Do different wines really need different glasses? This article breaks down everything you need to know about choosing the perfect wine glass for you.

How important, if at all, is it to have adequate wine glasses? Is there even such a thing? On another occasion I’ve talked about an inspiring experience that shaped the way I think about wine: humble, but tasty, house wine served in regular tumblers during a trip through Tuscan towns.

Would proper wine glasses have improved my perception of the wine? Maybe. But back then I knew nothing about wine, except it came in different colors. I’m not sure how much more I would’ve appreciated the aromas.

Would proper wine glasses have improved the overall experience? Absolutely not. We were enjoying our local Italian adventure.

In my next Tuscan visit, however, armed with more knowledge, I did enjoy excellent wines served in proper wine glasses. So, which one is it? Let’s break it down.

Do You Need a Dedicated Wine Glass?

Need is such a strong word, isn’t it? You can drink your wine out of jars or coffee mugs. But that’s not ideal. If you really want to enjoy wine^[i], I recommend getting a wine glass. One with a base, a stem, a bowl, and a rim. You know, the image that probably pops in your head when you hear “wine glass”.

And you really do need all those parts. The base is self-explanatory. It needs to stand up. The stem is important because that’s what you want to grab when you hold your wine glasses. You want to avoid holding it from the bowl so not to transfer your body temperature to the wine^[ii].

And speaking of the bowl, a round bottom that narrows toward the rim is ideal. You want enough space inside the wine glass to swirl without spilling. Also, the bowl is narrower near the end to trap and direct aromas to your mouth and nose while tasting.

Yes, for an improved wine experience, I fully recommend getting a good glass.

Wait, But What Makes a Good Wine Glass?

Great question, imaginary reader! Anything fitting the description above would do. But let’s talk about it a little more.

• Get Wine Glasses Made from Glass or Crystal. Forget plastic or metal. Other materials ultimately influence the aromas of your wine.
• Stay Away from Small Glasses. Like I said above, you want room for the aromatics to get trapped. You also want to avoid spilling your wine when swirling! Bigger wine glasses are better.
• Your Wine Glasses Should Be Translucent. As clear as possible. I don’t like tinted glasses for my wines. I want to see and appreciate the varied hues. In reds, for instance, Cabernet Sauvignon has a very different color from Pinot Noir.
• A Thin Rim is Better. This is nitpicking, but a thin rim just has a better mouthfeel.
• Only Buy Wine Glasses You Can Afford. This is the big one, isn’t it? Get dedicated wine glasses… only if you can afford them. Remember, you will break them. If you’re afraid of using them because they might break, then you’ve purchased the wrong wine glasses.

Do You Need A Different Glass for Red and White Wines?

This is where things get tricky, and experts disagree. In a nutshell, white wine glasses are smaller than their red counterparts, which makes sense. A larger bowl gives tannic reds a wider surface area, allowing for more oxygenation. Additionally, the smaller bowl for whites forces us to serve less wine, which helps preserve the cooler temperature we drink them at^[iii].

On the other hand, if you want to only have one wine glass, a larger bowl is better. White wines will not suffer from it, and you can control how much you serve either way. So, should you get different wine glasses for reds and whites? Well, ask yourself the following: Can you afford them?

Generally speaking, a universal wine glass is good enough.

Should You Get a Different Glass for Sparkling Wines?

The short answer is no. Flutes are great for bubbles, and they look festive, but they’re not great for appreciating the wine’s aromas. I mean, if you already have flutes, don’t toss them. But, if you’re thinking about buying some, maybe don’t worry. Your everyday universal wine glass will do. With it, you’ll get good, noticeable bubbles, and better bouquet.

But you’ve probably seen different shapes of wine glasses in the market, right? What’s up with that?

The Truth About Different Wine Glasses for Different Wine Styles

Glassmakers produce wine glasses in many different forms, claiming that specific wines taste better in specific shapes. Are they onto something, or is this just marketing mumbo jumbo?

To be completely honest, it’s a little bit of both. There are actual scientific studies to back up their claims^[iv]. However, there’s some things to consider before you fill your shopping cart with different wine glasses.

Studies are inconclusive on whether the aromatic impact of different shaped glasses is substantial. In some cases, it turned out that most people could’t perceive a significant difference. It’s there, just not noticeable enough to make the expense of different wine glasses worth it.

Also, consider that no matter how many alternatives glassmakers offer, they will never cover the many styles of wines there are. Sure you have a dedicated shape for your red and white Burgundies^[v], your Bordeaux blends^[vi], your Syrah glasses and a few more.

Syrah seems to be wildcard, by the way. At least according to one producer. They recommend Chianti Classico, Carignan, and reds from Rioja to be drank with a Syrah glass. Interestingly, they also recommend this shape for Malbec, a Bordeaux grape. Also interesting is that they recommend the Syrah shape for Cinsault, a lighter body red.

Glassmakers offer recommendations to fit your wine to the shapes already sold by them. But then, it’s not really a glass for a specific grape, isn’t it? You know what shape to use with your Merlot and your Sauvignon Blanc, because they’re popular worldwide. But what wine do I use for a País from Maule or for a Torrontés from Salta^[vii]?

The Last Drop

The main takeaway from today’s article is that you should’t overspend. You don’t really even need proper wine glasses if you don’t have the money to get them. My first investment after that would be a universal glass I can use for all my wines.

If you want to experiment with different shapes for all the wines in your collection, remember there are over 10.000 varietals worldwide. You’ll likely end up using your Syrah glass for most of your wines anyway. Is it worth the investment in more shapes? If the wines really taste better in different glasses for you, and you have the money, by all means. If, however, none of that is true for you, you can just stick with a larger one-size-fits-all wine glass and you’ll be fine.

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Footnotes

^[i] And I mean the wine itself. Not the moment, not your friends, not the music.

^[ii] You’ve been so good about storing your wine at the proper temperature. You probably even took care to refrigerate a bit before serving if it’s too hot outside. Don’t ruin the experience by warming it with your hand.

^[iii] It depends on the wine itself, of course, but generally speaking, you want to serve reds between 15 and 20 °C (62 – 68 °F) and whites between 7 and 12 °C (49 – 55 °F)

^[iv] In my research, I found a study from the Tokyo Mental and Dental University interesting. You can read an article about it here.

^[v] In other words, Pinot noir and Chardonnay.

^[vi] So, this is the wine glass for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carménère.

^[vii] Wine region in the north of Argentina.

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Cover Image: A wine glass for red and one for white? Photo by Didgeman.