Proud of your Artful Winemaker Merlot or Cabernet/Shiraz? You should be! Show it off in a wine glass that is designed to showcase the intricacies of your red.
Wine glasses are specifically designed for different types of wine, the shape of the glass accentuates the flavors and aromas of the wine for which it is made. Merlot glasses, which can also be used for Cabernet/Shiraz, have the following design features:
Large Bowl
A large bowl design gives the wine increased exposure to air, allowing it to oxidize on a small scale, which is a good thing. When oxygen mixes with wine, it releases more complex flavor and aromatic nuances. This allows the wine to open up and the tannins to relax a little bit.
Slightly Tapered Lip
The lip of a Merlot glass tapers slightly toward the top. This concentrates the aromas and allows you to pick up all the different scents of the wine’s bouquet. Here’s an interesting tidbit about the importance of a tapered lip for Merlot and other red wine glasses: Certain aromas have a certain weight or density. A tapered lip allows the aromas to layer themselves, one on top of the other and captures them in the glass.
Here’s how the bouquet of the wine is layered within the glass:
1) Flowers and fruit – These aromas are the least dense and rise to the top of the Merlot glass with the tapered lip holding them in.
2) Earth and minerals – Earthy, herbaceous and mineral notes (think flinty or steely) settle in the middle of the glass. These notes are held in place by the floral and fruity aromas.
3) Alcohol and wood – Woody and alcohol aromas are the heaviest and sit right on top of the wine itself.
Tips on Serving Merlot
Once you have the proper glass – and you will taste and smell a noticeable difference – you have to be sure to properly serve the wine.
Temperature – If you serve warm Merlot, all you will taste is the alcohol. Be sure to chill your Merlot to between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 to 18 degrees Celsius.
Amount - You want to leave adequate space in the glass so you can swirl your wine to further release its bouquet.
Final Advice
The point to drinking wine is to enjoy it. Don’t feel as though you need to spend hundreds of dollars on the perfect wine glass for Merlot. Just take a look around and find a set of glasses that have a larger bowl and a tapered lip.
The Artful Winemaker all-inclusive package includes everything you need to make 12 signature bottles of your very own wine in just 28 days. The clean, easy to handle system fits on your kitchen counter and comes with all winemaking ingredients including grape juices sourced from some of the nation’s finest vineyards, cleansers, an instructional DVD, and 12 glass bottles with closures, foils and bottle labels. By purchasing additional refill wine kits, the Artful Winemaker System can be used time and time again to produce all of the great tasting wines available including Cabernet Shiraz, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, and Riesling.
So go ahead and…Discover the winemaker in you!
For more information, visit: www.artfulwinemaker.com or at www.facebook.com/artfulwinemaker
There are three ways you can reach us:
Visit us on the web at: www.artfulwinemaker.com/FAQ
Or email us at: help@artfulwinemaker.com
Or if you prefer direct assistance or more help, please call our toll free number: 1-800-263-4790 ext. 6449
test
test
