Time to upgrade your wine glasses?
🍷 It's entertaining season, get ready with recommendations at every price point
As if learning about the different wine grapes, regions, and styles of wine isn’t enough, there are also a million types of glasses to choose from. Picking out the “right” wine glass can be a daunting task. Most people do not have the budget or space to justify buying a different style of wine glass for each type of wine. But, the shape and quality of a wine glass can have a huge impact on the taste of a wine and ultimately how much you enjoy drinking it!
Luckily, choosing a wine glass doesn’t need to be an overwhelming task, thanks to….the universal wine glass. These glasses are specifically designed to be flexible, enhancing red, white, and even sparkling wines. If you are only going to have one style of wine glass in your home, this is it!
Here are my favorite universal wine glasses for every price point:
BEST VALUE
Libbey Signature Kentfield Estate Glasses
I love these glasses for an affordable option with a classic and elegant design. The height and bowl size are elegant without feeling oversized or dramatic — just large enough to accentuate the aromas of red wines while still working well with white and sparkling wine. They are relatively light (especially for the price). I find these similar in quality to the next option, from Schott Zwiesel, but with a more classic and minimalist look and a more compact design with a thinner stem.
MODERN DESIGN
Schott Zwiesel Universal
Another great, relatively inexpensive glass. This glass has sharper angles with a narrow and slightly taller shape, giving it a modern feel. I frequently see these are restaurants and wine bars, which is always a great stamp of approval. These are also the most sturdy option on the list. The crystal is mixed with a trace amount of titanium, making these glasses a bit more durable!
MOST COMPACT
Riedel VINUM
These are great is you hate the look and feel of a larger wine glass…or if you are short on space (looking at you, fellow New Yorkers!) These are shorter than other options on this list, making them comfortable in the hand and easier to store in smaller spaces. I have always loved the classic rounded shape of these glasses, they just feel so effortlessly elegant to me. A few friends have these and I covet them frequently!
AN UPDATED CLASSIC
Glasvin, The Universal
If you like the look of a more classic shape but still want an elegant, lightweight crystal glass, the Glasvin is a perfect option. I love that Glasvin is a newer company, based in NYC. While these aren’t cheap, they are still a great value compared to many glasses on the market, especially considering they are handblown! They claim to remove some of the “middlemen” to keep prices lower for customers.
SPLURGE WORTHY
Zalto Universal Wine Glass
These are the most elegant, lightweight and paper thin glasses. And definitely the most expensive on this list. I own a set of these and they are one of the most cherished items in my apartment (which might not be shocking coming from someone writing a newsletter about wine glasses!). These the the most universal of all the glasses on the list, working perfectly for any style of wine.
Varietal specific vs. universal glasses
Until the late 2000’s varietal specific wine glasses were very common. Made famous by the Riedel Vinum glasses, aimed at designing the perfect glass for every style of wine. Today there are 30 types of varietal specific wine glass shapes in the Riedel portfolio, developed for different types of grapes and regional styles (in addition to some spirits like cognac and single malt whiskey) Red wine glasses tend to feature wide, tall bowls that let the strong, full-bodied flavors of red wines develop and breathe, while white wine glasses are usually narrower, designed to deliver the wine’s lighter aromas and flavors in a more focused way. White wine glasses tend to have longer stems, too, so the drinker’s hand doesn’t accidentally warm the chilled wine.
More recently, there has been a rise in popularity of universal wine glasses, designed to accommodate a wide range of wine varietals from white, to red and even sparkling. Universal wineglasses typically are designed with a traditional bell shape, but there is some variety in the category that make certain glasses a better match for certain styles of wine. For example, a slightly more narrow bell shape is better if you tend to reach for white wines, while those with a wider, bowl are better for reds. These are the perfect option for casual wine enthusiasts and those looking to minimize glassware clutter (aka the space constrained!)