Wine glasses have been having a moment in my life lately. Not in the “I’m upgrading to hand-blown Austrian crystal” kind of way—more like the “How did I suddenly end up with a mismatched army of wine glasses?” kind of way.
It all started during a casual chat with Jenny (you should know who this is by now, I won't keep calling her my "MIL"). Somewhere between “how’s work?” and “did you see what was posted in the group chat?” we landed on wine glasses. One of us asked, “Why are they so expensive? Aren’t they all basically the same?”
And honestly? Good question.
I’ve read the explanations: thinner rims, hand-blown glass, specific shapes for specific varietals. But none of that helps when the fancy ones break just as fast as the $1 ones.
See, I break wine glasses like it’s my superpower. It doesn’t matter how careful I think I’m being—one minute I’m drying them like a dainty little wine elf, and the next, I’ve accidentally decapitated the stem. The more expensive the glass, the faster it seems to meet its dramatic end.
So now, I’m basically a wine glass scavenger.
I’ve got a growing collection of “borrowed” glassware—souvenirs from wine tastings, festivals, and mysterious origins I can’t explain.
My favorites? A pair that just appeared in our cabinet after Dominic went to a wine event. I like to think I manifested them. Realistically, I just told him, “Bring home a couple if they’re cute.” Reader, he delivered.
They’re tall and elegant with a nice weight to them. Just enough to feel fancy but not so fragile that I’m afraid to breathe near them. Every time I drink out of one, I feel like I should be discussing tannin structure... even if I’m actually drinking a $9 red blend.
Recently, I went to another tasting with a few friends, and we were handed these adorable glasses. The kind of glass that makes you want to accidentally walk off with it. So naturally… I did. In fairness, they felt like take-home glasses.
Overall, all of this got me thinking—why do we get so hung up on wine glasses, anyway?
Sure, if you’re a sommelier or hosting a Michelin-starred tasting in your living room, you probably want the right glass for your Burgundy. But for the rest of us? The best wine glass is the one that lets you enjoy the wine without getting nervous every time you clink it too hard. The one that feels good in your hand, doesn’t shatter if you so much as look at it the wrong way, and maybe has a funny saying or a memory attached to it. That’s the glass that matters.
So no, I won’t be investing in a $70 Riedel set anytime soon. I’ll keep sipping from my slightly chipped, questionably sourced collection. Each one tells a story—a party, a night with friends, or a wine tasting with suspiciously generous souvenir policies.
Here’s to the glasses that survive the dishwasher, the ones that accidentally come home with us, and the ones that turn a $9 red into a moment.
Every time I look at my wine glasses, I wonder if they’re in a race to see which one breaks first
So... Do Wine Glasses Actually Matter?
(Or can I keep drinking from my roadtrip souvenir glass?)
After years of drinking wine out of everything from legit stemware to mugs that say “World’s Okayest Mom” (I am not a mom, for the record), I’ve finally accepted that wine glasses do make a difference. But before you toss out your mismatching favs, let’s break this down the Drunk on DeVine way.
It’s All About the Aroma
Wine is basically fancy juice + aroma therapy. About 70-80% of what you taste actually comes from smell. So, the shape of your glass isn’t just for aesthetics or to make you look cultured. It’s designed to help deliver those yummy aromas right into your nose.
Big red wine glasses? Those giant bowls aren’t just dramatic—they let more oxygen mix with the wine, helping it “open up” so the flavors mellow out and the smells come alive.
Smaller white wine glasses? They help keep the aromas concentrated, and the wine stays cooler longer.
Stems: Function Over Fancy
There’s a reason wine glasses have stems and it’s not just to make you look like a Real Housewife of Sonoma. The idea is you hold the glass by the stem so your warm little paws don’t heat up the wine. (Especially with whites, rosés, or chilled reds.)
But also… stemless glasses exist. And they’re great if you hate knocking things over or want something less likely to commit glass suicide in the dishwasher. Yes, your hand might warm the wine a bit—but unless you’re analyzing the terroir of a 2015 Burgundy on a Tuesday night, I think we’re okay.
Thick Glass vs. Thin Glass
Ever drink out of a wine glass that feels like a mason jar with aspirations? Yeah, me too.
Thinner glass (especially at the rim) helps wine flow better onto your palate. It sounds a little dramatic, but there’s something nice about sipping from a delicate glass—until you break it just by looking at it too long. It’s a trade-off.
Which Glass Are You? (This Is Basically a Buzzfeed Quiz Now)
Let’s decode the wild world of glass types:
Bordeaux Glass
Tall with a wide bowl. Great for bold reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Lets the wine breathe and softens those tannins.
Very “I own a decanter and I’m not afraid to use it” energy
Burgundy Glass
Rounder and more bulbous.
Perfect for Pinot Noir and lighter reds that need to swirl and twirl like they’re auditioning for Dancing with the Grapes.
White Wine Glass
Smaller, narrower. Keeps wine cooler and directs aroma to your nose.
Also helps you pretend you’re sipping Sauvignon Blanc at a seaside café instead of on your couch in sweatpants.
Sparkling Glass
Traditionally the tall flute (for the bubbles), but now tends to follow a more tulip shape. It keeps the fizz but lets you actually smell the wine.
Champagne isn’t just sparkling—it's speaking. Listen before you gulp.
Universal Glass
The MVP of my collection.
A good all-purpose glass can handle reds, whites, and even sparkling if you’re feeling rebellious.
If you only want one good wine glass, this is it.
Wait... Do I Need All These?
Girl, no. Unless you’re hosting full-blown tastings (in which case, call me), you don’t need a different glass for every varietal. Most of the time, one nice, versatile glass will do the trick. And if that glass says “Wine Not?” on the side—so be it.
But if you love the ritual of drinking Pinot from a Burgundy glass and feeling like a grown-up, lean into it. Just don’t let it stop you from pouring rosé into a mason jar if that’s what’s clean.
We’re drinking wine, not performing surgery.
Final Sips (aka: My Official Wine Glass Philosophy)
Use what makes you happy. If it enhances the experience? Amazing. If it’s dishwasher-safe and came free with your last wine subscription? That works too.
A glass is a vessel for joy, and unless you're out here judging me for drinking Chianti from a Halloween tumbler, I’m not judging you.
Cheers to beautiful wine, mismatched glasses, and memories that come with both.