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We ask resident wine experts about which glasses they love to have in hand at the end of a long day

To be sure, our wine glasses are just as important as the wine itself. But with so many kinds, we have to wonder: which is a good one to invest in? Tatler Philippines asks our resident wine nerds and experts about what they have in their very own kitchens or cellars, and which they love to have in hand at the end of a long workday. 

Read more: How To Start A Wine Business? Jojo Madrid Reveals The Secret Behind Premium Wine Exchange's Success

JP Guillot of AWC Philippines

Tatler Asia
Above JP Guillot with wife Laura Guillot (Photo: JP Guillot)

If you could only buy one kind of wine glass what would it be and why? 

I will go for a Red Bordeaux style glass because I love the classic shape. It gives my wine enough room to develop the aroma and express all its complexity. It's also big enough to fit my big French nose!

What's your favourite wine and what glass do you use at home? 

Well, I must admit that using Zalto glasses is a true experience. They are so light and thin, and elevate your wine experience to another level. But I am not using them at home because they are too fragile and expensive. With my wife, we entertain a lot and they are not too kid-friendly. 

At home, I use Schott Ziewsel Bordeaux red and white wine Glass Pure collection. I use those because they were a birthday gift and also I love the shape. I think they are very élégante on a table. 

In your own words, how does the wine glass shape our experience of drinking wine?

As a family winery owner, I know how difficult it is to produce wine. You need an amazing terroir, knowledge, and lots of patience. When you finally are able to bottle your production, you need even more patience as the wine needs to age to be at its best. Having a proper wine glass to taste this beautiful beverage is the minimum honour you can do for the winemaker and for your palate. Wine is a live product, it needs to breathe to release all the aromas that have been stuck in the bottle for years. Having the proper wine glass shape will enable the wine to express its complexities to reveal all the components of its terroir. This will allow your nose to catch all the different layers of aromas and create this unique experience of happiness. 

Ira del Rosario of Premium Wine Exchange

Tatler Asia
Above (Photo: Ira del Rosario)

If you could only buy one kind of wine glass what would it be and why? 

I'll use the "One for All" Gabriel-Glad because it is ideal for any style and varietal of wine. 

What's your favourite wine and what glass do you use at home? 

I like red wines from DeLille Cellars from Columbia Valley, Washington State, especially their Bordeaux inspired red blend. You're getting the best of Napa and Bordeaux for a reasonable price. 

In your own words, how does the wine glass shape our experience of drinking wine?

The use of proper glasses releases the full potential of the wine that allows us to appreciate and enjoy what we're drinking.

See also: 5 Native Filipino Liquors, Spirits, and Wine

Chie Gatchalian of 5 &1/2 Twists

Tatler Asia
Above (Photo: Kat Uytiepo)

If you could only buy one kind of wine glass what would it be and why? 

I am a big fan of Grassl glasses so definitely it will have to be one of theirs. Grassl glasses have a wide base (92 mm) that makes the glass feel secure when you put it down on the table and they're also so beautifully thin and lightweight made with mouth-blown crystal. As far as which one, I'd say the Liberté, from their Vigneron series. I think if you just have to have one, it has to be a wine glass that you can use for both white and red wines and that's exactly what Liberté, is. It's a universal wine glass that you can drink your Syrah from but can also be used for Chardonnay, for example.

What's your favourite wine and what glass do you use at home? 

This is a tough question to answer because I love all wines equally (haha!) but I've recently been tripping on aromatic whites like German Riesling and Alsatian Pinot Gris—so refreshing in this warm weather but also so good with my favourite Asian dishes. For these types of wine, I use my Mineralite glass from Grassl's Vigneron series because it really allows you to appreciate the bouquet of these aromatic single varietals. The glass tapers narrowly towards the lip which keeps the aromas in the glass. The bowl is also shorter than a typical red wine glass so your nose is as close to the wine as you drink it. Drinking my Riesling from this glass makes it such a pleasurable experience.

In your own words, how does the wine glass shape our experience of drinking wine?

I think we should spend as much time thinking about where we drink our wine from as much as we think about what wine to drink. The right shape, like for instance a Bordeaux glass (Grassl has one called 1855 and it's amazing) with its wide and big bowl that tapers towards the lip, will make your favourite full-bodied reds taste even better because the structure gives the wine enough space to interact with oxygen (softening the tannins, allowing aromas and flavours to come out) but it also keeps the aromas in so you can still enjoy all the wonderful smells that actually make wine drinking such a pleasurable experience. The right glass will bring out the best in your wine, making you appreciate its structure, complexity and balance even more. Who wouldn't want that?

Jojo Madrid of Premium Wine Exchange

Tatler Asia
Above (Photo: Jojo Madrid)

If you could only buy one kind of wine glass what would it be and why? 

If I were to choose one brand of wine glass, it would be the Gabriel-Glas. It is on glass for all types of wines be it Champagne, Burgundy or Bordeaux. So, imagine you are hosting a wine dinner serving three different kinds of wines, wouldn’t it be most convenient if you serve all three wines using one glass only? It makes for a stress-free evening for the host!  It is practical and incredibly convenient. There are two editions of Gabriel, both of the same size and shape: the Gold Edition which is mouthblown and “lighter than air.” Then, there is the StandArt Edition which is machine-made and, therefore, sturdier and more durable but slightly heavier. Both are dishwasher friendly although I prefer to hand wash them myself. Between the two editions, I find myself using the machine-made StandArt more often because it is sturdier. 

What's your favourite wine and what glass do you use at home? 

My favourite brand of wine glass is Grassl. The craftsmanship, design and level of detail are simply the best. I own the entire set of four Grassl glasses: The Mineralite Edition is ideal for crisp, light white wines; the Liberté, which is a multi-purpose glass, is ideal for heavier and oaked whites; the “1855” Edition is perfect for fuller, more complex reds such as Bordeaux; then finally there’s the Cru Edition which is ideal for aromatic, complex single varietals such as red Burgundy or Barolo. 

In your own words, how does the wine glass shape our experience of drinking wine?

For me, the choice of glass is very important when drinking fine wine. I think it’s worth every penny to spend on a USD 70-80 glass especially when you’re enjoying bottles priced over USD 150-200. It’s worth the investment because a taster gets the most out of the wine. I look for a wine glass that is light in weight, has volume, a narrower opening and a thin lip. I derive almost as much pleasure smelling the wine as tasting it. A fine wine can deliver hugely gorgeous and complex aromatics apart from its flavours, and a taster needs the perfect vessel to trap those aromas and release them to heighten the taster’s senses and overall experience. 

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