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. But, at roughly a third of the price per glass, this is still an excellent budget pick. 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. Everything I put in it, from champagne to bordeaux, shows beautifully. He's currently a staff writer at Eater, and hes the author of, We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best Thin glasses are widely considered to be better for drinking wine. many times. When it comes to serves, Wilson notes that Traditionally wine by the glass is served as a 6 ounce pour across the industry. Its light weight (five ounces) makes the Riedel Vinum feel graceful, and, despite its seeming delicacy, the crystal glass is dishwasher-safe. Use a delicate wash cycle if your dishwasher offers one.. This was the least expensive glass we tested, and it performed nearly as well as some of our other favorites. 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. Though they are whisper-thin and special-occasion worthy, pop them in the dishwasher when youre done with them. 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. Should you wash wine glasses in the dishwasher? Others described the glass as "average" and "middle-ground," neither of which is bad when you're evaluating a glass for its ability to perform well in many contexts. A high-quality wine glass can truly enhance your drinking experience, not to mention look stylish perched on your home bar. The insulated tumbler can hold up to half a bottle of wine, and it keeps your drink at the perfect temperature for hours. All products and services featured are independently selected by Forbes Vetted contributors and editors. On the day of the testing, we called in two experienced sommeliers to taste a variety of wines in each glass. It has a leakproof lid for easy transport and comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. 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. 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. It is shaped very similarly to the other classic glasses we tested, but is slightly bulkier, heavier, and less elegant. 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. Plus, theyre dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The Stolzle Eclipse Wine Glass is a great pick if you frequently host large parties or events. 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. These elegant crystal glasses from Riedel came out on top in our tests, impressing both professional sommeliers and casual wine-drinkers with their ability to capture the aromas of red, white, and bubbly wines. Its also worth considering whether or not you mind handwashing glasses or would find a dishwasher-safe glass more suited to your needs. Some serious doubts have been raised over whether this degree of wine-glass specialization really makes any difference. Very large bowl - not ideal for acidic whites or bubbles. 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. 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. Additionally, a stem allows for more control to swirl and aerate the wine - which displays more aromas.. Glass is cheaper, but crystal is a stronger material and will last longer. With these factors in mind, here are some of the best wine glasses for all types of wine lovers, as recommended by wine experts. 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. To identify a glass that delivered on taste and aroma, and didnt compromise on aesthetics, I called in the help of two expert sommeliers. "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." 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. And, for bubbles, we chose a Bohigas Brut Reserva Cava, a crisp, refreshing, and celebratory Cava. On average, how many ounces in a wine glass? 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. When I'm in a celebratory mood or feeling fancy and festive, I break out my Estelle Colored Glasses, which come in an array of beautiful jewel tones, says Cooper. 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]." Simply stated, life is simpler with a universal or all-purpose wine glass. productslearn more about, Schott Zwiesel Cabernet Wine Glasses (Set of 6), Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate Wine Glasses (Set of 4). Once the scores were in, we realized that several glasses were neck and neck (stem and stem? Related: The Best Gifts for Wine Lovers, According to Experts. The glass-like material is far stronger than crystal or glass, making these wine glasses resistant to bumps and drops. 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. Does the size of the wine glass opening allow space for a nose to poke in and inhale deeply? The Libbey's large bowl makes it a good match for red and white wines that need to decant and breathe. Learn more. This all-purpose set of Williams Sonoma red wine glasses is an absolute steal. 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 brand also offers matching decanters, martini glasses and more. Read Next: The Best Wine Decanters, According to Experts. Riedel is considered the inventor of the functional wine glass, says Torner. 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. If youre looking for a truly durable glass, Tritan glasses have become increasingly popular material for high-end glassware. 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. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. 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. The concept of buying varietal specific glasses is antiquated and can be quite overwhelming, notes Justin Wilson, the director of outlets at SAAM Lounge. 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. Cline Bossart's entire journalistic career has been rooted in the world of beverage. The smaller the bowl, the harder it is for all of those aromas to escape, describes Sighel. It comes with four red wine, four white wine and four champagne glasses, all of which are made from fine crystal. 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. 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. 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. Comparing glass and crystal durability is the main difference. Riedel still has the widest range of different style glass at the top level.. First, we poured the white wine into each glass, including the Riedel "ideal" glass. While this glass was rated well by most testers, its height and build might make it impractical for those with less storage space. Is the glass pretty, or does it feel and look cheap and clunky? 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. To choose our winners, we averaged the testers overall ratings for all the glasses and compared them. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. At home with some very delicate glasses I will often just clean very well with really hot water, describes Rudzinski. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best 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. Larger bowls allow for more oxygen to come in contact with the wine., What size glass is best for you? If youre looking for more professional glassware, I recommend Stolzle, as their products are elegant yet durable.". 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. This glass delivered quite well with red, white, and bubbly wines alike. People want to simplify the wine drinking experience, she says. ), 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. These crystal glasses are made in Austria by skilled craftsmen, and their signature curves offer a decanting effect. The beauty of these 23-ounce style-specific glasses, she says, is the combination of elegant, clean lines, thoughtful design inspired by the Earths tilt angles, and its versatility to function in both a fine dining setting and in a cabinet at home. White wine glasses tend to have longer stems, too, so the drinkers hand doesnt accidentally warm the chilled wine. Well, it depends on what you drink. 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. The best wine glass is the Riedel Vinum Grand Cru Riesling/Zinfandel Wine Glass and recommended by both professional sommeliers and casual wine-drinkers. Along with some members of the Serious Eats team, they sipped and tested their way through 10 wine glasses. When stocking Pinot Noir glasses (or glasses for any lighter-style red), this is an excellent place to start. The glasses can be cleaned in the dishwasher, and its a well-priced entry-level set for any home. You do not want the aromas from cooking to come near the glasses. For a budget-friendly pick, we like the Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Cabernet Glass, which comes in a set of six. (*pops collar; adjusts pinky ring*). That said, crystal glasses are more costly, and pricey to replace. 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. The narrow bowls and short stems make the Riedel Vinum wine glasses ideal for small kitchens where storage space is tight. 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. 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. Naturally, this involves extensive market research, which translates to a robust glassware collection built over the years. Its height and bowl size put it squarely in the middle of the road. If youre prone to breakage, or if youre planning to use these glasses every day, opt for a more durable material. 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. Elazar Sontag is a writer from Oakland, California, living in Brooklyn. Riedel was the first trendsetter of the modern wine glass era, using science to both produce and design wine glasses that enhance the flavor profile of different wines, says Jonathan Kleeman, head sommelier and wine buyer at Restaurant Story in London. Make sure to select the correct wine glass style for the beverage you will be serving so it is enjoyed to the fullest of its potential., Youll also want to consider the durability and care of the wine glasses. 2022 Forbes Media LLC. These 12-ounce glasses make for a great gift, especially given the option to monogram for an extra $12. Glasses should be cleaned with hot water or washed with a small amount of neutral soap. There are also several options available that are dishwasher friendly. Schott Zwiesel Sensa White Wine Glasses Review, The 8 Best Cognac Glasses in 2022, According to the Experts, Expert-Approved Red Wine Glasses for Any Occasion, Luigi Bormioli Atelier Pinot Noir Wine Glass Review, The 10 Best Martini Glasses of 2022, According to Experts, The 12 Best Whiskey Glasses in 2022, According to Experts, The 10 Best Gifts for Champagne Lovers in 2022, According to Experts, The 8 Best Champagne Glasses of 2022, According to Experts, We Tested the Best Wine DecantersHere Are the Results, The 7 Best Cocktail Mixing Glasses and Tins in 2022. 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. The Best Wine Fridges, According to Experts, The Best Gifts for Wine Lovers, According to Experts, The Best Wine Decanters, According to Experts. Get fresh recipes, cooking tips, deal alerts, and more! 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. Plus, the brand offers a limited lifetime warranty on the product. We Tested 7 Soda MachinesHere Are Our Favorites, The Best Kitchen-Related Mother's Day Gifts She Can Use, Valentine's Day Wine: The Best Sparkling Ross Under $30, Thanksgiving Wine Made Easy: A Sommelier's Advice, Ask a Sommelier: Tips for Thanksgiving Wine on a Budget, How to Save Money and Drink Good Wine This Thanksgiving, We Tested 13 Instant-Read ThermometersHere Are Our Favorite Models, Budget Wine Hall of Fame: 24 Great Bottles for $20 or Less. 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. 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. They can be used with red, white, sparkling and dessert wines, and the stemware is dishwasher-safe as well. The wide base of the bowl makes this a great red wine glass, while the narrow opening controls the aroma of lighter white wines. I now use them as my house glass.. You can take your wine on the go with this 16-ounce tumbler from BrMate. They really are! There are a wide variety of wine glass styles out there designed specifically to emphasize the aspects and personality of a certain style of wine, says sommelier Art DeCaro, director of training and cellar master for Waters Edge Wineries, which has multiple locations across the country. 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. For instance, beautiful, high end crystal glasses are often quite fragile and require hand-washing, which makes them less convenient to use. 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. 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. With so many styles available at a wide range of price points, shopping for wine glasses can be overwhelming. What we didn't like: For those with limited storage space, this glass might not be the best fit. Our favorite glass increased in price on Amazon during the testing, so we made sure to include among our winners several other excellent glasses that are quite affordable and still held their own throughout the tests. productslearn more about Tara Guthrie of San Antonios Chases Place continues, If you have lees or stains that have accumulated at the bottom, use a soft scrub brush, avoid trying to scrub the glass with your hands because the crystal could easily break and hurt you. These affordable options are made with lead-free, super-thin crystal. So we set out to find an inexpensive glass that delivered equally well with red, white, and sparkling wines. These stunning crystal wine glasses are a worthwhile splurge. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. 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. Grays has sharpened her skills working in bars and restaurants throughout New York City, including Anfora, Bouley, Terroir Park Slope, and Estela. Zwann Grays, the wine director at the celebrated Brooklyn restaurant Olmsted, joined us in the Serious Eats test kitchen, along with Andr Hueston Mack. We conducted the test in two rounds, first having our sommeliers test all the glasses, then repeating the same tests with Daniel, Sasha, and two other members of our editorial teamall with different levels of knowledge surrounding wine. Riedel glasses are designed to deliver an optimal sensory experience from your wine, with everything from the strength and thickness of the glass to the shape of the bowl carefully considered. Testers were also asked to rate each glass on how comfortable it was to drink from, taking note of the size of the mouth and the length of the stem. It was the first to develop specific glasses for each grape variety.. This wine glass from Zwiesel is specifically designed to complement white wines, particularly sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, rose, riesling, soave and chablis. Combining graceful structural lines with strong curvature, the German-made stemware is lead-free, break-resistant, and dishwasher safe. Bordeaux glasses also work well for a lot of old-world wines like Tuscans and Tempranillos.. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. DeCaro adds, Honestly, there are way too many styles out there, and who wants to collectand has the room to storeall of that glass? Whether you like red, white or sparkly wine, the best wine glasses will enhance your favorite drink. A high quality stemmed universal wine glass will accommodate most, if not all, wines across the spectrum.. They have a shorter stem, making them more stable to hold and gives you more grip when swirling and aerating. For those who prefer a slightly larger glass, the longer stem and taller bowl of this one will be a plus. Related: The Best Wine Fridges, According to Experts. 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. The sommeliers we spoke to agreed that the ideal all-purpose glass will have a thin lip and be relatively lightweight. Red wine glasses are larger than white wine glasses, and this set from Riedel works well for a wide range of red varietals. Get our best cocktail recipes, tips, and more when you sign up for our newsletter. 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. For a glass thats inexpensive and features a classic and practical design, the Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate All-Purpose Wine Glass takes the cake. 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. You can save yourself from needing frequent refills with this oversized red wine glass. Traditionally, large, rounded bowls showcased the more nuanced flavors of a red, while tighter, narrowed bowls are ideal for white varietals. A persons collection of wine glasses says a lot about where they are in the journey of adulthood. Crystal is more delicate but is the gold standard for wine glasses. 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. The set of six is made from Tritan crystal glass, and the silhouettes sharp lines give the glasses a geometric appearance. 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 wont flinch if you break one). Is It Better To Lease Or Buy A Car In Summer 2022? 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. Drinking wine is a sensory experience, and has as much to do with what you smell as what you taste. 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. The unique, modern Double Bend design enhances the characteristics of the wine, says Kleeman. The main reason here is keeping the temperature of the wine constant. 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.. She has been writing about the bar and spirits world for five years, including extensive coverage on glassware. Mack saw the glass and immediately identified it as one he drinks from at home, a longtime favorite. 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. our process. The price per glass is extremely low, and the glasses come in sets of six, as opposed to two or four. For parties or rowdier hangs, stemless glasses are less likely to get knocked over. I always make sure to rinse out the glasses immediately after use to avoid any staining. 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. If you frequently serve prosecco or other sparkling wines, these crystal flutes are a must-have. This set of 12 wine glasses from Riedel offers everything you need to outfit your home bar. Apparently, a Mason jar is not the correct vessel from which to drink wine. What we didn't like: The bulkiness of this glass does make it noticeably heavier than our other winners; it weighs in at almost seven ounces. 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. Drinking from stemless has its place, explains Key. 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. What we didn't like: Weighing six and a quarter ounces, and standing taller than most of the other glasses we tested, this glass is something of a statement piece, but it may be impractical for those with less storage space. Amazon Promo Codes | 50% Off In July 2022 | Forbes, PwC Cloud and Digital Transformation BrandVoice, How To Earn Cash Rewards For Everyday Spending.