A balloon glass is a wine glass with a larger-than-average bowl. These larger glasses are made to hold anywhere from 4 to 6 oz. of wine, exposing a larger surface area of the wine to air while at the same time "cupping" the aroma of the wine in the bowl. A balloon glass is generally used for bold, rich, red wines.
History
Though the Riedel family started making glass 250 years ago in Bohemia, it was not until 1961 that Riedel introduced a revolutionary concept in stemware. It was this Austrian business that advanced the idea of using different glasses to serve different wines. Riedel believed that the size and shape of the stemware had a definite impact on the experience of wine-tasting. By 1973, the idea of specialized glassware for specific wines had caught on all over the world.
Function
The theory behind the balloon-shaped wineglass is simple. The size and shape of the glass affect both aroma and taste. The large bowl of the balloon glass allows mature, full-bodied red wines to "breathe," enhancing the aromas. The large surface area of the bowl also allows for a swirl, circulating the aromas. Finally, the smaller circumference of the mouth of the bowl prevents evaporation of the alcohol. A low-stemmed balloon glass used for cognac enables the hand to cup the bowl, warming the glass and the contents.
Types
There are catalogs that list dozens of different styles of balloon-glass stemware. Generally, the differences have to do with size and the stem. Some balloon-glass wine glasses can hold an entire bottle of wine; the average glass holds 4 to 5 oz., with room to spare in the bowl. Cognac balloon glasses will have shorter stems, and the new stemless balloon glasses are also in vogue now. Wineglasses can be made of glass or crystal. Red wines including burgundy, pinot noir, shiraz, rhone, barola and barbaresco will traditionally be served in a balloon glass.
Benefits
There are those who firmly stand by the balloon glass as the only stemware to be used for full-bodied red wines. The entire sensory pleasure involved in wine drinking is as crucial to the wine experience as the wine itself.
Misconceptions
In the past few years, the idea of pairing wines with certain glassware has come under scrutiny. When tested, people drinking wine from expensive, crystal stemware perceived the wine as being exceptional, even though the wine may have in fact been just the opposite. So, though a balloon glass may have 50 years behind its use as the right glass to serve with red varietals, there is no scientific evidence to prove its necessity.
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