.

Crystal and Glass

The difference between crystal and glass is related to the amount of lead in the material. Here in Western Europe the word ‘crystal’ means glass that contains lead. In fact the European Union state that glass containing less than 4% lead is not crystal, it is glass.

The definition of ‘crystal’ actually varies from country to country. For example, in the U.S.A. glass is defined as ‘crystal’ if it contains only 1% lead whereas in Eastern Europe (Czech Republic) the term ‘crystal’ is used to refer to any piece of high quality glassware.

Adding lead to glass gives the glass a higher refractive index which is what makes it sparkle. The lead is added in the form of lead oxide making the glass softer, easier to cut and heavier. The added sparkle is particularly apparent when you see light refracted by a high quality lead crystal chandelier.

It is worth noting that lead can migrate from lead crystal containers with a high lead oxide content into the beverages contained within. Tests have shown that white wine can double its lead content within an hour of being stored in a high lead content crystal container.

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