Wine Glass Shapes: The Best Glasses by Type
Pair your wine with the right glass.
Whether you're hosting a dinner party, entertaining friends, or relaxing on the patio after work, a bottle of wine (or two) may make an appearance. You may have discovered all of your favorite reds and whites, but do you know which wine glass shapes are best for bringing out the aromas and flavors for each type of wine? We've put together a wine glass guide to help you become your own at-home sommelier.
Wine Glass Designs
Every wine needs a little help to shine and taste its best – which is why there is a wide range of glass shapes to choose from. Keep reading below for the different characteristics of red and white wine glass designs.
Red Wine Glass Design
A standard red wine glass is easy to recognize by its full bowl and large rim. The taste of red wine depends heavily on it coming into contact with air to help oxidize the tannins for a smoother taste and aroma. The wide rim and full, round bowl let the strong smell and flavor of red wines aerate and open up as you sip. Another reason for the larger bowl is to make swirling the wine easier, so you can view the wine's viscosity and color for a full tasting experience.
White Wine Glass Design
Enjoying a white wine to the fullest requires a different wine glass design compared to what you'd use for red wine. White wines don't need to breathe as much, so the glasses have a narrow rim and a short, U-shaped bowl to preserve the delicate aromas and flavors. The short bowl shape brings your nose closer to the wine, so you can take in those fruity or floral aromatics. White wine glasses have a longer stem than red wine glasses. This is to keep your hand further from the bowl and prevent your body temperature from warming a perfectly chilled glass.
Champagne Glass Design
Champagne glasses, also known as flutes, are tall and conical. This delicate glass is long with a narrow rim, creating a shape that helps keep carbonation in a smaller surface area, so the aroma and stream of bubbles lasts longer.
Goblet Glass Design
Add goblet glasses to your bar cart as a multipurpose option. Goblets have a wide rim, large bowl and short stem, making them great for water,wine, and nonalcoholic beverages. Keep in mind that because of the goblet's wider rim, your tongue may compete with the glass as you sip your wine, which could slightly alter your tasting experience.
Angular Bowl
An angular bowl is more for aesthetics, with its sharp angle that's narrow at the bottom and widens in the middle of the bowl. This glass is considered a universal shape that can accommodate both reds and whites.
Tall Bowl
A tall, slender bowl makes for the perfect light white wine glass. This delicate shape keeps the sweet aroma in the glass so you can smell it as you sip. The U-shape of the bowl makes the tongue create a U-shape as well, which creates a smoother sip in the front and avoids the sides of the mouth, which pick up more keenly on acidic notes. This shape glass is ideal for fruity or floral whites like pinot grigio, Muscadet, or sauvignon blanc.
Round
Round wine glasses are also designed for lighter reds, like a pinot noir. The rounded shape allows tannins to oxidize faster for a smoother taste and delicate aroma.
Conical
A conical wine glass is shaped like a cone. The bowl of the glass is slightly narrower at the bottom and widens at the rim. This wine glass type has a neutral shape and is common for tumblers or stemless glasses. While this glass can be used for white or red, the shape lends itself more to a light- or medium-bodied white, like a sauvignon blanc.
Curved
A curved wine glass is wide at the base and narrows significantly at the rim. This shape is designed for a light red wine like a Burgundy or pinot noir – the full bowl increases the oxidation rate, making your sip of red smoother.
When choosing between a stemmed or stemless glass, consider the occasion.
Stemmed Wine Glasses
Stemmed glasses offer an elegant and refined look that's perfect for dinner parties and formal occasions. Having a stem also allows you to keep your white wine chilled longer.
Stemless Wine Glasses
A stemless glass, also known as a tumbler, pairs great with a more casual occasion. These glasses may not offer the benefits of a glass with a stem, but they have a more contemporary silhouette and everyday aesthetic. These glasses are also harder to break or knock over, making them perfect for sipping on the patio or your living room sofa.
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