For our red, we went with the 2014 Chteau Beausjour "Pentimento" Bordeaux blend from Montagne-Saint-milion, an earthy wine that benefits from breathing before it's served. Everything I put in it, from champagne to bordeaux, shows beautifully. While most of us have neither the storage space nor the budget to have a set of Riedel glasses on hand for every variety of wine, our top pickRiedels Vinum glassesare an excellent all-rounder. 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Best Overall: Riedel Vinum Viognier/Chardonnay Glasses, Best for Red Wine: Williams Sonoma Angle Red Wine Glasses, Best for White Wine: Schott Zwiesel Sensa White Wine Glasses, Best Specialized Red: Luigi Bormioli Atelier Pinot Noir Wine Glass, Best Splurge: Zalto Denk'Art Bordeaux Wine Glass, Most Unique: Mark Thomas Double Bend Glass. For a glass thats inexpensive and features a classic and practical design, the Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate All-Purpose Wine Glass takes the cake. Zwann Grays, the wine director at the celebrated Brooklyn restaurant Olmsted, joined us in the Serious Eats test kitchen, along with Andr Hueston Mack. Once the scores were in, we realized that several glasses were neck and neck (stem and stem? It is shaped very similarly to the other classic glasses we tested, but is slightly bulkier, heavier, and less elegant. She drinks from Riedels Ouverture every day, from a Waterford vintage cut crystal when shes feeling fancy, and a Josephinenhutte when shes breaking out the good stuff. The angular silhouette of these striking 22-ounce glasses is more aesthetically pleasing than technically designedthe functionality of the bowls lies in their middle-of-the-road width and shape, making them versatile enough to accommodate any red wine style. The Best Wine Fridges, According to Experts, The Best Gifts for Wine Lovers, According to Experts, The Best Wine Decanters, According to Experts. We considered only glasses with basic designs (though one etched glass snuck into the group) and set a price cap for all of our glasses at $25 apiecethough our winning glass went up a bit in price after we started working on this review. These crystal glasses are made in Austria by skilled craftsmen, and their signature curves offer a decanting effect. The double-bend design also serves as a measuring tool for the perfect pourthe first bend is for wine tasting, and the second bend is an average serving size. There are also several options available that are dishwasher friendly. DeCaro adds, Honestly, there are way too many styles out there, and who wants to collectand has the room to storeall of that glass? Our other sommelier unfavorably compared the stem to "cankles," but noted that otherwise the glass "hits on all points" and is a good fit for red, white, and sparkling wines. Red wine glasses are larger than white wine glasses, and this set from Riedel works well for a wide range of red varietals. When stocking Pinot Noir glasses (or glasses for any lighter-style red), this is an excellent place to start. If you frequently serve prosecco or other sparkling wines, these crystal flutes are a must-have. The necessary basic glass styles every wine connoisseur should have in their cupboard are red, white, dessert and sparkling.. Once testers had evaluated the physical appearance and general comfort-in-hand of each glass, they were tasked with smelling and sipping their way through the lineup. In addition to the 10 glasses being tested, we also provided each tester with a "control" glass for both red and white wine, both engineered by Riedel specifically for the wines we were pouring, both approved by our expert sommeliers, and both far outside of our price range. To test the glasses' all-purpose-ness, after discussion with our expert sommeliers, we chose three wines that are interesting and assertive but inexpensive enough that an average drinker might end up pouring them at their own dinner table. The Double Bend Allround is hand-blown from lead-free crystal, and it can be used to serve full-bodied red and white wines. Kathryn Maier, Editor. but it's also a great glass for Chardonnay. If youre prone to breakage, or if youre planning to use these glasses every day, opt for a more durable material. Though the glass is relatively compact, it's still considerably taller and wider than our winning Riedel Vinum glass, but weighs in at five and a half ounces, only a half ounce more than the Riedel Vinum. Testers were first asked to rate, on a scale of 1 to 10, the glass's overall appearance, noting everything from aesthetics to any issues they might have fitting a certain glass upright in their cupboard. It has a leakproof lid for easy transport and comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. The Stolzle Eclipse Wine Glass is a great pick if you frequently host large parties or events. A sommelier tester noted that this glass had a build very similar to that of the Libbey, only bulkier and with a significantly thicker stem. These factors will greatly affect the experience even for the most untrained drinker. Ask any professional, and theyll tell you that Zalto is somewhat of an icon in the world of wine, with the DenkArt line among its most widely beloved. This set of 12 wine glasses from Riedel offers everything you need to outfit your home bar. Plus, the brand offers a limited lifetime warranty on the product. Above all else, an all-purpose glass should be practical enough that you'll want to use it every time youre having a glass of wine, not just when you're hosting a fancy dinner party. The glasses can be cleaned in the dishwasher, and its a well-priced entry-level set for any home. For eye-catching wine glasses, you cant go wrong with Estelle Colored Glass wine glasses. Traditionally, large, rounded bowls showcased the more nuanced flavors of a red, while tighter, narrowed bowls are ideal for white varietals. The Angle glass can hold its own atop any tablescape, elaborate or not. Once testers had finished with the white, there were snack breaks (to cleanse the palate, of course) before we repeated the same test for sparkling and then red wine. On average, how many ounces in a wine glass? Comparing glass and crystal durability is the main difference. Crystal is more delicate but is the gold standard for wine glasses. "These wine glasses may be pricey, but the thin lip, light weight and elegant stem of a Zalto glass show off a great wine to its best advantage." Do you need different glasses for different wine? Drinking wine is a sensory experience, and has as much to do with what you smell as what you taste. With these factors in mind, here are some of the best wine glasses for all types of wine lovers, as recommended by wine experts. The Best All-Purpose Wine Glass: Riedel Vinum Grand Cru Riesling/Zinfandel Wine Glass, The Best Affordable Modern Glass: Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Cabernet Glass, The Best Affordable Classic Glass: Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate All-Purpose Wine Glass, The Best Budget Glass: Stolzle Eclipse Wine Glass, The Criteria: What We Look for in a Great All-Purpose Wine Glass, We Tested 19 Wine Openers to Find the Best Ones. Very large bowl - not ideal for acidic whites or bubbles. Thin glasses are widely considered to be better for drinking wine. You may opt-out by. A persons collection of wine glasses says a lot about where they are in the journey of adulthood. When I'm lounging around watching my favorite Netflix show, I like to drink from my Crate & Barrel Hip Large Red Wine Glass, simply because the bowl is so big and regal, says wine culture expert Chasity Cooper. The Libbey's large bowl makes it a good match for red and white wines that need to decant and breathe. Naturally, this involves extensive market research, which translates to a robust glassware collection built over the years. Some serious doubts have been raised over whether this degree of wine-glass specialization really makes any difference. Some universal options go with all wines, while others pair best with whites, reds or specific varietals, allowing you to tailor your set to your personal wine preferences. Does the size of the wine glass opening allow space for a nose to poke in and inhale deeply? These glasses offer a 21-ounce capacity. Should you wash wine glasses in the dishwasher? These tumblers come in a set of two, and you can choose from several shapes to suit your preferred varietalthe brand offers glasses for cabernet/merlot, champagne, riesling/sauvignon blanc and more. Inhaling the aroma of the white and red wines from this glass, our testers found their fragrance much more pronounced and developed than in many of the other contenders, which left the wine smelling rather flat. Todays best wine glasses come in all sorts of shapes and sizes to match your imbibingand decorstyle. The wider middle of the tulip helps create more surface area for the bubbles to form and express the wines aromatics. Bordeaux glasses also work well for a lot of old-world wines like Tuscans and Tempranillos.. If youre looking for more professional glassware, I recommend Stolzle, as their products are elegant yet durable.". Made with lead-free crystal the glasses can survive years of dishwashing without clouding up. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. If you like to sip on a glass of wine outside on the patio or while sitting by the pool, this set of unbreakable plastic wine glasses is a useful investment. For parties or rowdier hangs, stemless glasses are less likely to get knocked over. Trust me, I've drunk wine out of coffee mugs, cereal bowls, etc. The brand also offers matching decanters, martini glasses and more. Riedels glasses (view at Amazon) are a catch-all option for wine lovers: pick between the brands single-varietal glasses, or the more easy, every-day, machine-blown glasses. A busy restaurant or bar will need something a bit more durable while your home collection might get less use and can be more delicate. She has been writing about the bar and spirits world for five years, including extensive coverage on glassware. While this glass was rated well by most testers, its height and build might make it impractical for those with less storage space. The shape, clarity, and ability to be made very thin all add to the overall quality, says Mara Rudzinski, the sommelier at Contento in Harlem, Hand Blown glasses are much lighter and more fragile than machine-made glasses. Using SON.hyx, the brands own patented process, the Italian glassware company has created an impressively shock-resistant, highly brilliant, and crystal-clear dishwasher safe glass thatthanks to laser-cut rims, titanium reinforcement, and seam-free stemsis comparable as many of the more top-shelf options on the market. It comes with four red wine, four white wine and four champagne glasses, all of which are made from fine crystal. I stick to a Bordeaux glass as it's the most malleable of the wine glasses, says Jonathan Key, the beverage and bar manager of The Preacher's Son and Undercroft. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Its height and bowl size put it squarely in the middle of the road. Glasses should be cleaned with hot water or washed with a small amount of neutral soap. Red wine glasses tend to have wide, tall bowls that let the strong, full-bodied flavors of red wines develop and breathe, while white wine glasses are usually narrower, designed to deliver the wines lighter aromas and flavors in a more controlled way. The Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Cabernet Glass is a great, relatively inexpensive glass. Tasting pours or glasses have been popular and may be served as a 2 ounce or 3 ounce pour., Different types of glass or crystal are more appropriate for various environments, describes Diane Clemenhagen of Geraldines Austin. A high quality stemmed universal wine glass will accommodate most, if not all, wines across the spectrum.. The glassware does not stop me from having my wine, but there is nothing like having a glass that perfectly fits you and your tastes in wine. They can also be cleaned and stored more easily than stemware. Beyond these basic differences, hundreds of glasses have been designed with particular varietals in mind, claiming to harness each one's aroma and send the wine to just the right taste buds in your mouth. What we liked: One tester appreciated the Schott Zwiesel glasss "very modern lines," while another said it looked like something "theyd drink out of on an episode of Billions." One of the major superiorities about Zalto Denk'Art Wine Glasses lies in how light [they are], says Tsiddon. These affordable options are made with lead-free, super-thin crystal. Made in Germany, the glasses durability is perhaps their best featurethe innovative material, which is made using patented titanium technology, bridges the gap between superfine glassware and the dishwasher-safe realm. Even if I did have room for a plethora of glasses, I'd still have neither the wine expertise nor the budget to justify them all. White wine glasses tend to have longer stems, too, so the drinkers hand doesnt accidentally warm the chilled wine. Typically, in outdoor or just very casual settings, a stemless is acceptable when drinking lower-priced wines. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Here are some of the industrys top picks for any occasion. Wines vary, of course, and different glass shapes can help or hinder any given wine's expression. People want to simplify the wine drinking experience, she says. My new go-to is the Gabriel Glas StandArt One for All glass, says sommelier Melissa L. Smith, founder and proprietor of Enotrias, a California-based elite sommelier service. The Best Handheld Vacuums For Quick And Easy Cleaning, Get Up To $200 In Samsung Credit When You Sign Up To Pre-Order Its New Phones, Smartwatches And Earbuds, The Best Under-Eye Patches To Combat Dark Circles, Fine Lines And Puffiness, The 11 Best Dehumidifiers To Protect Your Home, Health And Pets, 10 Of The Best Laptop Bags To Carry As You Travel, Commute And Work In 2022, 9 Summer Nail Colors To Inspire Your Next Manicure, The 8 Best Hoverboards And Self-Balancing Scooters For Fun, Safe Travel, Riedel 00 Collection 001 Red Wine Glasses, Zwiesel Glas Tritan Pure Stemware Collection, Mark Thomas Double Bend Allround Wine Glass, Stolzle Lausitz Quatrophil Champagne Glass. Simply stated, life is simpler with a universal or all-purpose wine glass. A high-quality wine glass can truly enhance your drinking experience, not to mention look stylish perched on your home bar. They are all unique and one of a kind describes Justin Wilson, the director of outlets at SAAM Lounge. 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. Viskis options are a little more elegant than most stemless options on the market, with organic lines and curves inspired by cacti. He's currently a staff writer at Eater, and hes the author of, We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best These glasses come in a set of four, and the shape of the glass helps to release the aromas of red wine and balance tannins. If youre looking for a single wine glass that will perform well with a wide range of varietals, the One for All crystal glass should be a top choice. 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. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Bordeaux glasses are meant for your main Bordeaux grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, etc.) That said, To a regular consumer, the machine-made glasses quality is so high right now that most people wont be able to tell a difference.. First, we poured the white wine into each glass, including the Riedel "ideal" glass. This all-purpose set of Williams Sonoma red wine glasses is an absolute steal. These stunning crystal wine glasses are a worthwhile splurge. What we liked: The Stolzle Eclipse is a great budget-conscious choice for a starter set of glasses, or for anyone who needs a larger number of glasses at a decent price for an event, since they come in sets of six. The unique, modern Double Bend design enhances the characteristics of the wine, says Kleeman. Riedel still has the widest range of different style glass at the top level.. ), so we decided to lend slightly more weight to the quantitative ratings of our expert sommeliers in order to help break ties and set our winners apart. Cline Bossart's entire journalistic career has been rooted in the world of beverage. Ive noticed that people arent into individual glass shapes as much as they used to be, says Doreen Winkler, a natural wine sommelier and founder of the wine club Orange Glou. Whether you like red, white or sparkly wine, the best wine glasses will enhance your favorite drink. Testers were asked to score each glass, again using a scale of 1 to 10, on how well it performed with the red wine, white wine, and Cava, then gave a final overall score for each glass, taking all of their prior notes and ratings into account. What we liked: One drinker from the Serious Eats team called the Riedel Vinum glass a "stunner," while one of the sommeliers called it a "nice little package for every day [drinking]." Get our best cocktail recipes, tips, and more when you sign up for our newsletter. They have a shorter stem, making them more stable to hold and gives you more grip when swirling and aerating. With so many styles available at a wide range of price points, shopping for wine glasses can be overwhelming. Grays has sharpened her skills working in bars and restaurants throughout New York City, including Anfora, Bouley, Terroir Park Slope, and Estela. This particular collection was first launched in 1986, but the glassware company has been around since the mid-18th century and is credited with pioneering varietal-specific stemware. The narrow bowls and short stems make the Riedel Vinum wine glasses ideal for small kitchens where storage space is tight. You can save yourself from needing frequent refills with this oversized red wine glass. A great wine glass accentuates and captures a wines aroma, directing its smell to your nose, while allowing the wine to open up and breathe in the bowl. If youre opening something special, Zaltos high-end options (view at Amazon) are bar-none. Kate Dingwall is an experienced spirits writer and WSET-trained sommelier with an award-winning restaurant group. You dont need a burgundy wine glass to drink burgundy. Still, specialized glasses will always have their place in fine dining and for the serious, at-home drinker. This glass has sharper angles than the other glasses we tested, which feature traditional curved shapes leading to tapered openings, and also stands slightly taller than many of the others, giving it a modern feel. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. With a shorter stem and smaller bowl than most of the other glasses we tested, the Riedel Vinum is unassuming and compact, perfect for smaller kitchens with less space for storage. The glass-like material is far stronger than crystal or glass, making these wine glasses resistant to bumps and drops. The set of four is available in both 12- and 20-ounce sizes, and the glasses are made from durable BPA-free plastic thats dishwasher safe. That said, crystal glasses are more costly, and pricey to replace. Apparently, a Mason jar is not the correct vessel from which to drink wine. Testers described it as "classic" and "universal," and rated it well for red, white, and sparkling wine. Related: The Best Gifts for Wine Lovers, According to Experts. Here are a few notes on the other glasses we tested for this review: Though many wine glasses are labeled as dishwasher-safe, washing by hand is the best way to ensure that glasses wont smack together during the cleaning cycle or end up with pesky detergent residue. These glasses are hand-blown in Poland, and they come in sets of six, with or without stems. And, for bubbles, we chose a Bohigas Brut Reserva Cava, a crisp, refreshing, and celebratory Cava. I always make sure to rinse out the glasses immediately after use to avoid any staining. For instance, beautiful, high end crystal glasses are often quite fragile and require hand-washing, which makes them less convenient to use. The idea of owning a fancy wine glass for each style of wine you drink is nice, but for the average consumer, its just not realistic; for most folks, even owning separate sets for red and white is a bit much. Glass is cheaper, but crystal is a stronger material and will last longer. Thin glassware allows more light to pass through (all the better for admiring a wines color) and provides a more convenient rim from which to sip.. To select these glasses, we compared winners from other tests, and asked several respected sommeliers what their favorite all-purpose glasses are for red and white wines. Well, it depends on what you drink. Additionally, a stem allows for more control to swirl and aerate the wine - which displays more aromas.. productslearn more about, Schott Zwiesel Cabernet Wine Glasses (Set of 6), Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate Wine Glasses (Set of 4). productslearn more about If youre looking for a truly durable glass, Tritan glasses have become increasingly popular material for high-end glassware. On a technical level, these glasses are designed with lighter-bodied white wines in mind (think Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc, and the like), though they would serve any style well. With price, functionality, and appearance in mind, we set out to find an attractive all-purpose glass ideal for sipping red, white, and even sparkling wine. Neither, Ive been told, is a plastic pint container, emptied of potato salad, cleaned, and repurposed for Chablis or Chardonnay. But it isn't just taste or even smell that determines whether we enjoy our drinking experience. Next, testers rated each glass for its feel in their hands, noting whether they liked it or if it seemed unbalanced, bulky, or unexpectedly heavy. At home with some very delicate glasses I will often just clean very well with really hot water, describes Rudzinski. 2022 Forbes Media LLC. To start, we selected 10 wine glasses, ranging in price from $3 to $29 each. But, at roughly a third of the price per glass, this is still an excellent budget pick. They can be used with red, white, sparkling and dessert wines, and the stemware is dishwasher-safe as well. High tech meets luxury and affordability in Luigi Bormiolis Atelier collection. Though they are whisper-thin and special-occasion worthy, pop them in the dishwasher when youre done with them. I now use them as my house glass.. Learn more. 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 youre looking for something that looks and feels luxurious, these Bordeaux glassesdesigned for rich, full-bodied redsare your best bet. Along with some members of the Serious Eats team, they sipped and tested their way through 10 wine glasses. Cline Bossart is a freelance journalist and photographer based in New York, specializing in wine, spirits and travel. The Zwiesel wine classics are a gourmet glass series focused on straightforward and concise design, explains Timo Torner, founder of Cocktail Society, a website dedicated to cocktail recipes, tips and more. They really are! Expressive, low-acid wines thrive in Riedels 12.38-ounce crystal VINUM Viognier/Chardonnay glasses. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. To identify a glass that delivered on taste and aroma, and didnt compromise on aesthetics, I called in the help of two expert sommeliers. A tulip flute is a great choice [for prosecco], as the long stem allows you to avoid holding the glass and warming up what should be a chilled wine, says Jessica Tomei, winemaker at Cupcake Vineyards, a brand that offers an assorted collection of finely-crafted wines. The goblets have a high, curved chimney and a slightly lipped mouth rimthis allows the aromas to be perceived particularly authentically and intensively., For everyday use, Riedel offers a range of stemless wine tumblers that are less delicate than traditional stemware. The price per glass is extremely low, and the glasses come in sets of six, as opposed to two or four. Getting insights from wine experts, though, can ease the processespecially now that the wine scene is moving toward a more pared-down approach to glassware. Flavors of Oakland: A Cookbook in 20 Stories, Riedel Vinum Grand Cru Riesling/Zinfandel Wine Glass, Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Cabernet Glass, Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate All-Purpose Wine Glass, whether this degree of wine-glass specialization really makes any difference. What we didn't like: For those with limited storage space, this glass might not be the best fit. Find a brush with a 16 inch handle and the ability to bend it for use on decanters or easy access to hard-to-reach red wine stains., I store all my glasses in a cabinet away from the kitchen, says Wilson. What we liked: While this glass may not wow with its design, many testers noted that simplicity was a plus when looking for a great all-purpose glass. Use a delicate wash cycle if your dishwasher offers one.. Amazon Promo Codes | 50% Off In July 2022 | Forbes, PwC Cloud and Digital Transformation BrandVoice, How To Earn Cash Rewards For Everyday Spending. The Libbey was designed to be all-purpose, and it delivers on that promise. You do not want the aromas from cooking to come near the glasses. It can be overwhelming with all the choices available; I would recommend starting with a few all-purpose glasses since it works for red and whites. This was the least expensive glass we tested, and it performed nearly as well as some of our other favorites. While there will always be discourse around what glass is perfect for whites and reds, Riedels everyday-ready glass makes a case for sipping everything out of the same glass. Riedel is considered the inventor of the functional wine glass, says Torner. Mack saw the glass and immediately identified it as one he drinks from at home, a longtime favorite. While they are red wine glasses, I enjoy white and sparkling wines from them too. The glass holds up to 31 ounces, and its dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. So we set out to find an inexpensive glass that delivered equally well with red, white, and sparkling wines. many times. Drinking from stemless has its place, explains Key. Theyre also dishwasher-safe for your convenience. A good rule is the less you use it, the more delicate you can go and vice versa., Stem versus no-stem is a personal choice however, Rudzinski, notes While I am not opposed to stemless models of glassware I would always select a wine glass with a stem. Until recently, my wine glass collection didnt exactly scream, "Im a functioning grown-up with a savings account!" Larger bowls allow for more oxygen to come in contact with the wine., What size glass is best for you? This can make finding a single, universal wine glass something of a challenge. All products and services featured are independently selected by Forbes Vetted contributors and editors. It is elegant, durable and has a modern shape. Grays observed that the tall bowl helped to open up and accentuate the aroma of all the wines she tasted, offering "slow and steady" gratification. Mack owns a wine company and has worked as a sommelier at The French Laundry and Per Se; in 2003, he was named Best Young Sommelier in America by the long-standing French gastronomic society Chane des Rtisseurs.