Types of Wine Glasses: Ultimate Guide

22 Types of Wine Glasses

For this category, it's important to look at the boldness of the wine. You'll find darker, dryer wines in this category which often contain complexities of not only the grapes but also the barrels they are stored in. That is why you'll notice a hint of oak flavor in some of these wines. Rum, bourbon, and whisky manufacturers will often continue the aging process of spirits in red wine barrels because of the way it enhances the flavor.

Once poured, it is typically good to aerate the wine and allow these darker wines to breathe. This way the deeper flavors have an opportunity to open up. Usually, the more complex a wine is, the more air it needs. Red wine is also served close to room temperature. There are several types of wine glasses that will help with this.

The Burgundy glass is a shield-shaped glass. Where the glass meets the stem, it comes to a point and then expands outward like an upside down umbrella and then curves back in slightly. This increases the air exposure of the wine while still limiting temperature circulation.

These three glasses are similar in design. The pinot noir and cabernet glasses are nearly identical, but the pinot noir glass is slightly wider at the base. The Bordeaux glass is essentially a larger version of the cabernet glass. Each of these glasses increases oxygen exposure and provides plenty of room for swirling. The Bordeaux glass is especially good for this. While some may take advantage of the large glass and add more wine, it's actually designed to increase the spinning potential, so adding more wine will prevent this glass from doing what it was designed to do.

This is the basic red wine glass. It is a slender version of the Burgundy glass and doesn't balloon out as far. It is not the best choice for any particular wine, but this glass is versatile and can be used with nearly all red wines.

Many people already have something like this at home. The tumbler is a great glass that can be used for a number of beverages, not just wine. It is the only wine glass that doesn't have a stem which means your hand will rest directly on the base of the glass while holding it. Other red wine glasses have a rounded bottom which allows your hand to cup the base of the glass, and the slight warming from your hand will allow the flavors to open up.

The tumbler is smaller and less rounded than other red wine glasses, so it won't provide the same level of aeration or the ability to swirl, but it is still a fine glass, especially if you're just pouring yourself a glass of wine after a long day of work. If you're putting on a dinner party, you may want to have something with a stem for a more elegant look and better flavor, but that choice will be based on your personal preference.

Many traditional dessert wines are red, but dessert wines often have a higher sugar content, a higher alcohol content, or both. Because of the higher alcohol content, dessert wine glasses are smaller.

The shape of sherry glasses is similar to that of the triangular martini glass, but sherry glasses are smaller and have a more extreme angle. The sherry glass is designed as a cordial glass, so it should only hold an ounce or two of wine.

Port wine is similar to brandy. It has a high alcohol content and is designed as a warming after-dinner beverage. A port glass is smaller but has a wider base with taller walls which allows you to smell and take in the aromas of the port wine.

This glass has a curved bottom and could be seen as an extreme version of the Burgundy glass. It curves in like a tulip and then expands out.

White wine is usually served at a chilled temperature which means it is important to keep your hand away from the glass. Your hand will warm the wine which can alter the flavor characteristics. There are a handful of white wine glass options to choose from, all of which will have a longer stem.

Of all the types of wine glasses, this is one of the few that can be used for both red and white wines. It is nearly identical to the standard red glass, but the curve isn't as pronounced in the sauvignon glass. This is another reason the red and sauvignon white glasses are so desirable; you can use them for either type of wine if needed.

The chardonnay glass is unique when compared to the other types of wine glasses made for white wine. That is because the glass has a curved bottom. All the other kinds of wine glasses in the white wine category come to a point. Chardonnay is usually served warmer than the other white wines, so the wider base does not cause a problem when it comes to maintaining the temperature. Most other glasses will not have the wider base due to the desire to limit potential contact with your hand.

This glass has some similarities to the flute glass, which we will discuss later, but the riesling glass comes to a point along the sides and then slopes inward at a harder angle. It is designed to reduce the amount of air exposure the wine experiences which is desirable for a sweet, chilled wine.

This is similar to a few other glasses we will mention, but it is shorter than most other types of wine glasses used for white wines. It also has a wider mouth which allows it to breathe more easily.

This is another classic white wine glass that you may recognize. It is similar to the Montrachet, but the opening of the Sauternes glass is not as wide.

​Rosé wines possess characteristics of both red and white wines. They are usually served a bit more chilled, are sweeter than the reds, and are not as dry. Rosé wines often contain some wooden taste elements. There are a few types of wine glasses designed for rosé wines.

The rosé glass has a long stem, and the top has a small, almost ball-shaped design. It curves in slightly to reduce air contact, but it is a smaller glass than most of the ones used for red wines.

The ​standard sweet glass is similar to the port glass, but it slopes gently outward instead of inward.

The sparkling collection is used for sparkling wine and Champagne. Champagne can only be called as such if it comes from the Champagne region of France. Anything similar that is made elsewhere is referred to as sparkling wine. Other than location of origin, there is no difference between the two, so you'll often see sparkling wines that are incorrectly labeled as Champagne. There are a few kinds of glasses that work best for these beverages.

The vintage glass is what you think of when you picture a stubby, wide-mouthed Champagne glass. It could also be used as a classic martini glass. The other sparkling wine glasses are designed to maintain bubbles for as long as possible. While the other glasses do a better job, the vintage glass remains popular due to its classic design.

The tulip glass has a slender stem and a tall body. It is a good glass for controlling bubble release and also works well with beverages that are chilled.

The flute and tulip glasses are similar types of wine glasses; however, the flute angles back in at the top of the mouth to maintain the bubbles for a longer period of time. This shape also means you are more likely to get bubbles in your nose, but it has a fun look, especially for a celebration such as a New Year's party.

How to Choose the Right Wine Glasses for Your Collection