Wine Glasses - Fancy or Functional?

Did you ever find yourself wondering . . . "this wine glass looks really cool, but is there really a reason behind having different white and red wine glasses?" Well if you have, this article is for you! It's out of the Philippines, of all places, and breaks down pretty thoroughly why wine glasses and their many incarnations are shaped the way they are. Apparently all of the hub-bub about glasses started back in the 50's when a certain Mr. Riedel decided to take a scientific minded approach to creating the ideal wine glasses. The author goes on -

"The Riedel family has been involved in the glass making business since 1756. Claus Riedel pioneered the making of wine glasses in different sizes and contours. Claus suggested that certain glass shapes are needed to emphasize the smell and taste elements present in different wine styles. The Riedel company even cited a “tongue map” scientific research study to illustrate the effect of the different glasses on flavors that are perceived by wine drinkers."

Follow the link for more fun facts!