This Pinot Noir glass did equally well with red Burgundy, Nebbiolo, Bordeaux and more tannic reds but didn't allow for quite the nuance of flavors and aromas in red wine as the winning Zalto glass. Best Wine Glass for the Casual Wine Drinker: Spiegelau Vino Grande If you’re prone to breakage or if you’re planning to use these glasses every day, opt for a more durable material. Glass is cheaper, but crystal is a stronger material and will last longer. That said, crystal glasses are more costly and pricey to replace. Our sommelier experts include Laura Newman, Owner of Queen’s Park and Neon Moon (Level 2 Somm.), Seth Dunagen, Helen (Level 2 Somm.), and Trent Stewart and Brendan Loper from Golden Age Wine The first thing that anyone will notice about this glass is the unique and fascinating shape—but there's much more to the Josephinenhütte Josephine No. 3 Red Wine Glass than what first meets the eye. A visually striking glass crafted from lead-free crystal, it's also an ideal vessel for your next glass of robust red wine. While it might be a bit pricey compared to other options, it's a statement piece—and also happens to be a very practical red wine vessel. For reasons of hygiene and safety, personal grooming products, cosmetics or items of intimate clothing cannot be returned.

One of the major superiorities about Zalto Denk'Art Wine Glasses lies in how light [they are],” says Tsiddon. “When pouring the wine and holding the glass up, you cannot feel it exists; the glass is nearly transparent, both visually and physically,” she says.“[It] makes the wine taste even more majestic than it usually does.” If you’re looking for something that looks and feels luxurious, these Bordeaux glasses—designed for rich, full-bodied reds—are your best bet. And although these wine glasses may be pricey, the thin lip, light weight, and elegant stem of a Zalto glass show off a great wine to its best advantage. There are a variety of ways to store your wine glasses, but where you store them is also important. “I store all my glasses in a cabinet away from the kitchen,” says Wilson. “You do not want the aromas from cooking to come near the glasses. Also, the right amount of humidity is important, that’s why storing them in a wine cellar isn’t the right spot.” Typically white wine glasses have a smaller bowl holding around 8 to 10 ounces, and the universal glass, which is meant to be your go-to glass for both red and white wine, holds a bit closer to 12 to 16 ounces,” describes Rudzinski.Material: Lead-free crystal | Capacity: 8.1 ounces | Dimensions (HxW): 8.9 x 2.7 inches | Dishwasher safe: Yes I guess we should start with the most important question: Does a glass really make a difference to a wine’s taste? After copious research and testing, I can tell you that glassware does matter to your enjoyment of wine. Certain glass shapes and materials do enhance wine’s aroma and flavor—and some even detract from it! I tested several highly regarded wine glasses and found the best premium, mid-tier, and affordable options for all kinds of wine drinkers. Even though it is crafted from machine-made crystal, the glass feels delicate and elegant enough to upgrade your daily drinking routine (though at this price point, you won’t flinch if you break one).

The Pinot Noir glass did equally well with red Burgundy, Nebbiolo, Bordeaux and more tannic reds. Fuller whites were even slightly better in this one than in the Zalto. The white wine glass enhances the aromas of German Riesling, Italian whites like Fiano, and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This glass won our product test of the best wine glasses and is widely considered the gold standard of glassware by wine connoisseurs and professionals alike—it’s definitely worth the splurge. Slightly Less Money but Still Great: Riedel Veritas Ask any professional, and they’ll tell you that Zalto is somewhat of an icon in the world of wine, with the Denk’Art line among its most widely beloved. This Austrian brand was even one of the first to introduce hand-crafted and mouth-blown functional glasses to the market, according to Shira Tsiddon, sommelier at The Norman Hotel in Tel Aviv. The beauty of these 23-ounce style-specific glasses, she says, is the combination of elegant, clean lines, thoughtful design inspired by the Earth’s tilt angles, and its versatility to function in a fine dining setting and a cabinet at home.For wine lovers who appreciate a good value, the Angle glasses from Williams Sonoma offer a great deal of quality at a very affordable price. Tall and well-proportioned with a recognizable Bordeaux-style look, the glass had a classic yet modern appearance, and we found it to be reminiscent of the much more expensive Josephine glasses. It performed equally well for both red and white wines, highlighting the aromatics well and providing plenty of room for swirling with its large capacity.

Glasses should be cleaned with hot water or washed with a small amount of neutral soap. I always make sure to rinse out the glasses immediately after use to avoid any staining. At home with some very delicate glasses, I will often just clean very well with really hot water,” describes Rudzinski. Material: Hand-blown crystal | Capacity: 25.9 ounces | Dimensions (HxW): 9.1 x 4.3 inches | Dishwasher safe: Yes Mark Thomas’ glasses are known for their unique profile and sommelier-loved quality. Made with lead-free crystal the glasses can survive years of dishwashing without clouding up. They have a shorter stem, which gives you more grip when swirling and aerating and makes them more stable to hold. When buying a set of universal-style wine glasses to use at home, the key is to find an option that delivers high quality at an affordable price—enter the Zwiesel Glas Verbelle Wine Glasses, offered in a set of six. With a tall, thin profile, and crafted in a classic Bordeaux style, the Verbelle earns high marks for appearance. We weren't bothered by the rounded lip of this glass, sometimes a marker of a cheaper option, because it wasn't distracting and didn't take away from the tasting experience.If you drink a lot of wine, you know that cleanup is a really important factor. Although we’d all love to painstakingly clean our wine glasses by hand, dry them with a specialized micro-fiber towel, and set them in a well-lit display case for all to see their spotless gleam, most of us have jobs, many of us have families, and none of us want to waste time cleaning wine glasses at the end of the night. If it’s hard to care for a glass, that factors into its overall goodness. A Sommelier’s Final Thoughts on What to Buy When it comes to serves, Wilson notes that “Traditionally wine by the glass is served as a 6-ounce pour across the industry. Tasting pours or half glasses have been popular and may be served as a 2-ounce or 3-ounce pour.” Wine glasses range from small glasses of under two ounces for dessert and fortified wines to giant balloons that can hold nearly a whole bottle if you don’t stop pouring! Generally, you want glasses large enough to get some air in the wine. A standard pour is around 3-5 ounces, or about the bottom third of a tulip-shaped glass or the bottom quarter of a balloon-shaped glass. If you are not purchasing varietal-specific glasses, choose a glass with about an 8-ounce capacity for white wines and a 10- to 12-ounce capacity for reds to allow for that airspace. You should also consider cleanup; if you intend to put them in the dishwasher, be sure the stems are not so tall as to prevent them from fitting in your washer. Céline Bossart's entire journalistic career has been rooted in the world of beverage. Naturally, this involves extensive market research, which translates to a robust glassware collection built over the years. You don't necessarily have to look like a pro to perform like a pro—but it can't hurt! The Josephinenhütte Josephine No. 2 Universal Wine Glass offers the perfect way to step up your game when tasting wines in a professional context. From its teardrop shape to its delicate feel to its ideal balance, the No. 2 is an excellent choice for all wine pros, either active or aspiring. The unique shape of the glass enhances the aromas of white, red, and sparkling wines, making it an excellent option for those seeking a "universal" glass.