It’s fair to be picky about your glass choice. When ordering a drink out at a restaurant or bar, receiving it in a subpar glass can put a damper on the taste of even the most perfectly crafted drink. So why let yourself have the same disappointment when sipping at home? Your glass choice is more than just an aesthetic when drinking wine–it affects the taste, oxidation, and aromas.
A nicely crafted glass can enhance the tactile experience when drinking, expanding the enjoyment and pleasure that you can find sipping on your wine. Let’s first start by breaking down the two types of materials used to make wine glasses: crystal and glass. Depending on what you’re looking for, both options can have pros and cons that will alter your drinking endeavors.
Not actually made out of crystal or quartz rock, crystal wine glasses are made of silica and minerals such as zinc and magnesium or historically lead. This mix of minerals produces a structurally durable glass that can be spun thin, allowing crystal wine glasses to have their iconic crisp edge. Also known for their sleekness, they’re able to be carefully crafted with intricate cuts that allow for a sophisticated drinking experience.
As they seamlessly transition wine from glass to mouth, crystal makes an ideal choice for wine lovers looking for the fullest expression of their wine. Though they're more finicky, needing to be hand washed and polished.
Non-crystal wine glasses–typically made of glass–are materially less sound than crystal. Without the added minerals, glass is unable to be blown as thin as crystal, resulting in a bulkier feel in your hand and a thicker glass edge. Though, these glasses are cheaper, made of simple silhouettes, and hold up well to wear and tear over years of usage. Plus, they have the added bonus of being dishwasher safe.
As an inexpensive choice, glass is perfect for lovers of hosting as it’s an easy bulk buy for indulging in bottles with friends. But, it won't offer the same tactile experience when drinking as crystal.
Beyond the material your glass is made of, more intricate details including the shape of the bowl can alter your wine. A wine glass is broken down into 4 parts: the lip, bowl, stem, and base. The majority of variations in wine glasses are the bowl, as you may have noticed if you’ve ever encountered a huge glass suited for red wine.
There are hundreds of subtleties that can be found between red and white wine glasses, but there are a handful of classic glass styles that cover the majority of your wine drinking needs.
Typically used for Burgundy and Pinot Noir, this short stemmed glass contains a wide bowl with a narrow opening. This shape allows aromas to collect and when sipping, directs flavors across the sides of the tongue for full flavor intensity.
Often described as an oversized wine glass, this tall stem and large narrow bowl are typical for drinking Bordeaux, Cabernet, and Merlot. Unlike a Burgundy glass, the lips don’t curl in as the design allows more oxygen to decant the wine for the fullest flavor expression.
Shorter than the Bordeaux glass, this smaller bowl is ideal for medium to full-bodied reds such as Syrah, Shiraz, Sangiovese, and Malbec. The narrow bowl helps trap aromas while slight lip taper softens harsh flavors and spices as they gradually hit your palate.
From left to right: Burgundy Glass, Bordeaux Glass, Syrah Glass
Similar in shape to a Burgundy glass, the smaller statured Chardonnay glass offers a short stem and wide bowl. This gives full-bodied whites such as Chardonnay some breathing room while allowing scents to quickly hit the nose and flavors to rapidly hit the palette as soon as the glass is brought to your mouth.
This style of glass is denoted by its long stem and narrow bowl with a drastic taper. As with any taper, the amount of oxygen entering the glass is limited, allowing the wine’s aromas to further develop making for an exceptional nosing experience.
Made with an elongated bowl and narrow opening, the enclosed design prevents sugar from overpowering your sip. Perhaps the most interesting design, it’s best for wines that have residual sugars and notable mineral components as it allows a smooth seamless pour onto the palate.
Often boasting a medium sized bowl with a slightly tapered rim, an all purpose glass is the most versatile choice to balance and highlight the aromas of both red and white wines. If you’re not ready to splurge on specific glass types, start your glassware journey here.