A new glass that has been sculpted in the shape of a closed tulip blossom could revolutionise the consumption of fine wine.

French luxury crystal glassmaker Baccarat have recently commenced sales of their new line of wine glasses in Hong Kong, which they say can revolutionize the savouring of fine vintages by taming the alcohol in the wine.

Bruno Quenioux, technical adviser of the Chateau Baccarat collection of professional wine glasses, told Reuters: "People tend to confuse good wine with alcohol in wine, which is not what we want.

"What is complicated with wine is to get the balance between the fire and water. Get too much fire in the wine and you lose the message of the water... But if you put too much water in the fire, then the fire is dead."

This is the foundation upon which the designers worked from. There is a broad base which is comparable to the saucer-cup sommeliers taste wine in, and sloping sides with a narrow lip. This creates a chimney that prevents the alcohol from overpowering other aromas.

Not all consumers agree that this type of glass will revolutionise wine consumption. Many have spoke out for the time-honoured glasses that are tailored to the variations of wine, dispelling the assumption that fine wine can be drunk in a ‘one-size-fits-all’ glass.

Suresh Kanji, a Hong Kong-based distributor for Riedel Crystal said: "Based on that DNA, the shape of the glass actually makes the experience for the consumer very, very different.

"The big bowl - great for red wine. The smaller glasses - good for white wine... Every glass was fine-turned for the specific DNA of what you're drinking."
This applies to wines such as Bordeaux and Burgundy, which both have uniquely styled wines which benefit more from certain types of glassware. Burgundy, for example, is a delicate wine that suits a larger surface area, whereas many Bordeaux wines may suite more rounded styles.