If you are serious about drinking Wine — Good Wine, not the glorified grape juice that your grandparents enjoy– a set of best wine glasses ought to be on your shelf (if not in your Shopping Wishlist). There are different levels of wine glasses available, depending on whether you want to invest in the best stemware or get some starter glasses that will work for your roommates.
We spoke with some of the best wine experts to find out the best glasses for sipping. These included Andre Mac, an expert sommelier, designer, and winemaker; Grant Reynolds, cofounder and co-host at the Disgorgeous podcast; Cerise Zelenetz, the owner of Cherry on Top in Brooklyn, New York; Jen Pelka, the cofounder and co-host of Une Femme Wines, and John McCarroll the co-host and co-host at the Disgorgeous podcast.
The Best Wine Glasses Shop Guide
We asked experts to give us their picks for the best investment stemware as well as budget-friendly glasses that are worth buying. Here are the experts’ picks so you can browse quickly.
- The Best Wine Glass for Most Serious Vino Drinkers: Zalto Universal, $75
- The Best Budget Wine Glass: Riedel Zinfandel, $79 for a pair
- The Best Splurge-y Wine Glass: Josephinenhutte Josephine No.3, $185 for a pair
- LSA wicker is $48 per pair.
- The Best Stemless Wine Glass: Bormioli Rocco $55 per set of 12.
- The Best Vintage Wine Glass: 1980s Green-Stemmed Model, $54
How to Shop for Wine Glasses
McCarroll says that any vessel can be used as a wineglass in theory. He takes a more relaxed approach to drinking. McCarroll says that he uses AP glasses in his home. Some drinks are better than others, but the best ones are those that let you enjoy the wine without getting in your way. Nectar of gods! But rather suggest, “Yeah I’ll keep you wine safe.”
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He adds: “Don’t think you need to use a specific glass shape for a certain type of wine.” McCarroll says that burgundy-colored balloons can be fun when you are at a venue where they sell them. It’s like playing Miles Davis when you are having a date over. If that’s what you’re into, you can pour as much wine as you like.
Generally speaking, though, a traditional universal wine glass with a stem will help keep your fresh-from-the-fridge wine at its coolest, and a medium-sized option should fit a generous pour. Some drinks are dishwasher-safe, but others should be washed in the sink. Weight is important to some people, so choose a lighter glass.
Some wine glasses can be distinguished by their silhouette. Zalto glassware, created by Kurt Josef Zalto of sixth-generation Austrian glass artist Kurt Josef, is the top recommendation on this list. They claim that the angles (24 degrees and 48 degrees) of their glasses align with the tilting of the Earth and, therefore, enhance the taste and aroma of wine. This may sound a little woo-woo to you. However, their reputation in the wine world speaks for itself.
The best wine glasses start at around $70, and you won’t have to spend much to get a set that will aerate your wine to make it taste fresh. The best wine glasses are listed below for all types of wine drinkers.
