Are You Using the Wrong Wine Glass? Tips for Better Tasting Wine

What if we told you your wine could taste a lot better, brighter, and more balanced, and you need not spend a dime more on the bottle?

“Try sipping the same wine from differently-shaped glasses. It’s fascinating how much the flavor and aroma changes,” says South Carolina winery owner Jenna Bice. “The right glass turns wine from ‘just a drink’ into a full sensory immersion.”

Think of a wine glass like a stage for a performance, suggests Heidi Finley, assistant food and beverage manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. If the stage is too small, poorly lit, or the acoustics are off, you probably enjoy the show less than you might if everything was dialed-in. Similarly, “a less-than-optimal glass can mute aromas, change how the wine hits your palate, and even make it taste flat or unbalanced. Wine’s flavors are shaped as much by smell as taste, and the wrong glass can block or disperse those aromas in the wrong way.” 

It’s not about looks or being fussy, the sommeliers agree. It’s about letting the wine show you what it can really do and “getting the most joy from every sip,” Bice adds. The right wine glass can do just that.

5 of the Most Common Wine Glass Mistakes—Plus What to Do Instead

You probably know that sipping that Sauvignon Blanc from a red solo cup is probably not your best bet. But there are some surprising little nuggets we learned while polling the pros about using the wrong wine glass.

“The most common mistake is assuming that price equals quality. Often, we end up paying for the brand rather than the actual composition of the glass,” explains Riesler Morales, the head of mixology for Richard Sandoval Hospitality. 

Small details like the shape, size, and material quality of a wine glass all add up to make a big difference in your overall wine tasting experience. The brand? That matters a bit less, but we’re highlighting one sommelier sweetheart below if you’d like a specific shopping list. (Psst…it’s available at Target!)

Read on to discover how you might be using the wrong wine glass (you’re not alone!), and to score tips from the pros about how to maximize the bliss you get from each bottle.

Your glass is too small.

It can be tempting to stick with a small glass to save storage space—or to fill any glass up past the widest point so you don’t have to refill it later. Wines with strong structure need space to breathe, though, and “a larger bowl lets oxygen work its magic,” Bice says.

Ideally, your glass will be large enough to allow you to pour 4 to 5 ounces and have the top of the liquid land about one-third of the way up the bowl. This will allow “space for the wine to ‘breathe’ or for aromas to collect. It also creates the perfect surface area for oxygen to interact with the wine, and allows  you to swirl without risking spilling on your tablecloth,” Finley tells BHG.

You swear by stemless for all occasions.

There’s no need to ditch stemless wine glasses entirely, as they’re extremely versatile, and work well for cocktails and other drinks like sparkling water, says Spiegelworld executive wine director Drea Boulanger. Still, for most scenarios, a wine glass with a stem and a round base is your better bet.

“Stemmed glasses aren’t just for elegance,” Bice notes. “They help keep wine at the right temperature by preventing hand warmth from affecting the bowl.” 

Stemless glasses certainly have their place in the wine world, though. When fun takes priority over precision, or when stability matters more than tradition, stemless wine glasses are A-OK. A few green-flag scenarios for stemless, according to the sommeliers: 

• During casual, social occasions—especially those outside (picnics, backyard barbecues, pool parties)
• When you’re pairing that Pinot Noir with a soak in the bathtub
• If your storage space is extremely tight
• When your wine is chilled too much, and you’re aiming to warm it up so it expresses itself more

You serve sparkling wine in a flute.

Although the tall, slim, and elegant shape is appealing, that Champagne flute isn’t doing your spectacular sparkling wine any favors.

“Flutes are a classic and showcase the bubbles beautifully; the narrow shape helps bubbles rise and keeps that sparkle going,” explains Scott Thomas, certified sommelier and wine director at Restaurant Olivia. “On the flip side, they tend to mute the aromas and complexity of sparkling wine.”

The narrow opening doesn’t let the aromas really shine. For a more rounded, expressive, complex flavor adventure, try one of these alternatives:

• A tulip-shaped sparkling wine glass 
• A white wine glass
• A coupe

“Flutes are fine for festive toasts, but if you’re savoring a high-quality Champagne, go for a shape with more bowl space,” Finley says.

You purchased a full set.

Similar to how you don’t need to purchase a whole knife block full of tools, and will likely ignore the majority of pans and skillets in that set, it’s possible to streamline your shopping (and the storage space required) when it comes to wine glasses. 

“The venue’s concept and style should guide the choice to use—or skip—different sizes and bowl shapes. There are certainly purists who believe each wine performs differently in a specific shape, but for most occasions, a few basics will serve you well,” Morrales tells us.

If you only have room or budget for one type, invest in a crystal, stemmed, medium-size all-purpose white wine glass, the sommeliers agree. If you have a bit more wiggle room in terms of space and price, Bice recommends adding:

• A large-bowled glass for full-bodied reds
• A tulip-shaped glass for aromatic whites and sparkling wines

Prefer not to purchase anything? You can now rent your entire tablescape, glasses included, if you like.

The material is too thick.

If you order wine out at a restaurant every so often, you’ve probably witnessed the full spectrum of wine glass widths. Some materials are as thin as a sheet of paper, while others are about as thick as my eyeglasses. (Thanks for the far-from-20/20, mom and dad!)

“Typically, thinner is better, especially at the rim, as it allows the liquid to flow more smoothly,” Boulanger says.

As far as material goes, here are the three common options—listed from most to least preferable, by our sommelier panel.

• Crystal: Glasses made with crystal can be spun very fine while staying strong, which makes for an elegant drinking experience, notes Joseph Morreale, The Joule hotel’s director of food and beverage. These glasses deliver “clearer brilliance and show the wine’s color beautifully, but it’s a bit more delicate and usually needs hand washing,” Thomas concedes.
• Glass: Glass is usually slightly less clear than crystal, but “are a great alternative,” according to Bice. “Modern glass options can be very beautiful and more affordable than crystal,” Morreale says. Plus, glass wine glasses are often dishwasher-safe.
• Plastic or Acrylic: Plastic has its place for casual outdoor events, but it can’t replace the tactile and visual pleasure of drinking from fine crystal or even good glass, Morales admits. Reserve acrylic or plastic glasses for poolside or picnic moments, Bice and Morreale suggest.

If you’re seeking a shopping list, Bice reveals that “in our tasting room, we use crystal Riedel glasses—widely regarded as the best—because the shape, size, and material all influence how wine tastes, smells, and feels.” You can find Riedel wine glasses online and at major retailers like Target, Sur La Table, and Amazon, where an all-purpose crystal white wine glass goes for about $23.