6 Different Types Of Wine Glasses You Need
If you’re just beginning to develop your personal collection of wine glasses, you probably fall into one of two categories: you’re either overwhelmed by the variety of wine glasses out there and don’t know where to begin, or you didn’t realize until now that there were different types of wine glasses at all. In fact, there are countless types of wine glasses available, each with a different function and purpose. Wine glasses are carefully designed to provide the best wine drinking experience, and it’s important to use the right wine glasses in order to fully enjoy the depth of a wine’s potential.
Shopping for wine glasses doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Keep scrolling to learn about a variety of different wine glass types, as well as which wine glasses are the best fit for you.
What Are the Basic Elements of a Wine Glass?
To properly understand the difference between different types of wine glasses, you first need to understand the basic elements of a wine glass. There are two types of wine glasses, stemmed glasses and stemless glasses. Stemmed wine glasses are the traditional style of glass that you naturally associate with wine, while stemless glasses are sturdier and more informal. For the sake of this guide, we’ll be focusing on stemmed wine glasses.
Base
The base, or foot of the wine glass is what keeps the glass upright and stable. Different glasses will feature bases of different diameters.
Stem
The wine glass stem is what connects the base and the bowl of the glass. The stem is used to hold the wine glass and to maintain the wine’s temperature, making it a vital part of the glass – and the overall wine drinking experience.
Bowl
The bowl of the glass is what holds the wine itself. When shopping for wine glasses, the bowl is where you’ll see the biggest difference between types of glasses. Depending on the glass, it will be wide or narrow, tall or short. Standard procedure calls for filling a wine glass to the widest point of the bowl, thus allowing for the highest possible contact of wine and air. This lets the space above the wine collect aromas, enhancing your wine tasting.
Why Do You Need Different Wine Glass Types?
Drinking wine is an art, one that requires precision and care. Every detail matters as your wine drinking experience can be drastically altered by what may seem like even the smallest of factors. Wine drinking newbies might not think that a longer stem or wider bowl would make much of a difference, but that’s simply not the case. By learning about different types of wine glasses and building a collection of varying glasses, you can ensure that you always have a top-notch wine experience, even from the comfort of your own home.
The Wine Aficionado’s Guide to Different Types of Wine Glasses
Before diving into some of our favorite wine glasses on the market, let’s explore the basics of different wine glasses.
Red wine glasses tend to be some of the larger glasses in your collection. Red wines need room to breathe in order to fully release their aromas and flavors, so allowing your wine to have plenty of contact with oxygen is crucial to properly opening it up.
If you have a specific red wine that you turn to most frequently, it makes sense to invest in a wine glass crafted for that specific type of wine, such as a merlot glass or pinot noir glass. However, if you have yet to discover your favorite wine or prefer to drink a wide variety of wines, it makes the most sense to stick with a universal red wine glass.
White wines do not require the same amount of space that red wines do. As such, white wine glasses are smaller than red wine glasses. This also allows you to be closer to the wine as you sip, making it easier to distinguish the light aromas of white wine. White wine glasses generally taper at the rim in order to preserve those aromas by allowing less oxygen contact with the wine. They also tend to have longer stems in order to maintain proper temperature control and keep the wine cool.
The exception to the standard tapered bowl glass for white wines is the chardonnay glass, which is structured much more like a red wine glass with its large bowl and shorter stem. This allows for the fuller-bodied wine to fully release its flavor. It’s best to have both tapered glasses, such as sauvignon blanc glasses, as well as chardonnay glasses on hand, but you also have the option of sticking with a universal white wine glass – though it’s always recommended to make the investment in varietal-specific glasses.
Sparkling wine glasses are crafted with the goal of preserving a wine’s carbonation and flavor, ultimately upholding its integrity. Over the years, the coupe glass of the 1920s has predominantly given way to fluted and tulip wine glasses, both of which allow the bubbles of the sparkling wine to rise and trap carbonation. Aromas are directed toward the tongue instead of the nose so that the full, electric flavor can be fully enjoyed.
6 Different Types of Wine Glasses You Need
Just beginning your wine glass collection? Here are six different types of wine glasses that you need.
Riedel Champagne Wine Glass
Photo Credit: Jordan Winery
Preferred by champagne connoisseurs, the Riedel champagne wine glass from Jordan Winery elevates the aromas and flavors of champagne courtesy of the glass’s tapered rim, unlike traditional fluted champagne glasses.
Riedel Vinum Bordeaux Glass
Photo Credit: Jordan Winery
Developed by some of the most renowned wine experts, the Riedel Vinum bordeaux glass is carefully crafted for the ultimate bordeaux experience. Its tall, broad bowl allows for the perfect oxygenation of your wine’s mature, complex flavor.
Riedel Vinum Chardonnay Glass
Photo Credit: Jordan Winery
The perfect chardonnay glass features a wide, tall bowl with a long stem, perfect for maintaining temperature control of your wine. Designed by wine experts to highlight the dry, fruity nature of chardonnay.
Atelier Cabernet Red Wine Glasses
Photo Credit: Luigi Bormioli
Crafted to let the wine breathe and enhance your cabernet’s aroma diffusion, this contemporary yet elegant wine glass features an ultra-thin rim that takes your tasting experience to the next level.
Lismore Essence White Wine Glass
Photo Credit: Waterford
There’s nothing like Waterford, and their Lismore Essence white wine glass features a slender, modern take on the classic Lismore pattern that will make the subtlety of your white wine shine.
Glasvin Universal Wine Glass
Photo Credit: Wine.com
Perfect for every kind of wine, you can’t go wrong with the universal wine glass. No matter the varietal, this glass will allow the wine to sing, changing the way that you enjoy your nightly glass for the better.
Begin Your Wine Glass Collection With Our Favorite Different Types of Wine Glasses
The right glass will enhance your wine drinking experience like nothing else. To begin your wine glass collection, be sure to check out Jordan Winery’s collection of glasses and wine accessories for the perfect sip every time.
