We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Beverages

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are INAO Glasses?

Malcolm Tatum
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 13,319
Share

INAO glasses are a particular type of class of wine glass that is certified and approved for use by the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine. In most cases, INAO glasses are used in the wine sampling and wine tasting activities, such as those conducted at many vineyards. The glasses are also considered ideal for the purpose of professional wine tasting. Here are some facts about the physical design and properties of the INAO glasses, and why these particular wine glasses are favored when sampling wine.

INAO glasses are usually designed with a shape that is similar to a tulip. As with all wine glasses, INAO glasses are constructed of a flat base, a stem, and a bowl. Typically, the bowl is designed to hold from five to eight ounces of wine at a time. The tulip design of the bowl is essential when it comes to professional wine tasting, in that the shape makes it easy to swirl the contents around the interior of the bowl, allowing the wine to aerate properly before tasting. INAO glasses are always made of clear glass. This allows the wine taster to also consider the wine based on the clarity of the liquid and the intensity of the color. Finally, the simplistic design of INAO glasses makes it easy for the wine taster to tile the bowl backward and forward, which allows the taster to sample the aroma of the wine as it settles on the sides of the glass.

While INAO glasses were specifically designed for the use of professional wine tasters, winemakers who like to provide samples to guests at the vineyard also often favor them. Along with use at wine tasting and sampling events at vineyards, many retailers who carry a nice selection of wines also use INAO glasses as a means of providing samples to regular customers and other shoppers who are looking for just the right wine for an occasion.

Once a product available only in France, INAO glasses are now found in many locations around the globe. Shops that carry a selection of wines and wine accessories often include INAO glasses as part of their offerings. The ability to shop on the Internet has also made it possible to obtain INAO glasses at very reasonable prices as well. Whether an amateur lover of good wine or a professional who makes a living tasting wine, the use INAO glasses is the perfect medium for evaluating the color, clarity, bouquet and taste and texture of any wine.

Share
DelightedCooking is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including DelightedCooking, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.
Discussion Comments
By jennythelib — On Sep 20, 2011

@MissDaphne - They're all one shape as far as I can tell, which surprised me, too. Like a tulip, it has a kind of egg-shaped wider base and then it it taller and narrows a bit, but they seem larger than most white wine glasses. And much larger than those souvenir glasses, too.

It surprises me that they would use all the one shape. I guess the idea is to make the glass not a factor? Because I have also read recently that some companies are developing special wine glasses not just for red and white, but for difference *varieties* of wine! They might have one glass for chardonnay and another for vidal blanc, one for cab sauv and one for cab franc, etc.

By MissDaphne — On Sep 19, 2011

I had no idea there were special certified glasses for wine tasting! I have noticed that when you go to winery, their souvenir glasses tend to be all the same shape instead of some being for red wine (i.e., wide and rounder) and some for white (narrower and a bit taller).

Are INAO glasses all the same shape? Is it that in-between kind of shape?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
Learn more
Share
https://www.delightedcooking.com/what-are-inao-glasses.htm
Copy this link
DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

DelightedCooking, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.