Once you have picked out a bottle of wine to enjoy, you must select the best wine glass. "The height of the stem, the shape and size of the bowl, and even the base of the glass are intentionally designed to highlight the true expression of each varietal," said Aime Dunstan, winery event manager at Cakebread Cellars.
We relied on our experience with wine tasting, conversations with sommeliers and winery owners, and knowledge of the different types of wine glasses to choose our top picks. The best wine glass overall is the Schott Zwiesel Pure Tritan Crystal Stemware because it has a universal shape that enhances the taste of every bottle. If you want a more affordable set, the Spiegelau Style Burgundy Wine Glasses are durable and top-rack dishwasher-safe. Plus, there are red and white wine glasses available.
Our top picks for the best wine glasses
Best universal: Schott Zwiesel Pure Tritan Crystal Stemware (Set of 2) - See at Amazon
Best for white wine: Williams Sonoma Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Wine Glass - See at Williams Sonoma
Best for red wine: Riedel Vinum Bordeaux Glass (Set of 2) - See at Amazon
Best value: Spiegelau Style Burgundy Wine Glasses (Set of 4) - See at Amazon
Best for Champagne: Riedel Fatto a Mano Champagne Glass - See at Amazon
Best set: Schott Zwiesel Pure Wine Glasses (6-pack) - See at Amazon
Best overall
Sleek and angled, the Schott Zwiesel Pure Tritan glasses are eye-catching and functional, perfect for both reds and whites.
For a vessel that has attributes that work well for both reds and whites, you want a universal wine glass. We like Schott Zwiesel's Pure Tritan glasses because they're sturdy and functional with a sophisticated look.
Universal glasses have a versatile shape that enhances the taste of all wine. The geometric, angled bowl and long stem give the glass a modern edge while still being versatile enough to hold reds like cabernet sauvignon, Bordeaux, and merlot and whites like chardonnay and viognier.
Best for white wine
Enjoy crisp white varietals in Williams Sonoma's durable, long-stemmed Reserve Sauvignon Blanc glass.
In a white wine glass, look for a smaller bowl and opening and a long stem. These features help keep wines like sauvignon blanc cool and better deliver aromas to the nose. Williams Sonoma's mouth-blown white wine glass is made for such crisp whites and even rosés.
Varietals like sauvignon blanc, Riesling, pinot grigio, viognier, Semillon, and chenin blanc are all excellent options for this glass. However, if you're enjoying a full-bodied white wine like an oaky chardonnay, you'll want a glass with a larger bowl than this one.
Best for red wine
The Riedel Vinum Bordeaux Glass has a rounded bowl and tapered rim, making it a good choice for Bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon, and a variety of red wines.
A red wine glass should have a wider bowl and larger opening, both of which allow for better aeration of tannin-rich wines like cabernet sauvignon and Bordeaux. The shape of the Riedel Vinum makes it well-suited for these types of red.
Riedel is also a brand you'll find in many wine shops and vineyards. "Cakebread Cellars stocks Riedel stemware in a variety of varietal-specific sizes and shapes," said winery event manager Aime Dunstan. "Their elegant yet durable glasses complement our portfolio of wines."
Best value
At under $10 per wine glass, Spiegelau's Style Burgundy glasses look elegant and are perfect for lighter reds.
The tulip shape of the Style Burgundy glasses from Spiegelau makes it ideal for younger reds that are light and fruity. Durable and made for the top rack of the dishwasher, these glasses are practical for frequent use. At around $10 per glass, they're also fairly affordable.
If you like wines from Burgundy, such as pinot noir and nebbiolo, you'll appreciate this glass for its wider bowl and narrow opening. These varietals have more intense fruit notes, and the tapered shape helps concentrate and direct those flavors to the nose.
Spiegelau's Style series also comes in white and red varieties, so you can choose which type works best for the wine you drink most.
Best for Champagne
Shaped more like a white wine glass than any Champagne glass, Riedel's Fatto A Mano glass is refined, lightweight, and a joy to drink from.
The Fatto A Mano Champagne glass is wider than a traditional flute, giving you plenty of room to swirl and release your sparkling wine's aromas. However, it's not as wide as a coupe glass, so it will preserve some of the bubbles.
Champagne glasses are unique because you're trying to keep the fizz from disappearing before you drink it. While Riedel's glasses hold a few more ounces than the average champagne flute, they're still one of our favorites. There is also a trend of drinking sparkling wine out of white wine glasses, which allows the wine's aroma to fully express itself.
Best set
Schott Zwiesel makes our favorite wine glasses, and the sets are great, whether you need red, white, or all-purpose.
Many of the glasses on our list come in sets of two, four, or six, and are convenient choices if you're looking to bolster your collection. But the sets from Schott Zwiesel are a nice mix of durability, versatility, and affordability.
You can get all-purpose, red, white, and flute glasses, depending on what you need. Because the sets are also available with two, four, or six glasses, you can mix and match to always have the right vessel for whatever you're drinking.
Wine glasses FAQs
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