How To Spot a Quality Wine Glass
One of the first points to consider: CLARITY. Our eyes are the first tools we use to judge the quality of a glass.
- A wine glass made from crystal (which contains lead or crystalline which does not contain lead) will have greater brilliance and clarity than one made from soda-lime glass. (A type of glass used for windows, most bottles, and jars).
- Another way will be imperfections like bubbles or a noticeable green or blue tint, indicative that an inferior raw material has been used.
- Although there are many other ways to detect whether the glass is made of crystal or glass my favorite is to tap the widest part of the bowl with your fingernail- it will make a ringing sound like a bell.
The second point to consider is WEIGHT. The distribution of weight is important; the base should be heavy and wide so that the glass does not tip over easily. However, the weight of the base and the weight of the glass must be balanced so that the glass is comfortable to hold and to swirl.
The next place to look for wine glass quality is the RIM. A rolled rim, is thicker than the bowl below it, it gives a less refined look experience than a laser cut rim. To test this experience more clearly, drink wine out of a thick mug with a rounded lip. The result is the wine will seem thick and clumsy. Now, drink from a laser cut rim, the laser cut rim is more fragile than a rolled rim and so the glass needs to be cut out of high-quality crystal to ensure it does not chip too easily.
Another point of interest is whether a glass is HAND BLOWN OR MACHINE BLOWN. Hand blown is a highly skilled craft practiced by a small group of artisans, and is much more consuming than machine blowing, leaving
