The 10 Best Wineglasses (original) (raw)
Elegant stems, Parisian bistro mainstays, and more.
By ,a senior kitchen and dining writer at the Strategist. Previously, she was an editor at Bon Appétit and has worked in food media for nine years.
Photo: Marcus McDonald
- Best overall
- Best less expensive
- Best for white wines
- Best for red wines
- Best for sparkling wines
- Best tasting style
- Best to buy in bulk
- Best stemless
You might think wine professionals would be snobby about the stems they drink from. Turns out, not always so: “It’s nice to be able to smell the wine as you’re drinking,” says Chris Leon, owner and wine director of Leon & Son in Brooklyn. “But ultimately, when you’re talking about cracking open a bottle on a Tuesday night, you don’t need to be precious.” While sometimes an especially considered wine list at a restaurant might call for a larger array of glassware, most of the time they’re working with just one or two.
At the end of the day, the experts do consider how the shape of the bowl will let a wine open up and release its aromatics — but it’s also about overall size, how well-balanced the glass is, how it feels to sip from, and how durable it is. And these are all the considerations the average person should be taking into account, too. Bottom line: The wineglasses you own should feel good to pull out and use in your everyday life, whether that’s an especially elegant stem that genuinely brings you joy, or smaller, heartier glasses, like the kind you’d find in Parisian bistros.
One note before we dive in: You might notice there are no Zalto wineglasses on this list. The Zalto Handblown Universal Wineglass previously held our best overall spot, and the brand is widely revered by wine professionals. So why did I decide not to include it? They run for $78 a stem, which is notably expensive (even significantly more so than the glasses I designated as our best high-end pick this time around). They’re also known for being supremely thin, so the chances of them breaking are quite high. Their delicateness is a big part of the appeal, but also a liability. And I’ve noticed that many of the experts I’ve talked to over the years don’t actually use them on a regular basis, either in their restaurants or in their own homes. They love them, they respect them, and they often compare other glasses to them — but more as a model of the ideal and less as a practical choice. If you want a truly special-occasion glass, go for it. But for the purposes of this piece, I’ve decided to omit them.
Wineglasses are often designated by the type of wine they’re supposed to hold. The most common are red wine, white wine, and all-purpose, also referred to as AP, or universal glasses. Often, red and white wine glasses have even more specific designations based on varietals — like a Pinot Noir glass that best shows off lighter bodied reds, for example. There can be different glasses for sparkling wines, dessert wines, and even more niche categories, too. In general, it’s best to look at each specific descriptor on a product page if this is something that concerns you.
However, I do think it’s worth noting — especially when it comes to drinking at home — that depending on how traditional they are or their restaurant wine program is, even professionals sometimes blur these lines. For the purposes of this piece, I’m noting the style of each wineglass but will also note if the person or people who recommended it use it in a more flexible way.
You’ll want to take into consideration how many glasses come in a set. There is one on this list that is purposefully large, a good choice if you host a lot of bigger parties, want to split the collection with another person to make them extra affordable, or have ample space to store some away in case of breakage. All the others come in smaller sets. And some are sold individually, which is helpful if you prefer to customize the number, and also so you can replace any as needed.
While you can’t buy all of these individually, I’ve calculated the price per glass so that they’re easy to compare.
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Style: White (used as a universal) | Set number: 1, 4, 6, or 12 | Price per glass: $50 (or a bit less if you buy the bigger sets)
I first heard about Bobo’s glassware last year when chef Flynn McGarry told me they were one of the items he can’t live without. He uses the Steel wineglasses at his New York City restaurant, Cove, as a universal glass (with some of the brand’s larger Oak glasses on hand for bigger reds, in case a guest specifically prefers it). And he has them at home, too. Indeed, he says he wouldn’t normally use something quite so precious in his everyday life, but the Steel is so easy to sip from that he does. “I am very particular about my glassware and have always felt that wineglasses are either too big or too small,” he says. “This is the perfect size.” Even more important, it’s perfectly proportional. “I think the secret they realized was that the bowl is made very close to Zalto’s. But my problem with the Zalto is that when you swirl it — and this a very niche problem — it feels unwieldy because it’s so lightweight,” he says. The Bobo has a shorter stem, so the center of gravity is much lower on the glass, which makes it much more comfortable to handle. Still, it’s elegant as can be — a truly gorgeous glass.
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Style: Universal | Set number: 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12 | Price per glass: $39.50 (or a bit less if you buy the 12-pack)
Glasvin emerged on the scene in 2020 with the aim of making handblown ultrathin wineglasses more accessible in price than some others on the market. They became and have stayed a consistent favorite — “handmade glassware without the handmade price tag,” as Lily Peachin, the owner of Dandelion Wine in Brooklyn, puts it. They feel lightweight in the hand and delicate at the rim, which is a pleasure to sip from, but just note that that means they are a bit more prone to breaking than some other heartier glasses on this list. Whether that experience is worth a bit of risk comes down to personal preference. Or do as they do at the restaurant Crevette in New York City: Keep Glasvin universal glasses for higher-end bottles and special occasions and use cheaper, sturdier glasses for everyday drinking. One note from the company to ensure they’re safe during cleaning: These should be washed on the bottom rack of a dishwasher, facing down, not touching other items.
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Style: Red (used as universal) | Set number: 6 | Price per glass: $8.30
I have struggled my entire adult life with breaking stemmed glasses, whether fine Glasvin ones or cheap sets from Ikea. For a while, I resolved to use only stemless. But earlier this year, I found these from Bormioli Rocco and decided to take a chance. They’re made by the brand that makes some of my favorite drinking glasses and makes our pick for the best stemless wine glasses (a shorter version of said drinking glasses), down below. Knowing how durable the drinking glasses have been, I figured the stemmed version was at least worth a shot — and indeed it became an instant favorite.
Although the glass is designated as a Cabernet glass, and was designed for tasting to highlight that varietal, I use it as a universal glass. I tend to drink light and bright wines, whether white or red — the types that don’t benefit from opening up and breathing, and this seems to suit them just fine. The bowl is on the smaller side, which I like. (Most tasting glasses tend to have smaller bowls.) The stem is neither too thin nor too long, and the whole vessel feels well balanced, which gives me a sense of control. Still, it’s elegant — not chunky or heavy in any way. I wash them in the dishwasher when there’s space and very carefully by hand when not.
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Style: Universal | Set number: 6 | Price per glass: $60
“After working with Zalto for many years, Sophienwald caught my eye because they offer very similar quality in a slightly smaller size,” says Chase Sinzer, owner of New York City’s Claud, Penny, and Stars, all of which use this universal Sophienwald glass as well as its red- and white-specific models. “They’re able to wow without being intimidating. They impress visually but never instill fear.” This is thanks to that bowl size but also the shorter stem, which contributes to a sturdier look and feel. And while $60 per glass is an investment, it’s still less than a Zalto. As for washing, June Rodil, a partner at Houston’s Goodnight Hospitality, says Sophienwald glasses hold up well in the dishwasher, “be it a commercial one in my restaurants or the one in my house.”
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Style: White | Set number: 1, 6, or 12 | Price per glass: $17
This Schott Zwiesel glass, along with the version below for red wine, comes recommended by Greg Ryan, co-owner of Bell’s in California’s Los Alamos, which also happens to be wine country. They are the glasses they use at their restaurant, a decision they originally made out of necessity but have kept coming back to years later, even after considering others. At the beginning, they couldn’t afford luxury stemware. And while Bell’s offers a more formal experience with a prix fixe tasting menu at night, they operate as a fast-paced, more casual bistro for lunch, and so needed glassware that fit both of those experiences. “These Schott Zwiesel glasses are sturdy without feeling heavy, polished without being precious, and versatile enough to support the full range of wines we pour,” Ryan says. This one in particular is their go-to for sparkling wines and lighter, less structured whites.
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Style: Red | Set number: 1, 4, 6, or 12 | Price per glass: $17
The Pinot Noir glass serves double duty at Bell’s, used for bigger whites, including Chardonnay and similarly structured varieties, as well as all red wines. These types benefit from the wider bowl that narrows at the top, allowing the aromatics to escape just right. Ryan says it feels generous without being oversized. If you’re someone who is into the nuances that multiple glasses offer, this system is a good one: It doesn’t feel over-the-top to implement at home.
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Style: Champagne | Set number: 1 | Price per glass: $50
“A lot of people know by now that you can and should drink sparkling wine out of a wineglass if you want to appreciate it like wine,” says New York Magazine’s “Underground Gourmet” columnist Tammie Teclemariam. “This vessel is a wineglass befitting of Champagne’s grandeur.” More technically, she notes that the volume is comparable to a Bordeaux glass featuring a conical bowl to let the wine breathe and burp and direct it to your nose. While she generally saves it for finer bottles of bubbly, it has also lasted for years. “I have another one still in the box that I haven’t had to use,” she says. She handwashes it, since it doesn’t fit in her countertop dishwasher (though she’d prefer to dishwash if she could).
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Style: Universal | Set number: 6 | Price per glass: $6.60
The INAO tasting glass was developed in 1970 by the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine, the French government agency that regulates agricultural products with officially recognized geographic origins and quality standards. Its specs were also later recognized by the International Organization for Standardization, which is why you’ll sometimes see it referred to as the ISO glass. Many manufacturers make variations of it, but they’re all defined by their tulip shape, small bowl that holds around seven ounces, and short stem. They’re everywhere in France — a classic bistro glass. And these days, you’ll find them in many wine bars and restaurants across America, too, especially those that specialize in natural wine: Frog and Le Dive in New York City, Friends and Family in Oakland, and Rebel Rebel in Somerville, Massachusetts, just for some examples. The owner and wine director of Rebel Rebel, Lauren Friel, uses the Stölzle Lausitz’s INAO glass there as well as at her Cambridge-based restaurant Dear Annie. “They remind me of the places where I first fell in love with wine: Le Verre Volé, Château Yvonne, The Ten Bells on Broome Street circa 2011,” she says. Sentimentality aside, they’re also just practical: “Their short stem means they’re sturdier than their counterparts,” Friel says, which makes them a natural choice for drinking at home. They also happen to be one of the most affordable glasses on this list.
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Style: Universal | Set number: 24 | Price per glass: 3.71(or3.71 (or 3.71(or8 if you buy them individually)
If you buy these Libbey glasses in their full set of 24, they come out to less than $4 a pop — the least expensive option on this list. While such a move might not be practical for everyone, it would make sense if you host a lot of bigger parties, want to split the collection with another person (which would make them even more affordable), or have ample space to store some away in case of breakage. Though even cheaper than the INAO glass above, they’re similar in style with a short stem that makes them sturdy. But the bowl is several ounces bigger. “They’re hardy and cost effective,” say Matt Bowman and Adam Wills, co-owners of Austin’s LoLo Wine Bar, where they serve 200 to 400 covers a night — all with these unfussy glasses.
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Style: Universal stemless | Set number: 1 | Price per glass: $6
Bormioli Rocco’s bodega glasses come in three sizes: 17.2 ounces, 12.5 ounces, and 7.5 ounces. Each is flexible in what it can be used for, but I think the smallest size is especially nice for wine. I find it elegant to sip from, thanks to the thinness of the glass. Still, it’s durable (unlike the lookalike CB2 Marta glasses that many people I’ve spoken to over the years love but give the disclaimer that they break very easily). The bigger version of the glasses that I own have lasted several years without me losing a single one. They’re stackable, helpful for those who don’t have a ton of storage space, and they look quite refined set out on a table — even without a stem.
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• Matt Bowman, co-owner of LoLo Wine Bar
• Lauren Friel, owner and wine director of Rebel Rebel and Dear Annie
• Chris Leon, owner and wine director of Leon & Son
• Flynn McGarry, chef at Cove
• Lily Peachin, owner of Dandelion Wine
• June Rodil, partner at Goodnight Hospitality
• Greg Ryan, co-owner of Bell’s
• Chase Sinzer, owner of Claud, Penny, and Stars
• Tammie Teclemariam, New York Magazine writer
• Adam Wills, co-owner of LoLo Wine Bar
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