Finding the best wine glasses for your wine can be taunting. We have made it easy for you to find the wine glass that is made to draw out the finest flavors and aromas of the wine you use.
Wine glasses can range in price from affordable to very expensive depending on the type of glass you prefer.
An affordable stemless wine glass can be bought for as low as a few dollars. A long-stem crystal wine glass is probably in a totally different price class. Most wine glasses are made from a combination of Soda lime, Silica, and Soda.
We try to show you as many wine glasses in styles and sizes without making it even harder to choose from.
Table of Contents
Red wine glasses
Basically, a red wine glass is a bit taller and the bowl is larger. The reason is that red wine is bolder than white wine and this requires a larger glass to allow all the flavors and aromas to come out better and this takes a little time.
White wine glasses
A white wine glass is most of the time a little smaller since white wine is not so bold and rich. This requires a smaller glass so the flavors and aromas stay more confined in the glass compared to a red wine glass.
Large wine glasses
Crystal wine glasses
Crystal wine glasses are most of the time not cheap. The reason is that they are made of Silica Lead oxide and Soda.
You can see a video on how crystal wine glasses are made here.
This article is under constant updates and glasses not available anymore will be replaced with the latest models.
We will also advise on wine glass racks and wine glass storage if you only use them once in a while.
Difference between glass stemware and crystal
As I briefly mentioned before crystal is made with lead monoxide and it can come in a percentage of 1% to up to 30% in European-made glasses. Lead-free glassware is most of the time made with Zinc or Magnesium oxide because this will also reflect the light we see in crystal.
If you look at regular stemware glass you will notice that it does not sparkle as much. Stemware glasses are most of the time however sturdier and less breakable than crystal.
If you like or don’t mind cleaning and hand-wash your wine glasses you can choose a crystal. If you, however, don’t like that I would suggest looking for regular glassware since that can be washed in the dishwasher and will not break too easily.
Two basic wine glass sets to start with
In my opinion for someone who is looking for a basic set of wine glasses the best way to start is with a set of:
- 6 red wine glasses
- 6 Champagne flutes
What shape of wine glass to use?
There are tons of publications written about the shape of wine glasses and what shape to use for what type of wine.
Later I will write more about this but the basic is that how fuller bodied the wine is the wider and more round shape a glass should be. You can also remember that a red wine glass is never filled as much as a white wine.
Wine glass set
For someone who gets started with drinking wine and trying to find the right glass to use it is easier to buy wine glasses online and start with the following sets we choose as a good buy.
Red wine glasses sets
Paksh novelty makes some highly rated red wine glass sets that are of restaurant quality. Made in Italy and with a height of 8.5 inches, this is a nice all-around red wine glass.
Compared to the white wine glass from the same company you can see that the body is more rounded to keep the aroma in the glass.
The wider size will increase the contact surface between the wine and the air to enhance the flavors.
We found over 260 people who took the time to write about their opinion about this red wine glass set and with an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars this can be considered a very good purchase.
White wine glasses sets
Paksh Novelty white wine glasses. Set of 4 clear glasses in a 15-ounce size.
We have found over 160 people who bought this set and gave it an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
This set is made in Italy and the glasses are made of a lead-free composition that enables a very clear glass.
Although many people recommend not using a dishwasher for wine glasses these white wine glasses are dishwasher safe.
These glasses are labeled restaurant quality and this means that they are a little sturdier than some other types of wine glasses. In the reviews, I read that a lot of people like this feature.
The glasses are 8.5 inches tall the base is 3.5 inches and this makes it very stable.
Champagne flute set
Champagne flutes can be a good start for wine glasses as we mentioned before. We have found a set of 4 Lenox Tuscany champagne flutes.
They are made from lead-free crystal and will hold 7 ounces.
The height is 10.5 inches.
In my opinion, a great set of affordable quality champagne flutes and very well to use for white wine.
Eddie McVay
Eddie McVay is a passionate home brewer and an enthusiastic amateur connoisseur, He has been crafting his beers and wines for over a decade. His journey began with a simple home brewing kit and has since evolved into a deep understanding of the intricacies of brewing. With a knack for making complex brewing techniques accessible to beginners, his articles offer a blend of practical advice, DIY tips, and insights into the art of fermentation. Read more about Eddie Mcvay here.