Guest Picks: Gorgeous Glassware for a Wine Bar
Quaff in high style with wineglasses, flutes, decanters and tumblers for all kinds of tastes and occasions
Just getting into wine and confused about which wineglass to buy? Already a wino and want to expand your collection? Here are my very favorite glasses for all styles and occasions, and as a sommelier and wine writer, I have a lot of practice. They are good looking and functional, and there's something for everyone (and every wine). Keep in mind that being able to see the color of the wine adds to the overall enjoyment of it, so almost everything I've chosen is in clear glass. — Whitney from Brunellos Have More Fun
Zalto Universal Glass Set
Zalto wineglasses, made in Austria, are some super sexy stemware. They are elegant and delicate, mouth-blown, and many wine geeks' favorite stem. I prefer the multipurpose universal glass because it's great for white, red or even bubbly.
Bormioli Rocco Bodega Tumbler Mini Glasses, Set of 12
I love a simple low tumbler for a weeknight red wine. You'll find these glasses at wine bars all over Paris. No need for stems or pretension.
Frosted Dot Coupes
There's just something special about drinking champagne from a delicate, old-fashioned coupe. These gold-rimmed, polka dot–etched coupes are lovely and allow for all those fizzy bubbles and vibrant aromatics to hit your nose.
Rona Wineglass
I consider this the cheaper alternative to the Zalto glasses I love so much. It has a similar sexy shape and stem for a fraction of the cost.
Pokal Glass
There's something so Italian trattoria about these glasses. I love using them for a simple red wine with spaghetti and meatballs during a laid-back Sunday supper.
Vintage Light Purple Apéritifs
How fun are these? A lot of people don't think to fully enjoy a pre-dinner drinking moment. Imagine this aperitif glass in your hand filled with sparkling wine, an Aperol spritz, dry sherry or Lillet on ice.
Bryn Grappa-Cordial Glass
Grappa and other digestifs are a nice postprandial soif that more people should get into. This diminutive style of glass is made for the strong stuff, as a little goes a long way.
Ikea 365+ Ivrig Wineglass
Ikea actually has some good wineglasses. They are cheap and (somewhat) durable. I love the tulip shape and versatility of this style.
Riedel Vivant Decanter
You don't need a big, fancy, expensive decanter to get the job done. This will work just fine to get some air into a closed-off wine, and it will look good on the table too.
Riedel Vivant Red Wine Glasses Set
Riedel makes an inexpensive line of wineglasses for Target. Their basic red wine glass is one I personally own. It's great for white, bubbly or red and is sturdy enough to withstand a few dings and spills.
Cylinder Flute
I'm not a huge fan of traditional champagne flutes. All fuss and no fun, the rim is just too narrow to really dig into a wine. This tall stemless tumbler keeps the bubbles focused, but it isn't as hard to drink out of.
Lina Cava Flute
Take this and a bottle of cava, and you're set! It has the coupe shape I love for sparkling wine and pretty scalloped etching.
Joao Tumbler
If Gaudí designed a stemless wineglass, it might look something like this. It spices up the stemless look and has a handy groove for your hand.
Magno Tumbler
The detail and etching on this tumbler are perfect. You get a little flair without sacrificing the visibility of the wine. It's perfect for a warm spring day and a glass of cold rosé.
Engraved Glass Rim Wineglass
Zara's home line is pretty great. This is the glass you use when you want feel a little baroque and fancy.
Riedel Vinum Burgundy Glasses, Set of 2 | Williams Sonoma
The classic burgundy bowl shape is great for when you really want to get your swirl on.
Classic Wine Decanter | Williams Sonoma
This may not be the cheapest decanter, but it's not the most expensive either. It has the wide space at the base to really let the wine breathe.
Zalto Champagne Glass
The Zalto champagne flute is beyond fabulous. It's perfectly constructed to keep a fine bead of bubbles streaming from the bottom of the glass to the top. The tulip shape keeps the opening from being too narrow, which is a major pet peeve of mine. It's a splurge, but worth it!
Riedel O Cabernet/Merlot Wine Tumblers
Riedel's O series is the standard in stemless. This was one of the first wineglasses I ever owned.
Next: 11 Space-Savvy Alternatives to Wine Cellars
Next: 11 Space-Savvy Alternatives to Wine Cellars
Tip: Save your best wine for another day and use these for cheap and fun vino.