6 Best Wine Glasses For Every Type, According To Winc's Wine Director
Get those corks poppin'.
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There are people who care deeply about proper wine glassware (cough, Dorit, cough) and those who care simply that their glass is always full. At Delish, we've soaked grapes in Prosecco and called it a day and turned Chardonnay into Jell-O shots; in other words, most of the team falls strictly in the DGAF camp.
So we tapped Brooke Matthias, wine director at digital wine club Winc, to set us straight on details like bigger wines deserve a bigger glass and stemless glasses could mess with the temperature of your booze. Keep in mind, though, that this is simply a little professional guidance. "We believe that the wine you choose to drink (and the glass you choose to enjoy it in) is ultimately a matter of personal preference," Brooke admits. Mmmk, Brooke, you can sit with us.
Lenox Tuscany Classics White Wine Glasses (Set of 6)
"The glassware you choose can be heavily influenced by the varietal or style of wine you’re drinking," Brooke says. For example, for an unoaked Chardonnay, I’d recommend stemware that complements a young wine’s freshness and balances the wine’s flavors." More often than not, you can opt for simple, small
wine glasses; they're better for maintaining the temperature. Amazon is rife with great deals, but Brooke's favorite splurge (it is gift-giving season) is this Reidel Superleggero Viognier/Chardonnay Glass.
Riedel Extreme Oaked Chardonnay Glass (Set of 2)
White wines are often categorized as lighter than red, but they're not incapable of being full-bodied. Take a Chardonnay that's been aged in oak barrels, for example. It deserves a slightly different glass than it's crisp counterpart. "You may want to opt for a slightly larger bowl to bring out texture," Brooke notes. The diamond-shaped bowl of these Riedel glasses allows space for the aromas to develop.
Your varietal could impact which glass you choose, just like with white wines. "As a rule of thumb, I like to say, the bigger the wine, the bigger the glass," Brooke says. "For a New World Cabernet, I suggest a glass that underscores the complexity of the wine and allows it to breathe." If your red is more robust, give it space—a larger bowl will catch the aromas better. Keep in mind, Brooke adds, that the larger the opening of the glass, the smoother the wine will taste.
A dry rosé tastes delicious in a diamond-shaped glass, which heightens the wine’s bouquet and aromas and tempers its acidity," Brooke notes. If you're a total oenophile, the maker of these particular glasses lists 22 different types of grapes that work well with a diamond shape.
Traditionally, bubbly is poured in tall, skinny glasses to retain the carbonation. But Brooke likes champagne flutes for a different reason: "I prefer to drink my sparkling wine out of a champagne flute because it makes the experience feel special! However, using a simple white wine glass works, too." Looking to spend a little extra on a set? These will cover your bases.
Chances are, any small, interestingly-shaped glasses you've seen (like these sippers) are meant for dessert wines. "For a port or fortified wine, a tulip or U-shaped glass is best, as these shapes help bring out the unique characteristics of the wine while diminishing the dominance of alcohol," Brooke explains. These glasses from Williams-Sonoma can be monogrammed for just $10 extra. Perfect housewarming gift, no?
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