5 Best White Wine Glasses (Buying Tips, White vs Red Glasses)

Wondering which white wine glasses to buy, and whether the glass shape will affect your whole tasting experience?

Serving your precious Chardonnay or Semillon wine in the right glass could make the difference between discovering it’s full potential and merely drinking it. 

This article explores the different kinds of white wine glasses that you can buy. 

We’ll also take you through the anatomy of white wine glasses and why choosing the right glass is so important. (And if you want to buy some white wines to pour in these glasses, we even have a list of the best whites you can buy!)

Why Should You Choose the Right White Wine Glass?

Different glass shapes have been proven to affect the density of the ethanol vapors in your wine. It is these vapors that carry the wine’s aroma to your nose and are responsible for bringing out it’s delicious bouquet of flavors. 

You can get a universal glass or an all purpose wine glass like the Zalto Denk'art Universal Glass, to enjoy all your favorite whites. However, you may be robbing yourself of the beautiful wine experience that winemakers work so hard to create! 

The proper varietal glass can make a huge difference.

So here’s your essential guide to picking the right white wine glasses:

Different Types Of White Wine Glasses

In general, white wine glasses are designed with a smaller bowl (than a red wine glass) to preserve and deliver more aromas, maintain cooler temperatures, and express the delicious acidity in the white wine. 

However, full bodied wines (oaked Chardonnay and Viognier) are better served in a white wine glass with a larger bowl. This larger bowl for white wine, initially introduced by Riedel as the “Montrachet” glass, emphasizes the creamy texture.

Get ready to discover the perfect white wine glasses for different styles of white wine! 

1. Chardonnay Glass

Generally, the Chardonnay wine glass is more upright, has a “U” shape, and is smaller than a Pinot Noir glass. The opening of the Chardonnay glass is slightly larger, which makes it the perfect glass shape for younger white wines. 

The wide bowl of this white wine glass provides enough space for aeration without losing the aroma’s concentration and maintains the sweetness and acidity on the palate. 

This larger opening will direct the wine to the sides and the tip of your tongue. This white wine glass helps you taste the sweetness of the wine with every sip that you take.

The Chardonnay glass is also perfect for serving your favorite Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Viognier, and Chenin Blanc.

2. Wine Glass for Sparkling Wine and Champagne

Sparkling wine and Champagne glasses have a much narrower opening than a regular wine glass and are upright. This wine glass shape of the Champagne glass (also known as a Champagne Flute) helps keep the fizz longer and allows the bubbles to play on your tongue.

The smaller opening of a sparkling wine glass will allow you to enjoy the taste and aromas of the sparkling wine from the very first sip. The opening will also guide the sparkling wine to the tip of your tongue. 

The shape of the sparkling wine glass also guides the aromas to the top of the glass. The broader base of the Champagne glass helps your glass balance and not tip over. 

3. Wine Glasses for Sweet White Wine

You’ll also find glassware designed especially for sweet white wine (dessert wine.) 

It is a smaller glass, sometimes called a Sherry glass, and has a much smaller rim than other white wine glasses. The taper on the rim also makes it easier to swirl the wine without splashing or spilling. 

The smaller opening of the Sherry glass guides the dessert wine directly to the center and back of your mouth. By doing this, the sweetness of the wine will not overwhelm your palate and give you a taste and feel of a sweet wine that you can enjoy with every sip. 

Since dessert wines have a higher alcohol content, smaller servings and the petite size of the glass make it perfect for that after-dinner drink. 

4. Antique Wine Glasses For Your White Wine

Antique white wine glasses look charming, but they’re not designed to improve the wine’s aroma or flavor. 

They’re made from a variety of materials, from plain glass to leaded crystal. The leaded crystal glasses are on the pricier side but are a great way to add some personality to your barware collection.

5. Glasses for Rose Wine

When it comes to Rose wine glasses, there are two kinds - ones with short bowls and tapered rims and ones with a short bowl and a flared lip. 

Both of these long-stemmed glasses work perfectly well, but you should pick a glass with a flared lip if you’re serving a younger rose. This will intensify the sweetness of the wine. If you plan to drink and serve a more mature Rose, opt for a glass with a tapered rim. 

Now let’s look at how the different parts of the wine glass affect your wine tasting experience. 

The Anatomy Of A White Wine Glass

A wine glass is so much more than just glassware to pour your favorite white wine in. It has four parts - the base, stem, bowl, and rim. 

While the base stabilizes the glass, the stem elongates the glass and gives the wine lover a place to hold the glass without affecting the temperature of the wine. 

The bowl sits on top of the stem and is the most crucial feature of the wine glass. The bowl of the wine glass should be large enough to comfortably swirl the wine while being tapered enough to preserve the beautiful aromas.

Bowls come in all shapes and sizes. For instance, the “U” shaped white wine glasses that you serve your white wine in helps release the wine’s aroma and keep it cool. A Champagne flute in which you serve sparkling wine or Champagne helps maintain the bubbles a bit longer.

On the other hand, red full bodied wines, like Cabernet Sauvignon, need the room to breathe and release their aroma. So, red wine glasses with a larger bowl (like in a Burgundy glass) and a large surface area are the best. 

The uppermost part of the bowl in a wine glass is the rim. It should be thin and elegant, so it doesn’t distract the wine drinker or stop the wine as it flows from the glass. 

Thicker rims can be a sign of a cheaper “make” of wine glass and can distract the wine drinker from the entire tasting experience. 

Let’s take a deeper look at the difference in the anatomy of white and red wine glasses.  

Difference Between Red And White Wine Glasses

Choosing your wine glass shape should depend on the types of wine that you want to serve. And the difference in shapes lies mainly in the structure of the bowl and the stem. 

• Bowl: A white wine glass has a smaller bowl than a red wine glass. The bowl of a white wine glass will also be less curved and have a much narrower opening. 

A red wine glass, like the Bordeaux glass, Burgundy glass, or the Pinot Noir glass has a slightly different glass shape. It has a larger bowl to aerate the red wine - perfect for that Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Merlot. 

In comparison, a white wine glass has a shorter bowl and allows the wine lover to bring the wine close to their nose to experience the wine’s aroma. 

• Stem: One of the most notable differences between red and white wine glasses is the length of the stem. 

White wine glasses have a long stem, allowing more space between your hand and the white wine. This distance prevents you from accidentally warming the glass and affecting the temperature of the wine. 

You can also try stemless wine glasses (wine tumblers), which have similar bowls and rims compared to the stemmed wine glasses. However, a stemless glass is more suited for red wine as it is not temperature sensitive. 

Stemless wine glasses are also perfect for large crowds, as there is less chance of a stemless glass being knocked over. 

All set to buy the right white wine glass? 

But before you swipe your credit card to buy a white wine glass set, there are some things you need to consider.

4 More Tips For Buying The Perfect White Wine Glass

Before you get lost in the middle of the different wine glass sets, trying to choose between the Riedel Vinum and Riedel Veritas gift sets - here are some things to consider. 

1. Popular brands, like Schott Zwiesel, may offer lead-free crystal wine glasses. It doesn’t matter if you buy plain wine glass or crystal glass stemware - as it won’t affect the taste of your white or red wine. 

2. Consider whether you want your drinkware to be dishwasher safe and whether your stem wine glasses will fit in your dishwasher. This is where those stemless wine glasses come in handy.

3. Are you someone who enjoys a different white and red wine each day? Then a universal glass may be the best option for you. 

4. Remember, it doesn’t matter if your stemware is made in China or New York. As long as it has the right bowl shape for your varietal wine - you will get the complete wine experience. 

And if you prefer a Burgundy Cabernet over a dessert wine,you can use a Bordeaux or Burgundy glass to pour your red wine. Remember to aerate your wine in a decanter to soften the tannins.

Want to find the perfect white wine to pour into your new white wine glass?

8 Stunning Wines To Serve In Your White Wine Glasses 

Here’s our list of stunning wines perfect for any white wine enthusiast:

1. 2010 Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru ($13,790)  

A gorgeous pale lemon yellow Chardonnay with fresh acidity that deserves the right white wine glass.

2. 2005 Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru ($12,630)

A Chardonnay that opens up with the perfect balance of ripe, luscious fruit, acidity, and minerality. 

3. 2011 Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc ($8,424)

This gorgeous Sauvignon Blanc has a nose of caramel, smoke, black plums, chocolate, and espresso bean. 

4. 2004 Weingut Keller G-Max Riesling Trocken ($5478)

This dry Riesling has a bouquet of orange, grapefruit, and apricot, and a stunning texture. 

5. 2009 Liber Pater Blanc ($4,300)

This dry white wine from Bordeaux opens up with aromas of flowers, honeysuckle, pineapple, and spices. 

6. 1999 Emmanuel Houillon - Pierre Overnoy Arbois-Pupillin Vin Jaune ($2,420)

The nose of this complex white wine reveals beautiful notes of saffron, turmeric, walnuts, curry spices, and chalk. 

7. 2016 Domaine des Miroirs Mizuiro Les Saugettes ($830)

This elegant white wine has flavors of white flowers, fruits, citrus, and brioche and a striking minerality. 

8. 1999 Emmanuel Houillon - Pierre Overnoy Arbois-Pupillin Chardonnay ($824)

This remarkable wine opens up with a bouquet of savory, smoky, and tangy notes and has a high acidity level.

Whether you prefer a great Pinot Noir wine or a Pinot Grigio, having a different wine glass for each will definitely elevate your wine experience! 

While there’s nothing better than drinking a great bottle of wine with friends - the right wine can also be a great investment opportunity. 

If you want to find the perfect white or red wine for investment purposes, go with a trusted wine investment company like Vinovest.

Buy The Best White And Red Wines Through Vinovest

Vinovest is an online-based wine investment company that helps you buy, store, and sell authentic wines from around the world. 

You’ll be able to buy the best wines at below-retail prices from the best wineries and wine merchants in the world. 

Vinovest will have your provenance-checked wines stored in professional bonded warehouses under climate-controlled conditions. 

You’ll only need a minimum amount of $1,000 in your account and pay an annual fee of 2.5% (or 1.9% for a portfolio over $50,000.)

Want to open a bottle of White wine for a celebration or sell a red wine to another collector? 

Vinovest will take care of all the finer details when it comes to delivery.

Enjoy Your White Wine In the Perfect Glass While Your Portfolio Grows!

Well, you could enjoy your wine in any water glass or drinking glass from your home bar. But, choosing the right wine glass will help you experience the full potential of your favorite white wine. 

When it comes to finding the ultimate white or red wine for your wine collection, your own personal Master Sommelier is ready to help guide you all the way. Simply sign up on the Vinovest website and discover the wonderful world of fine wine investment.