Fortessa Canada and Schott Zwiesel tasting at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

I will, rather ashamedly, admit that there was a time when even I was not convinced that the shape and size of a glass affected the taste of the wine inside (jam jar, coffee mug, sippy cup, who cares what holds my vino?) But after actually testing wine in various glasses, it became clearly evident how integral a part of wine tasting glassware shape and proportion is. Fortessa Canada and Schotts Zwiesel recently participated in an event with the Alberta Oilmen’s Association which explored this exact topic. Located in the gorgeous Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, in beautiful Alberta, the event was not an ordinary wine tasting as it focused just as much on the glassware as it did the wine.

Along with an artillery of four wine glasses from Fortessa Canada and Schott Zwiesel's Cru Classic line and wines from a new Argentinean wine venture, Zorzal, wine connoisseur and writer, Michael Pinkus (also known as The Grape Guy) challenged even the toughest skeptic not to agree that the type of glass affects the taste of the wine (It is safe to say that by the end of the night, there were no more skeptics)

The wine procedure was simple: each wine was first poured into a tasting glass. From there, we poured a little bit of that wine into each of the varying glasses in front of us. We then took turns sniffing and tasting the wine from the differently shaped and sized glasses, testing to see the difference that each glass made while also deciding which wine went best with which glass.

Believe it or not (and if you still don't believe after this, make sure to hit up one of upcoming events!) there was a huge difference in the taste of the wine between the glasses. As Michael Pinkus describes, there really is a whole science to this, having to do with things like airation and how the bulb of the glass spreads the wine and controls where on our palate we taste it (all things that our well beyond my tasting skills) but the easiest way to understand it is to test this out. Grab some wine, some different types of glassware and see, and taste, the difference that proper glassware makes.    

Best wine of the tasting:

Zorzal 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (14.5% alcohol) -  Bold flavours, good acidity and lush texture make this South American Cabernet a delicious hit. Hints of vanilla, black current and pepper. (****)

The Schott Zwiesel CRU Classic Glassware that were used during the tasting included;

CRU Classic Burgundy

CRU Classic Riesling

CRU Classic Chardonnay

CRU Classic Bordeaux