Wine Glasses

Wine glasses in crystal and glass — Bordeaux bowls, universal shapes, stemless tumblers, brandy and dessert-wine glasses, and hand-painted and cut goblets.

Which wine glass shape actually matters?

Two: a large bowl that tapers inward for reds, and a narrower one for whites. The bowl holds air, which is what opens a tannic red; the taper funnels aromatics to the rim rather than letting them disperse. Everything beyond those two is refinement, and a single universal shape loses very little across the range.

Stemmed or stemless?

A stem keeps a warm hand off the bowl, which matters for anything served chilled. Stemless glasses are far harder to knock over and fit a dishwasher rack, so they suit everyday meals and outdoor tables. Most households use the stemless ones more often and keep the stems for a laid dinner.

How many should a household own?

Six of one universal shape covers nearly every meal, including a table of six. Add a second set only if you regularly serve two wines at once. Ultra-thin crystal and anything gilded should be hand washed; pressed and cut glass take a machine.