Drinking wine from the wrong glass detracts from your oenological enjoyment.



Using a narrow glass for a rich Burgundy, for example, won''t give you enough room to swirl it around and bring out its bouquet.



You''ll also need a glass that tapers properly toward the top, so that it captures the bouquet yet still allows for sipping.



In general, the glass''s stem should be long enough to keep your hands from touching the bowl and affecting the wine''s temperature.

Buying by the glass

• Here are a few things to look out for if you buy wine by the glass in a pub.

• Is the wine left on the back of the bar or is it kept in a refrigerator or at least on a chilled shelf?

• Before you order, check the amount of wine in the bottle - there should be a really good level left in the bottle. If not, chances are it’s old and may have become affected by being open too long.

• Are other people drinking it? What sort of glass is it put into? If a small, goblet-type glass, then the pub isn’t serious about their wine, and see it as just another drink. The best pubs will measure in a small glass, then pour into a glass of decent dimensions so that you can really swirl it around and enjoy it.

Wine glass image: Apple’s Eyes Studio / FreeDigitalPhotos.net