I usually just use whatever glass I have had for the evening, most often Riedel vinum Bordeaux or Burgundy. Do any of you have a particular favorite?
The exact same glass I use for any wine.
Whatever I happen to have closest.
Riedel vinum cognac stems. Really pretty stems, perform well with Madiera.
Thanks for the link, Robert. Interesting site. You are always a much better search engine than google.
By the way I just opened a 1971 D’Oliveiras Terrantez last night. I’m going to give it some air for a few days, then I’ll post a note. Also have a 73 Verdelho and an 89 Malvasia open, so will do some comparison. Initial impression is that the Terrantez and Verdelho are much sweeter than I was expecting. I really like the Buals and Malvazias, so to me that’s not really a bad thing. I just thought they would be drier than they are.
If you’re going to use a specialized glass, you should go for one that you can use with ports and sherries too. We use the Riedel Vinum Port glasses for all three. They meet the suggestions in Robert’s link and are relatively straightforward. They’re not super small either but smaller than a white wine glass, so I’ve tried drinking less aromatic white wines out of them and I’ve found sometimes that the smaller glasses can help create a bigger nose than glasses with a larger bowl.
I normally use my Spiegelau “Soiree” Sherry glasses.
The INAO tasting glass is a good choice, too.
Spiegelau “Soiree” (6 oz.):
INAO tasting glass (7.25 oz.):
I’ll try to find out what Mannie Berk recommends, and will post it if I do.
I like the Les Impitoyable Glass Number One for both Madeira and Port.
The Riedel vinum port glass seems to work well for me… and not too pricey.
This style of glass worked for our first President:
[With the caveat that he sells them, so may not be completely unbiased] Mannie Berk says that Schott Zwiesel Tritan Forte Collection White Wine, 9.4 Ounce, 8" tall, is “the perfect size and shape for Madeira.”
I take Mannie’s word as authoritative on all things Madeira.
I use the IVDP Port glass.
Whatever you do, don’t use the Bordeaux and Burgundy glasses you were initially using. The aperture is way too wide and will significantly focus your attention on the spirit/alc. of the Madeira.
Riedel Vinum Port for me is the best glass outside of the chimney style Madeira glasses used on the island. Actually I like the Riedel better and it is nearly impossible to find the chimney glasses here in the USA anymore, although they are sold sparingly on the island.
The glass that Mannie shows is good and I’ve used similar white wine glasses, but they are slightly larger and personally I prefer a smaller profile for sheer concentration of nose and palate, but that is a personal taste. I am hosting two Madeira events in SF this weekend and we’ll be using some chimney style and also some other Port style glasses.
I had purchased some Spieglau Soiree glasses shown above and am not a fan for Port or Madeira. Just too narrow at the bowl for my liking, but I do know people besides Bob who like them, albeit for Port and not Madeira.
The triangular shaped antique one Larry shows above, used by the President way back when would be deemed unsuitable today in the wine geek world that has evolved.
Thanks, Roy. I’ve got the Riedel port glasses so will try them.
Fusion Port glasses from WE @ 2 for $25. Very similar to IVDP.
Two nights ago I used my Riedel port glass for an 89 D’Oliveiras Malvazia. When I would bring the glass to my nose I got a pretty strong soap smell. Poured the wine into a Riedel chardonnay glass and the soap smell went away. My first thought was that the glass may have had the smell to begin with even though I’m very careful about cleaning glasses (probably considered anal by my wife and friends, you guys know how that goes). Last night I had a 20 year Fonseca Tawny and checked the glass empty before pouring. No soap smell empty but again the wine had a prominent soap aroma to me that went away when I put it in the chardonnay glass. Probably something peculiar about my anatomy or physiology that causes this but the port glass just doesn’t seem to work well for me with Madeira. Never had a problem using them with vintage Port.
Maybe there’s something to it, Tim, but that just sounds crazy to me!
+1
Crazy to me, too, but it happened two different nights with two different wines and no soap smell when pouring the same wines from the port glass into the chard glass. I’m sure it is something weird about me that is causing this, but there it is. I guess I am just doomed to using my port glasses only for port, but if that is the worst thing that happens to me this weekend, then I guess it will have been a good weekend.
Cheers!