5 Best Port Glasses (Features, Dimensions, Serving Ideas)

by Anthony Zhang

Port wine is a super-popular sweet wine and is often enjoyed with a chocolatey dessert or served over ice as an aperitif.

But, you need the perfect Port glass to fully immerse yourself in the drinking experience!

Typically smaller than other glasses, it is designed to bring out this dessert wine’s aromatics and complex flavors.

Let’s look at the different types of Port glasses, typical features and the different ways you can enjoy your Port with friends.

5 Best Port Glasses To Try Out Now

Let’s look at one of the different styles of Port glasses:

Port Sippers
Tritan Crystal Port Wine Glass
Leaded Crystal Port Wine Glass
Lead Free Crystal Port Wine Glass
Universal Wine Glass

1. Port Sippers

This type of unique port glass was designed in the 1700s - the only difference today is this handmade glass is now made from crystal instead of ceramic.

The idea behind this tiny glass is that your hand warms the bowl as you hold it, and you use the “straw” to sip from the bottom of the glass.

When you drink from the bottom of Port Sippers, you are tasting the wine that has yet to be oxidized and get to experience the full flavour of your favorite Port.

A fabulous port sipper recommended by a sommelier:

Fox Run Hand Blown Glass Port Sippers

2. Tritan Crystal Port Wine Glass

Tritan crystal is an internally patented, unique crystal glass. It is entirely lead and barium-free and uses zirconium and titanium instead.

Invented by wine glass manufacturer Schott Zwiesel, these special crystal port glasses show off the aromatics and flavors of your favorite vintage port, Vin Santo, sweet wine, sherry, and Madeira.

An elegant Tritan crystal port wine glass to look out for:

Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Siza Port Wine Glass

3. Leaded Crystal Port Wine Glass

This machine-blown leaded crystal wine glass has a small stem, so you don’t have to warm your port with your hand.

It has a thin, tall bowl and narrow rim - perfect for the aroma to develop without overpowering the taste.

A trustworthy leaded crystal port wine glass to buy now:

Riedel Vinum port glass

4. Lead Free Crystal Port Wine Glass

The lead free crystal port wine glasses come with a tapered rim to help focus the aroma of sweet wine while you enjoy it. This helps bring out the fruity flavors and sweetness of your favorite digestif. You can also use these port wine glasses to enjoy your favorite liqueur.

A stylish lead free crystal port wine glasses for your cabinet:

Stolzle – Professional Collection Clear Lead-Free Crystal Port Wine Glass

5. Universal Wine Glass

While the universal wine glass is commonly used for dry table wines, they work perfectly for delicious dessert wines. If you don’t have space to store glasses for all your varietal wines, these glasses work perfectly.

The thin lip on the rim of these glasses enhances every wine tasting experience.

A classic universal wine glass to buy:

Zalto Denk'Art Universal Glass ZALTO

The Typical Features Of Perfect Port Glasses

As with all wines, the glass you serve this Douro Valley wine in makes all the difference in your tasting experience!

A Port or dessert wine glass typically has these features:

1. Lesser Volume Than Other Wine Glasses

The traditional Port glass is a lot smaller than a standard wine glass, and the shape of this dessert glass is reminiscent of a tiny red wine glass.

Port Glasses traditionally hold around 6½ ounces (190 mL) and are about 6 inches (15 cm) high.

Because of the higher alcohol content in Port wine, it is best consumed in smaller quantities.

However, some wine drinkers feel that the smaller glass does not showcase Port’s complexity and should be served in a larger glass. So, since 2003, the UK has started to market Port glasses with a capacity of 15 ounces (450mL,) while the popular tiny glass for port holds 8.5 ounces (250mL.)

2. Narrow Rim and Tall Bowl

For red and white wine, you want all the aromas to gather in the bowl of the glass to experience the full potential of the wine.

Because Port and dessert wines have a higher alcohol content - you want the exact opposite. Allowing all the aromas to collect will overwhelm the senses and spoil your port tasting experience.

The tall bowl of a port glass minimizes aeration and leaves little room for them to gather.

The narrow rim also reduces the surface area of the wine - this allows the concentrated aromatics of the sweet wine to mix with fresh air and balances the bouquet so that it’s not overwhelming.

The narrow rim also forces you to take small sips of this delicious wine so that you can enjoy the sweet wine without getting tipsy too quickly!

Let’s compare the size of Port glasses to other glasses.

Size of A Port Glass vs Other Glasses

Serving your beverage in the right glass can make all the difference in experiencing your drink’s aroma and flavour!

That is why they come in so many shapes and sizes.

Let’s take a look at how other glasses differ from a Port glass that typically holds around 6½ ounces and is about 6 inches high.

Champagne flute glass: These wine glasses are 8½ inches (22 cm) high and hold 6-7 ounces (180 ml) of your favorite sparkling wine.
Cordial or liqueur glass: Traditional cordial glasses hold up to two ounces (60 ml) and are 4 inches (10 cm) high.
Gin Glass: The Highball glass holds up to 12 ounces (360ml) of your favorite Gin and Tonic. The large bowl sits atop a stem similar to a red wine glass.
White wine glass: Many different white wine glasses are available, and they are smaller than red wine glasses. The traditional white wine glass holds up to eight ounces (240 ml), while a more modern glass holds around 12 ounces (360 ml.)
Red wine glass: A smaller red wine glass can hold up to nine ounces (270 ml.) However, the average size is between 12-14 ounces (415 ml) - perfect for your next glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir.
Burgundy glass: The Burgundy wine glass is recognizable due to its balloon-shaped bowl and large capacity. A traditional Burgundy glass is 7 inches (18 cm) high and holds up to 14 ounces (415 ml). Riedel glasses designed a Burgundy glass that holds up to 37-ounce (1095 ml)
Sherry glass: A Copita (Spanish-style sherry glass) can hold up to 6 ounces (180 mL) and is around 6 inches (15 cm) high.
Whiskey glass: These short glass tumblers typically hold 7 to 12 oz (207 - 354mL.) You can use them to serve whiskey on the rocks, neat, or in whiskey cocktails.

Let’s find out different ways to serve this stunning dessert wine.

How To Serve And Enjoy Your Next Bottle Of Port Wine

If you want to serve your favorite Port at your next event, here are some fantastic ideas to showcase its beautiful flavors:

Pair it with these classic foods: Pair your favorite Port with fine cheeses, dried fruits, and walnuts or a slice of chocolate cake.
Use it for cocktails: Port cocktails are a fun spin on this classic drink. White Port, Ruby, Pink, and Tawny Port are perfect to include in a cocktail mix.
Cook with Port: Port wine reduction sauce works wonders when drizzled over steaks and roasted meats. It also works well on ice cream, or you can use it in your chocolate cake recipe. While most styles of Port are great to cook with, the best to go with is a great bottle of Ruby Port.
Keep it simple and serve it neat: Serve your dessert wine “neat” in a dessert wine glass or Port wine glass - the traditional method of enjoying this fortified wine. Serve it at a temperature of 55 - 68ºF (13 - 20ºC.) Your Vintage Port, Tawny Port, and Late-Bottled Vintage Port are best served this way.

Serving an older vintage Port?

You should open and enjoy Vintage Ports within five years of their release or after 20 or more years of aging. The longer Port ages in a bottle, the more fascinating they become.

However, the cork becomes fragile over time - so take care while opening an older vintage Port.

Enjoy Your Port With The Perfect Glass!

Whether you sip your favorite Port with a traditional Port glass or a Port Sipper, it is sure to add joy to any occasion.

This fortified wine is also an excellent choice for those looking to add their wine investment portfolio.

Vinovest, a reputable online wine investment company, can point you in the right direction of which Port suits your investment style. And if you want to invest in other wines from around the world, they can help you source, buy, store, and sell them for profit (when the time comes.)