Best Wine Glasses: the only 3 you need

Choosing the best wine glasses + the only 3 you really need to buy

Plan the perfect wine tasting by choosing the proper wine glass. We pick the three essential stemware every hostess should own for entertaining. A universal stemless wineglass for easy entertaining, a Chardonnay glass for white, and a Bordeaux glass for red.

Choosing the proper wine glass can be as tricky as choosing the right wine. With so many options, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But we’ve narrowed it down to the three best stemware to own, helping you set a proper table and host a formal event or a casual wine tasting with friends. 

“So much of the wine-tasting experience comes from the wine’s aroma. Our brains use aroma to process flavor, so we want a glass that brings out those nuanced aromas. In general, wine glasses have larger bowls with tapered sides to help aromas reach the nose. You’ll notice red stemware have bigger bowls than white. That bigger bowl better allows for more aeration, which helps accentuate those bolder aromas,” says expert Amanda McGrory-Dixon of Burrata and Bubbles.

Why the Shape of a Wine Glass Is Important 

After you’ve selected the perfect wine for the occasion, the next choice is the glass. Choosing the proper wine glass is critical to enjoying wine, and the designers carefully consider the nuances of its shape and size. As a result, each glass’s shape is as unique as the varietal, enhancing the wine-drinking experience. 

The goblet’s bowl shape and cup area affect how quickly the wine oxidizes, which determines how it reacts and changes as it’s exposed to oxygen in the air. This can affect the wine’s taste and even its color as it sits in the glass. The shape of the rim of the glass also contains and concentrates the aromatics of the wine, adding to the tasting and drinking experience as it’s sipped. 

The Three Best Wine Glasses Every Hostess Should Own

There are glasses for enjoying heavy-, medium-, and light-bodied wines, including both red and white wines. White wine glasses are typically smaller than red wine glasses. But buying new stemware is unnecessary whenever you open a new bottle. 

1. All-Purpose Wine Glasses 

When it comes to an all-purpose stemware, you need one that can handle almost any type of wine except for sparkling wines. It should be wide enough to aerate red wine without being so large that sipping white wine isn’t enjoyable. Luckily, there are more on the market now than ever.

A Pinot Noir or Burgundy stemless goblet is a great, all-purpose glass. It can accommodate red and white wine with a wide bowl for oxygenation. In addition, the stemless look is less formal and allows the host to pour whatever is on hand without worrying over proper glasses. 

These are perfect for casual nights or mixing it up on an evening where you may sample more than one wine or sangria. 

2. White Wine Glasses 

White wines have a more delicate aroma and flavor and require a different stemware than red. The glass is narrower and has a smaller top opening because it doesn’t require as much oxygen to breathe and retain aromatics in the bowl as you sip and enjoy. 

Choose a Chardonnay glass as the all-purpose white wine glass. It has a slightly larger bowl than other white wine glasses, but it’s versatile enough to serve them all well. 

3. Red Wine Glasses

Red goblets tend to be larger, with larger bowls, to allow more oxygen to bring out their full flavor profile. Furthermore, they have larger openings at the top, allowing aromas to release more easily into the surrounding air, and longer stems for better temperature control. 

Select a Bordeaux stemware as an all-purpose red wine glass. It is larger than the chardonnay glass with a bigger bowl to allow for the aeration of red wines, allowing you to enjoy their full flavor. 

When selecting essential wine glasses, look for high-quality options. If you want to invest in quality, choose crystal glasses to enhance the drinking experience. Consider tempered glass or high-quality plastic for the stemless, all-purpose wine glass. It’s less likely to break under normal wear and tear. 

You may want to expand upon your wine glass collection as you host more dinner parties and find yourself setting formal tables and serving guests. But these three all-purpose glasses are the best for anyone looking to be prepared for entertaining. 

Tips For Hosting a Successful Wine Tasting 

Now that you have the stemware, here are some tips for making your tasting a breeze. 

1. Choose Your Wines Wisely — Choose wines with unique flavor profiles so everyone can appreciate each glass’s characteristics. We suggest theming around one type or region to advanced dinner parties so guests don’t get overwhelmed. 

2. Provide Food Pairings — A cheese board or charcuterie tray is perfect for enjoying the wine and keeping everyone satiated between tastings. Building a charcuterie board is quick and easy, and we suggest working in groups of three for an enjoyable sampling. 

3. Have Fun With It — Be willing to try new bottles and taste new varieties. The key is not to take learning about wine too seriously; enjoy yourself as you discover which wines you want and which you may not. 

Now to sit back and sip

With these simple tips and knowledge, it’s time to go shopping. Although there are many options on the market, narrowing it to these three glasses makes the selection process much more manageable. If you’re starting, choose the type of wine you gravitate toward most. If it’s white wine, those glasses to stock your bar first. If it’s red, go that way. Or split the difference and settle for the stemless, all-purpose glasses in between. Most of all, don’t overthink it and enjoy the wine-tasting experience. 

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This post first appeared on Food Drink Life.