There has been a lot of chatter online lately about wine glasses. It’s hilarious and honestly, I couldn’t agree more. If you give me one of those little chubby thick glasses, I will have a moment of pause and quiet disappointment. This usually happens to me in sport’s bars, dive bars, or specialty restaurants (e.g. BBQ Smokehouses). It signals to me that they are not serious about their wine and I’m in trouble/had no business ordering wine. I’m not really sure what it is, but it just doesn’t feel right, and in turn, makes me judge the wine harshly. But, is there any truth to this, does wine actually taste worse in specific glassware? Are chubby glasses actually a problem for taste or do they just not photo well for Instagram? Let’s find out.
But first, another stop in South Africa, white wine lovers - this one’s for you.
Regional Spotlight: Six Weeks of South Africa - Elgin
We’re officially a month into our South Africa deep dive. Has your perspective changed on the region? Have you tried anything? Please let me know in the comments, I’m dying to know.
This week represents our penultimate region and it’s another cold-climate area, very similar to last week’s Hemel-en-Aarde, but different in so many ways. First off, it’s close to Walker Bay, but it’s not a part of it - Elgin is it’s own wine district just east of of the bay, surrounded by mountains and the ocean. But here’s the interesting part: Elgin has historically been one of South Africa’s major apple and pear growing regions, and if they can grow apples (you need cold!) than they can grow some incredibly fresh and aromatic wine.
Because Elgin is so cold, wine growers/producers prioritize slow ripening, freshness, and like many other South Africa regions: sustainability. Here are their standout grapes:
Sauvignon Blanc: This is where they really shine and arguably their most popular/signature grape. If you love Loire Valley SBs, this is the one for you. They are citrus forward, mineral, herbal, floral, saline, green-fruit forward, and beyond aromatic.
Chardonnay: Lots of acid, restrained oak, mineral - basically a refreshing lemon bomb.
Riesling: Because it’s so cold, their riesling retains its naturally high acid, but develops some very complex aromas. You’ll get lime, lemon, stone fruit, white flowers and minerality.
Pinot Noir: They do a handful of red wine, but given the climate, Pinot reigns supreme. You will get all the usual PN flavors, but their spice really adds to their elegance and sets them a part.
As for producers, I have one for you this week: Thandi Wines. Founded in 1995 in Elgin, it became South Africa’s first agricultural Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) wine project. It was also the world’s first wine to receive Fairtrade Certification in 2003. If that wasn’t enough, they also have a very unique ownership model, it’s majority owned by hundreds of local farm worker families! Today, they have moved operations to Stellenbosch but their impact on the region still stands, it will forever be home to one of the most revolutionary Black-ownership models in South Africa.
Sadly, their wine is not easy to find in the states, if you have had it please let me know how it was.
Wine In Culture: Wine Glasses That Spark Joy
Now for the big question of the week: Does your glass actually make the wine taste better, or are we just being dramatic? Drama lovers, you will be pleased to know the answer is unequivocally YES (to me). Here’s why: the glass impacts the aroma experience, in fact research has shown that different glass shapes can change perceived aroma intensity and complexity. I know first-hand that this is true because when I have gone down to sniff from an awful class, usually one too wide for the wine, I can barely capture any aroma. This is such an important part of the wine drinking experience, without that we’re just throwing it back. So, technically, the taste isn’t impacted, but the aroma is and that’s just not right.
But, what is it specifically about the chunky glass that bothers us? Here are my thoughts:
We should all know by now that the correct way to hold a wine glass is stem only (right?), if we hold the actual glass at the top our body heat will change the temperature of the wine which is never a good thing (this is also why I ride hard against stemless). Therefore, the chunky stem makes the stem-only experience feel clunky and less natural, it’s just too top heavy and there’s not enough room for your hand, so your hand tends to float toward the top and then BAM you have warm wine.
They look and function more like a goblet than a wine class and they are letting in too much air contact (the precious aroma!!), so in addition to warm wine you can’t smell a thing. This doesn’t apply to ALL ugly glasses, in some cases they have a more enclosed top and for that we are thankful, but then I still have to take a picture and no one wants to look like they are drinking wine from a thick rimmed goblet.
I am not ashamed to say that I own some of these hideous wine glasses. They are relics from years past and for a person that refuses to drink wine from plastic or anything but a wine glass, they travel very well - those things are sturdy. This is probably why they have a home in so many restaurants: they don’t break easily. I’m not condoning it, but I understand. So, if you see me with one at an outdoor event just know that is more preferable to me than a plastic cup, which is frankly: unthinkable.
But at home, in restaurants, and just about everywhere else in the world, I prefer my glasses have the following:
A thin rim
A bowl large enough to swirl
A narrow opening (concentrate those aromas!)
A stem
And in most classes: I need it to be clear with no designs lol
To find a glass that checks all those boxes easily, your best bet is to invest in a universal wine glass, that will typically set you up for success. But, if you are like me and are stemware obsessed, then here’s a handy guide for getting your best possible wine experience. But, before reading on, just know these are recommendations to get the most out of your wine, not requirements. Do what you want, it’s your wine.
Champagne & Sparkling Wine: Tulip Glass
Flutes and coupes are fun, but they are letting out the bubbles (coupes) and you can barely get all the aromas (flutes). The Tulip is the best of both worlds, but I will say, I cheat with this one often. Again: do what you want!
Rose & Light-Medium White Wine: White Wine Glass
They traditionally have smaller bowls than red wine glasses, have narrower openings, and are less curved. This helps preserve the chill and highlights the delicate aromas. Orange can also be delightful in a white wine glass, depending on the body/structure.
Orange & Full Bodied White Wine & Light Reds: Burgundy Glass
The space in the bowl allows the aroma to accumulate, allowing for more aromatic complexity and texture. For the full whites, it gives it room to open up. I own some very dramatic versions of this glass, I think it can dupe for a universal, but that’s just me. On orange: if it has more body and texture, go with the burgundy.
Full Bodied Red: Bordeaux Glass
These can get very large, and allows for the most space between your nose and the wine. These are strong/pronounced wines so it gives them plenty of room to breathe while keeping the aromas tight. Medium reds can go in slightly smaller versions of this glass.
If port or sherry are your style (like me), please feel free to go crazy and experiment with all those fun dessert wine glasses out there, but tulip also works. And, please invite me over to have some, but caution: you now know I am very particular about my stemware.
What’s in My Glass: San Antonio Winery
This past weekend, I finally did it - I went to San Antonio Winery. If you live in LA and are even remotely close to the east side or DTLA or if you’ve ever been passing through on the 110, you have seen a huge billboard/painted wall that promotes the winery. I’ve been seeing it for years and without looking it up or doing any research I booked a tasting ($54 + Tax). When I got there, I found out it was the winery behind Stella Rosa, fear filled my heart.
But, I won’t keep you in suspense, I am pleased to report that it was a delight. Before we get to the wine, let’s talk the location. First off, it’s huge - it takes up several blocks. But, they have ample parking all over and lots of kitschy photo ops. It’s not crowded at all, but the people there range from the elderly to young people on dates. The gift shop looks more like a Disney gift shop than a wine shop, and the wine is priced anywhere between $2 (!!!) and $70. This place is really for the people.
Now, back to the wine, I was pleased to find out that there would be no Stella Rosa in our tasting, they are a massive wine company, Stella is only the tip of the iceberg. When you are booking you can choose between three of their options: A summer tasting (all white and rose), a blend tasting (all blends of course), and a signature red tasting. All tastings include 6 wines and come with a charcuterie board. I chose the blend tasting and my friend did the summer tasting. While I started the tasting feeling like I was participating in social experiment, I finished it feeling like I should bring my family here (specifically my cousins that love Stella Rosa). It’s not pretentious, and they literally have wine for every type of wine drinker, including me. Our waiter was amazing and very knowledgable, he also gave us closer to 9 wines and his pours were basically full glasses. Here were my favorites:
Hell’s Kitchen White Blend
Cuvage Brut
Sam Simeon Viognier
Opaque Darkness Blend
Their wine is sourced from all over California and select parts of Italy and France. You’re getting a lot of classic California, but a few of these really surprised me, like their Darkness blend that was made in American Oak and had the most fragrant and deep coconut flavor. Basically, give it a shot, it’s fun and no-frills, and it’s nice to experience wine that way sometimes. But, don’t order the food, you’re downtown, you can find a much better bite elsewhere.
You know what would be a time? Hitting up Stella Rosa for a tasting after doing this one, hahaha! I wonder how noticeable a difference in flavors and taste might be? Let's do it!
Also, I love a big, wide wine glass however, I own none. I'm terrified it will break and cause an injury. :(