Sure, you can drink wine from any vessel. Crystal stemware, coffee mugs, flower vases… we’re not here to judge. So why are there so many wine glass shapes and sizes? And do they really matter? If you want to get technical, yes. The right glass can enhance your wine-tasting experience by amplifying aromas, maintaining ideal temperatures, impacting evaporation and more.
The variety of shapes can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help. Here are the perfect glasses for enjoying your favorite M Cellars wine.
Meritage (and other bold, full-bodied reds)
Large, tall bowl with a wide opening
This shape increases the distance from the wine to the nose, allowing ethanol evaporation and delivering aromas more favorably while softening rich tannins for a smoother taste.
Pinot Noir (and other lighter reds with delicate aromas)
Large, wide bowl with a tapered rim
This more ovular shape can be thought of as an aroma collector; perfect for enhancing aromatic compounds in more subtle varietals
Chardonnay (and other full-bodied whites)
Wide bowl, shorter than red glasses
Known as a Montrachet glass, the wider bowl helps emphasize creamy textures while maximizing aeration.
Gewurtztraminer, Rkatsiteli, Riesling, Cuvée (and other light, aromatic whites)
Smaller bowl and narrower rim (traditional white wine glass)
The narrower rim concentrates aromas while the smaller bowl helps maintain the appropriate temperature.
Madelyn, Brut Rosé (and other sparkling wines)
Smaller bowl and narrower rim (traditional white wine glass)
This may come as a surprise, but we recommend serving sparkling in a traditional white wine glass over a flute or coupe. It provides enough extra space that your first sip is more than just bubbles, but not so much that your wine goes flat right after that.
Dolce Razz (and other fortified wines)
Short, small bowl, narrow rim
High-alcohol fortified wine performs best in a vessel that reduces evaporation and highlights rich fruit components.
What about stems?
Stemless glasses are convenient, but in general, we prefer stems. This avoids heat transfer from fingers (more of a problem with white wine), and fingerprints and smudges (not so much of a problem as a less-than-ideal look… and we drink with our eyes first).
What about universal glasses?
A universal glass is one meant to work for the majority of wine. It won’t be as ideal as a specially designed glass, but it’s a much simpler solution. At the end of the day, we recommend going with whatever works best for you. If space is a consideration, the complexity of options stresses you out, or you just don’t want a ton of glassware, universal glasses are a great option. Do what makes you happiest.
There you have it – our guide to choosing the right wine glass. Remember that we ship to 40 states, so you can be ready for your next at-home tasting in no time.
