Fine furniture and the zen of wine glasses

My wife and I attended a wine tasting a few months ago where the focus was on the glasses. The purpose of the tasting was to learn how and why different glasses affect the taste and enjoyment of wine. More…I was very skeptical going in, but it was an eye opening and taste bud opening experience. The shape of the bowl, its size, and even its composition can have a huge impact on how the wine smells and tastes. The shape helps determine where the wine hits your tongue and how the flavors are released. A glass with a high lead crystal content holds the wine to the sides as its swirled around, releasing some of the sensuous aromas.More…

It can get pretty involved and the pairings of glass to varietal can be extensive. It’s not a question of being a wine snob; it’s about getting the most out of your purchase. The bottom line is that the proper stemware can truly enhance the enjoyment of even an average vintage. It can make your 2 buck Chuck taste like 4 buck Charles. A good wine becomes better, and a great wine, well….

It has occurred to me that there is a parallel between fine stemware and fine furniture. You can drink wine from a paper cup, or you can invest in better glasses and increase your enjoyment many fold. The investment in the glasses will pay off handsomely.

Likewise, you can put your stuff in a cheap particleboard cabinet with fake wood veneers, and it’ll work, at least for a while. You probably won’t spend much time looking at it or running your hand over the finish, though. Or you can choose an artistically designed handcrafted heirloom quality chest of drawers created by a dedicated craftsman that will give you service and pleasure for a lifetime.

I know I’m a little prejudiced, but I know which way I’d go.

-- Alan Carter, www.alancarterstudio.com