Lately I've been keeping up with a zillion posts on a LinkedIn wine group in which I'm a member regarding the question of whether the glass actually makes a difference in the taste/enjoyment of the wine. So far I've been pretty amazed at the diverse answers/assessments/evaluations and sundry judgements from far and wide. It would seem that the consensus is that a "proper" stemmed glass does indeed make a difference.
As one who has attended a presentation/seminar/tasting event on behalf of the makers of Riedel stemware, I can say unequivocally that there was an impressive improvement when tasting the same liquids (wines and some cheap Scotch) from everyday glassware versus the Riedel glass designed for that particular liquid. Interestingly enough, I personally thought the most astonishing difference (i.e., improvement) was with the Scotch. Maybe it was because I was not a scotch drinker at the time, but over the years I have continues to be amazed at how the Riedel Single Malt glass improves almost any small batch whisky/whiskey. That having been said, maybe there were not enough variables to do a true scientific research study but the the purpose of the event was to sell Riedel glasses! Go figure.
Anyway, fast forward to the present... this I know. A high quality stemmed glass will almost always improve the enjoyment of a decent wine and will enhance the best attributes of a great wine more so than a jelly jar or a paper cup. We can probably all agree that a good glass will not make a bad wine good but a cheap glass won't do an extraordinary wine any favors either. And it definitely differs from person to person. My wife still loves her favorite plastic thrift shop stemmed "glass", regardless of what goes in it. I rest my case.
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