The Best Wine Glasses for Your Money, According to Sommeliers
Why do you need a special glass for wine, anyway? If you wanted, you could poor your wine into a regular glass, or even a random coffee mug or a Red Solo plastic cup. But you'd only be getting half the experience, wine experts say.
Enjoying wine is about savoring the complex flavors inside each bottle. (Well, that and getting a little buzzed.) The way you unlock those flavors is to expose your wine to oxygen, and a good wine glass is key to that.
Most wine glasses are bigger on the bottom and narrow on top. This design makes it easier to swirl your pour around and unleash the flavors. A well-made wine glass also allows you to stick your nose in the glass to properly enjoy the rich aromas.
Also, frankly, the best wine glasses just look nice and fancy. We can't deny that presentation is important, especially when you're having guests over for a dinner party.
So whether you're a hardcore oenophile with a wine cellar in your basement, or you're perfectly happy to to pick up some cheap Yellow Tail at the grocery store, it's worth it to spend a little more on quality wine glasses. We asked some wine experts and sommeliers which ones they recommend you pair with your vino.
Best Wine Glasses
Prestee Stemless Plastic Wine Glasses: $26.99
Setting out your fancy glasses for a simple cocktail party can seem a bit unnecessary, especially if you have a larger gathering of guests. These disposable 9-ounce champagne flutes are the perfect choice for celebrating in style without breaking the bank. The Prestee Stemless Plastic Wine Glasses are durable enough to satisfy your guests, made with shatterproof, non-toxic, and durable plastic, replicating real glass flutes.
They feature a gold “Cheers” design for festive fun and they are crack-resistant and have flat bottoms, so you can have peace of mind. They also have smooth rounded rims and slightly tapered sides for easy gripping to avoid spills. Cleanup is easy; simply toss them in the trash bin at the end of the night. These champagne flutes also double as a fun party favor and you can re-wash and re-use them as you please.
Riedel Vivant Wine Glass, Set of 4: $64.99
The idea of having a different glass for different types of wine might be a bit intimidating, but Paige Comrie has a low-pressure suggestion to make it easier. Comrie is a certified American Wine Expert, Wine Educator, and wine blogger based in San Francisco.
"Riedel is my go-to glassware recommendation for people of any price point. Back in 1958, Joseph Riedel began experimenting with the idea that different glassware could enhance the aromas and flavor profiles of certain wines," she says. "In the Riedel collection, you'll find a different glassware shape for every varietal in existence. Their wine glasses are perfectly shaped, well-balanced, and the glass is thin enough that it doesn't get in your way as you taste through wines."
Ravenscroft Crystal Amplifier Vintners Crystal Tasting Glass, Set of 4: $53.99
If you really, really want to get into wine, eventually you will need to know where to put your fingers on the glass so as to swish with maximum impact without your body heat disrupting the taste. Doreen Winkler has a suggestion that might help in this department. Winkler is a natural wine sommelier, consultant, and founder of Orange Glou, the first wine subscription service and wine bar popup devoted solely to skin-contact (orange) wines.
Winkler likes the Ravenscroft tasting glass, which is made "by old-world European craftsmen of the finest lead-free crystal," she says. "These are the perfect all-purpose tasting glass for all types of wines and very uniquely shaped!"
To be more specific, Winkler says, "The glasses beautifully showcase wines and the stemless design with both a thumb and index punt allows you to hold it without body heat affecting the wine’s temperature. The bowl is large enough to capture a wine's full aroma, without being so big as to over-aerate the pour."
Bottega del Vino: From $60 (unavailable at Amazon)
Sometimes the right choice is crystal clear. Rachael Lowe is a Food & Wine “Sommelier of the Year,” and a two-time James Beard Award nominee for her work at Chicago’s famed Italian restaurant, Spiaggia. She says that “if you’re looking to splurge, Bottega del Vino is my favorite line. We actually use it in the main dining room of Spiaggia. It’s some of the most elegant stemware I have ever worked with."
Lowe adds that the glasses are "originally handblown in the Veneto and linked to the famous wine bar located in the heart of Verona. This crystal is absolutely beautiful and offers a diverse line from which to draw."
Gabriel Glas Gold Edition: $71
There's no doubt that the Riedel brand is one of the most respected and recommended in the wine world. But if their highest-quality glasses are a bit out of your price range, Matt Crafton, Head Winemaker of California's Chateau Montelena suggests the Gabriel Glas Gold Edition. "It’s pretty close to the ideal Swiss army knife glass in that you can use it for pretty much any wine and it costs about half of the Riedel Bordeaux Grand Cru glass," he says. "I’ve seen people cry when they break those."
Best Wine Glasses: Value Choices
Spiegelau Bourdeaux Wine Glasses, Set of 4: $31.46
You don't have to spend a lot of money to have a nice set of wine glasses. But be careful, as if you go too cheap you might have a set that breaks too easily, especially in the dishwasher.
Fred Dex is a New York-based Master Sommelier, and he thinks that "Spiegelau to me are the best consumer options. They are the most inexpensive and best overall value in wine glasses you can find," he says, adding that "I bought two sets on Amazon. They are durable, dish washable and the best value out there."
Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Glass, Set of 6: $63.33
Vivi notes that "if you are tight on the budget, then you should consider Schott Zwiesel glasses," which he says "is not far behind from Riedel, but the price is! The volume and shape are usually great in these products, as well. At home, I have Riedel for my leisure and Schott Zwiesel for our little wine parties in the backyard."
Gabriel-Glas Austrian Crystal Wine Glass, Set of 2: $62.50
OK, so this isn't exactly a budget/value choice. But if you’re willing to spend a bit more, Dex also recommends this brand from Austria, as it "performs amazingly over an arc of any wine from Champagne to Napa Cabernet and everything in between."
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