For the Best Smell, Don't Use Soap??

One of the most used appliances in my house is the dishwasher.  It runs one to two times a day and I will put just about anything in it.  One thing I won't do, however, is put my wine glasses in it.  Now some wine glasses can stand the dishwasher, but it is not recommended with the ones I own.  So, I hand wash them...nightly.  That is how much I love wine.  :)

Recently I read an article, however, that discourages using dish soap on wine glasses.  Really?  What do you use?  I had never thought there was a proper way to wash wine glasses.  It makes sense, however, that a beverage that one places so much importance on its aroma, would need protecting so as not to let anything interfere with the nose.  

About.com lists four ways to properly wash wine glasses.  First, you can utilize dish soap - sparingly.  One drop of soap, wash and rinse several times.  Unfortunately, as indicated above, this method can leave residual soap smell, interfering with the aroma and taste.  I also read that utilizing any dish soap can cause a film in beer glasses that can cause beer to go flat.

Second, About.com recommends just washing with hot water and rinsing three times.  I can't wrap my mind around not using soap, however.  I am not sure why, as it is just wine and hot water should be sufficient to remove all stains.  They also recommend to turn the glasses upside down to dry.  The only problem I find with this is if water gets trapped in the glass, it can sometimes smell musty.

Third, the site recommends utilizing washing soda or baking soda.  Washing soda can be found at grocery stores.  The soda will clean the glass and absorb any residual wine.  Some sites say this method is recommended for crystal glasses as they are more porous and can absorb odors from cleaning and items (coffee) stored with the glasses.   Other sites say this is a myth.  Ultimately, this is the most recommended method on almost every site I checked. 

Finally, the site discusses using the dishwasher.  As discussed above, this isn't a safe method for some types of glasses such as crystal and those with longer stems.  It is recommended to use less detergent than you normally would and to not utilize the heat dry setting.  Once the cycle is complete, remove the glasses and dry with a cotton, lint free cloth.  Having said all of that, most sites do not recommend utilizing the dishwasher for wine glasses.

One recommendation, no matter what your method of washing your glasses, is to rinse them at the end of the night.  If you are like me, the last thing you want to do after a night of wine drinking is wash dishes.  However, it is best to rinse them out well before letting them sit for the night.   

Another tip, if you are able, is to let them dry naturally, rather than using any type of cloth.  If you must dry them, utilize a lint free cloth to dry (avoid terry cloth).  

Also, if you notice a white gray film, uncork.biz recommends soaking your glasses in a weak vinegar solution for an hour or two.  The vinegar eats away the organic buildup.   One company sells a product called Restaurant Crystal Clean (crystalcleanglass.com) if you are really serious about keeping your glasses clean, odor free and streak free.

Even if enjoying the full wine experience (color, nose, mouth, etc.) is not the typical way you drink wine and you just like to open and taste, you still don't want to taint your drinking experience by having unintended smells lingering in your glasses.  While washing with baking soda is a bit more work, it is worth it in the end and you will know that what you smell is straight from your wine.

Cheers!

Mary Jo

WINE WORD OF THE WEEK

Fattoria:  In Tuscany this is a term that refers to a farm or wine estate.  Some Chianti producers will use this term as part of their names. A few examples are:  Fattoria dei Barbi, Fattoria di Basciano.