Wine Glasses Buying Guide

Contents[Hide]

The shape, size, and colour of a wine glass  can dramatically influence the way you feel about the wine  that's inside.  Wine's appeal is not just in its taste  and smell, but also in its visual aspect!  Choosing wine glasses  (also known as stemware ) can be a fun and relatively easy task, as it is all a matter of personal taste and a few simple rules. 

Choosing Wine Glasses

  • Materials:  When choosing your wine glasses, first pay attention to the materials from which they are made.  Many people prefer their glasses to be plain and clear so that the colour of the wine can truly be appreciated.  You must also think about how you will be using these glasses.  If you plan to use them casually, look for dishwasher-safe  materials; if you want to save them for more formal occasions, think about cut crystal  or delicate blown glass.   
  • Size:  Make sure that you choose glasses of an adequate size.  The bowl should be large enough for a fair amount to be poured, while still leaving enough room for the wine to be swirled without spills.  This swirling action is to release the aromas of the wine, and thus is vitally important.      
  • Stem:  The glasses must have a stem, and not just for aesthetic purposes.  The glass should be held by the stem to avoid greasy fingerprints on its bowl, but this is not the only reason.  Holding a glass by the stem also ensures that the body heat from your hand does not affect the temperature of a chilled wine.     

Types of Wine Glasses

Most wine drinkers would agree that  different styles of wines demand different types of wine glasses.  This led to the development of the concept that close matching of the type of wine glass to the style of wine would be of benefit to the wine drinker, a concept which a number of manufacturers  of wine glasses have grasped firmly with both hands.  However, having this many glasses at home could be overkill to anyone but the serious wine connoisseur.  The average entertainer could get away with three different types of glasses for basic whites,  reds,  and champagnes.   

The Basics

White Wine Glasses 

  • White wines which are best served slightly oxidised.  To preserve a crisp, clean flavour, many white wine glasses will have a smaller mouth, which reduces surface area and in turn, the rate of oxidisation. 
  • White wine glasses can have particular styles of their own, as shown below.

Red Wine Glasses 

  • Glasses for red wine are characterised by their rounder, wider bowl, which increases the rate of oxidisation. As oxygen from the air chemically interacts with the wine, flavour and aroma are subtly altered.
  • Red wine glasses can have particular styles of their own, as shown below. 

Champagne Glasses 

  • Champagne flutes are characterised by a long stem with a tall, narrow bowl on top. The shape is designed to keep sparkling wine  desirable during its consumption. The bowl itself is designed in a manner to help retain the signature carbonation in the beverage, by reducing the surface area at the opening of the bowl.

For the connoisseur, there are a variety of specified glasses to choose from.  It is said that each particular glass enhances the aroma, flavour, and body of the wine inside.  The unique shape of each glass is designed to emphasise the varietal characteristics.  One common belief is that the shape of the glass directs the wine itself into the best area of the mouth from the varietal.  Look for glasses designed to enhance your favourite wine.    

The Specifics

Bordeaux /Cabernet 

Burgundy /Pinot Noir 

Syrah/Shiraz 

Zinfandel/Chianti 

Cabernet/Merlot 

Chardonnay /Chablis 

Montrachet/Chardonnay 

Sauvignon Blanc 

Riesling 

Dessert Wine 

Looking After Your Glasses

Much is written about how to treat wine glasses, but there are only a few simple rules to follow. 

  • Washing: Glasses should always be washed in-between uses.  Some advocate using hot water alone, while others advise using detergent.   If you do choose to go with the latter, be sure to rinse your glasses very thoroughly.  Whichever method you choose, hold the glass up to the light to make sure it is free of spots.  Once washed, allow the glasses to drip dry.   
  • Dishwasher:  If you are even thinking about putting your stemware  into the dishwasher,  think again.  Putting delicate glass stemware into this machine can only cause disaster.  This is only ok if your wine glasses are either plastic  or marked as dishwasher-safe.    
  • Storing: Once dry, a quick polish will quickly rid the glasses of any residual water marks, which look a little unsightly but are easily removed. Store them  standing upright in a clean, odour-free cupboard  ready for use.

Related Guides

Check out some of our other guides to pick up even more great tips about wine! 

External Links

  • 2BASnob.com:  Read more about selecting the right glasses for your wine.
  • BestWineGlass.com:  Learn about the purpose of each particular glass and read up on how to care for yours.
  • Chiff.com:  The guide to selecting glasses, serving wine, and table etiquette.