5 Wine Glass Types for Beginners

Identifying wine glasses involves considering their shape and size, which were tailored to enhance specific wine varieties can a difficult task. Typically, red wine glasses have a larger bowl to aerate and accentuate bolder flavours, while white wine glasses are more upright to maintain crispness. Champagne flutes preserve carbonation.

5 Wine Glass Types

From left, wine glasses for Champagne Flute, Sweet Wine, Light White Wine, Rose or Spicy Red Wine, Light-Bodied Red Wine.

1. Champagne Flutes

Champagne flute glasses are tall, narrow glasses specifically designed for serving champagne and other sparkling wines. Their slim and elongated shape helps preserve the carbonation and bubbles in the champagne, enhancing the drinking experience by funneling the aroma towards the nose and concentrating the effervescence. This design minimises the surface area of the wine exposed to air, ensuring the bubbles last longer.

Wine served in champagne flutes include:

• Champagne: The most common use, whether it’s Brut, Extra Dry, or Demi-Sec.
• Prosecco: An Italian sparkling wine that also benefits from the flute’s design.
• Cava: A Spanish sparkling wine similar to champagne.
• Other Sparkling Wines: Such as sparkling rosé, Crémant, and sparkling Moscato.

Some of the most recognised brands globally known for their high-quality champagne flute glasses include Riedel, Waterford, Baccarat, Schott Zwiesel, Zalto, Lalique, and Luigi Bormioli.

Champagne flutes to consider buying

Schott Zwiesel Tulip Crystal Glass Champagne Flutes, Set of 4, $39.78

Crystal Champagne Flutes, Set of 6, $38.29

2. Sweet Wine Glasses

Sweet wine glasses are smaller, typically featuring a narrower bowl and shorter stem compared to standard wine glasses.

These are designed to concentrate the sweet wine’s aromas and allow the drinker to enjoy its rich flavors without the overwhelming sweetness of a larger serving. The narrower bowl helps to minimise the exposure to air, which keeps the delicate, often high-sugar content of sweet wines balanced and fresh.

Wines often served in Sweet Wine Glasses include:

• Dessert Wines: Such as Sauternes, Tokaji, or late-harvest Rieslings.
• Port: A fortified wine that benefits from the smaller serving size and focused aroma.
• Sherry: Especially sweet varieties like Pedro Ximénez.
• Ice Wines: Made from grapes frozen on the vine, typically high in sweetness and viscosity.
• Moscato: A sweet, slightly effervescent wine that is usually served in smaller quantities.

Some reputable Sweet Wine glass makers include: Riedel, Zalto, Schott Zwiesel, Spiegelau, Bormioli Rocco, Luigi Bormioli, and Waterford.

Sweet wine glasses to consider

Mobler Vintage Sweet Wine Glass, $103.50 per glass

Riedel Bar Vinum Port Wine Glass, Set of 2, $102.85

Chef & Sommelier Cabernet Port Glasses, Set of 6, $35.32

3. Light White Wine Glasses

Light white wine glasses are designed to enhance the characteristics of lighter, more delicate white wines. These glasses typically have a smaller bowl than red wine glasses, with a slightly narrower rim.

The purpose is to maintain the wine’s temperature by minimising the surface area exposed to air, which helps preserve the wine’s crispness and acidity. The narrower shape also concentrates the wine’s aromas, which is important for lighter wines that tend to have more subtle fragrances.

Light white wine glasses are typically used for wines that are fresh, floral, or fruity, with a higher acidity and lower alcohol content. These wines include:

• Sauvignon Blanc: Known for its zesty, citrusy character.
• Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris): A light, crisp wine with hints of pear and green apple.
• Riesling: Often aromatic, ranging from dry to sweet, with a crisp finish.
• Albariño: A Spanish white wine with high acidity and notes of citrus and stone fruits.
• Chenin Blanc: A versatile grape that produces both dry and off-dry wines.

4. Rose Wine Glasses (or Spicy Red Wines)

Rosé wine glasses are typically designed to enhance the fresh, fruity, and often delicate flavors of rosé wines. These glasses are generally tulip-shaped, with a slightly narrower opening to concentrate the aromas while maintaining the freshness of the wine. The shape of the glass also allows for a slight cooling effect, which is ideal for rosé wines, usually served chilled.

The term “spicy wine glasses” isn’t a common classification in wine glass categories, but it likely refers to glasses designed for wines with prominent spice notes, such as certain Syrah, Grenache, or Zinfandel. These glasses would have a slightly larger bowl to allow the wine to breathe, which helps to soften the spices and accentuate the fruit flavors.

Four wines you should serve in rosé wine glasses include:

• Rosé Wine: Typically light and refreshing, with notes of red berries, watermelon, or citrus.
• Zinfandel: A spicy red wine with hints of pepper, cherry, and licorice.
• Syrah (Shiraz): Known for its bold flavors with spicy, smoky, and dark fruit notes.
• Grenache: Often blended with Syrah, offering a fruit-forward profile with spice elements.

Again, get your rose wine glasses from reputable brands such as Riedel, Zalto, Schott Zwiesel, Spiegelau, Bormioli Rocco, Luigi Bormioli, and Waterford.

5. Light Red Wine Glasses

Light red wine glasses are designed to enhance the subtle flavors, delicate aromas, and elegance of lighter red wines. These glasses typically feature a slightly larger bowl than white wine glasses, but smaller and narrower than those for bold red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah.

The moderate bowl size helps maintain the wine’s cool temperature, while the slightly narrow rim focuses the lighter aromas, elevating the drinking experience.

Light red wine glasses are ideal for red wines that are low in tannins and have a more delicate structure. Common wines served in these glasses include:

• Pinot Noir: Known for its light body, red fruit flavors, and earthy undertones.
• Gamay (Beaujolais): A fruity, vibrant red wine with soft tannins.
• Barbera: An Italian varietal with high acidity and soft tannins.
• Grenache: A light-to-medium-bodied wine with bright fruit flavors.
• Zweigelt: An Austrian light red, known for its fresh berry flavors.

Again, reputable wine glass brands include Riedel, Zalto, Schott Zwiesel, Spiegelau, Bormioli Rocco, Luigi Bormioli, and Waterford.

This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.