You know the saying, why do bad things happen to good people? Well, there’s another one - bad things shouldn’t happen to good wine. And when it comes to wine, plastic cups are indeed a BAD thing. That’s because wine suffers tremendously in plastic containers, and so does your experience drinking it. And when it comes to drinking wine here at Pinot’s Palette, it’s all about an upscale experience that you won’t find anywhere else. So, to help elevate your wine drinking experience one delightful sip at a time, here are a few reasons why drinking wine out of a glass is better (and classier) than plastic:

1) Taste Profile & Aromas

What you put your wine into matters as much as the wine itself, and that’s not an opinion, it’s a scientific fact. That’s because the flavor of wine is largely subject to the type of container it is poured into. For instance, by pouring that beautiful Syrah or Cabernet into that plastic cup, you’re actually hindering the wine’s ability to show off its true flavors. Why is that, you ask? For one thing, there’s no curvature to most plastic cups. Why is that important? Well, about 80 percent of what we taste doesn’t happen because of our tongues; it happens because of our noses. Wine glasses are designed intentionally with curves as a means of intensifying the aromatics of the wine when you swirl it, thereby intensifying both the smell and flavor. The curves also help you swirl in style without spilling, and release even more aromatic magnificence by way of the increased surface area that the wine is able to explore as you swirl away. So, when it comes to truly tasting and smelling all of the nuances found within any given grape varietal, there’s no question about it, a proper glass with the appropriate curve appeal makes a huge difference.

2) Visual Appeal

Just as much as the smell and taste of wine are part of the experience, so is the visual appeal. And when it comes to fully enjoying wine, we can’t neglect the sense of sight. Wine glasses are intentionally designed to allow you to see the rich colors contained in various wines, in addition to allowing you to see all the marvelous attributes contained therein. Consider food for a moment, will you? Sure taste and smell are important, but would you eat a meal if it didn’t look appetizing? Unfortunately, plastic cups just don’t give you the aesthetic appeal that wine drinking truly deserves. So when it comes to wine, always be mindful of the eyes, they’re incredibly important to your overall enjoyment.

3) You Can Actually Cheers!

Let’s face it, cheersing in plastic cups just isn’t as exciting as the sound you hear when you clink your stemware together in that age-old gesture that has been practiced for centuries. That’s because “cheers” really loses its flavor when the cups your holding crinkle and spill upon impact. And nothing ruins a girls’ night out or that special date night more than a deflated cheers that falls flat to the ground in a sad plastic cup. When drinking with friends, always remember that your senses are involved (as we’ve noted): You can see it, feel it, taste it, and smell it. Clinking glasses adds that perfect crescendo by pleasing the sense of sound. And, here at Pinot’s Palette, it simply wouldn’t be a proper cheers, or a proper night, without that wonderful clink!

Cheers to good things happening to good people, and good wine!