Wine glasses have changed quite a bit over the centuries. If you look at antique wine glasses from the 17th, 18th, and even 19th centuries, you’ll notice that they are much smaller than modern wine glasses. So why were old wine glasses so small? There are a few reasons.
Wine Was Scarcer
One of the main reasons old wine glasses were small is that wine itself was less plentiful centuries ago. Grape growing and winemaking methods were not as advanced or efficient as they are today. Transportation and storage methods were also more limited, making it harder to distribute wine over long distances or keep it preserved for long periods of time. As a result, wine was more scarce and expensive, especially for common people. Small glasses allowed each bottle to be shared among more people.
Typical Wine Glass Sizes Over Time
| Era | Typical Wine Glass Size |
|---|---|
| 17th Century | 2-3 oz |
| 18th Century | 3-4 oz |
| 19th Century | 4-6 oz |
| Modern | 8-22 oz |
As the table shows, glasses got progressively bigger over the centuries as wine became more abundant and cheaper.
Drinking Habits Were Different
Another reason old wine glasses were small was that drinking habits were different in past centuries:
- People drank wine more frequently throughout the day back then, but in smaller amounts each time.
- Wine was often diluted with water, so smaller glasses were needed.
- Glasses were refilled frequently during meals, rather than filled to the brim initially.
- Multi-course meals with many glasses on the table were common, necessitating smaller glass sizes.
In contrast, modern wine drinking tends to involve fewer glasses consumed more slowly and wines are often undiluted.
Wine Styles Were Different
Not only were consumption habits different historically, but wine styles themselves have changed over time:
- Older wines were generally lower in alcohol, so small glasses were sufficient.
- Modern winemaking produces more full-bodied, complex wines that benefit from larger glasses.
- Varietals common today like Cabernet and Chardonnay were less prevalent historically.
- Dessert wines have also grown in popularity, requiring larger glasses.
So smaller wine glasses matched both the drinking styles and the wines available at the time.
Glasses Were Handmade & Fragile
Nearly all glassware was hand blown by artisans prior to industrialization. This made glasses more fragile and expensive. Smaller glasses exposed less surface area to potential breaks. The finest luxury glasses were kept tiny for this practical reason. Larger handmade glasses became more feasible as glass manufacturing advanced.
Science of Tasting Was Poorly Understood
Experts today know that the shape of a wine glass impacts the drinking experience. Different shapes and sizes alter the flow of wine over the tongue and release different aromas. But this was not understood centuries ago when wine glasses were standardized into smaller sizes. Advancements in the science of wine tasting have supported the use of larger glasses tailored to different varietals.
Status Symbol
Finally, small wine glasses were also a status symbol among nobility and the wealthy. The opulence of owning fine handmade glassware meant there was no need for large volume. Intricate glassware showed off wealth. Even when wine became cheaper and more available, smaller glasses persisted among elite classes. Larger glasses became associated with the lower classes who needed to stretch the wine. So glass sizes reflected class divides.
Conclusion
In summary, old wine glasses were small for a variety of interrelated reasons: scarcity of wine, frequency of consumption, dilution, fragility of handmade glassware, incomplete knowledge of tasting, and social status associations. As wine became democratized and scientific knowledge advanced, glasses grew in size and variety to match modern drinking habits and wines.
So the arc of wine glass size serves as a window into changing customs, technology, and economics around wine over the past several centuries. The vessel containing the wine evolved along with our relationship to wine itself.