Wine glasses range from small glasses of under two ounces for dessert and fortified wines to giant balloons that can hold nearly a whole bottle if you don’t stop pouring! Generally, you want glasses large enough to get some air in the wine. A standard pour is around 3-5 ounces, or about the bottom third of a tulip-shaped glass or the bottom quarter of a balloon-shaped glass. If you are not purchasing varietal-specific glasses, choose a glass with about an 8-ounce capacity for white wines and a 10- to 12-ounce capacity for reds to allow for that airspace. You should also consider cleanup; if you intend to put them in the dishwasher, be sure the stems are not so tall as to prevent them from fitting in your washer. This Pinot Noir glass did equally well with red Burgundy, Nebbiolo, Bordeaux and more tannic reds but didn't allow for quite the nuance of flavors and aromas in red wine as the winning Zalto glass. Best Wine Glass for the Casual Wine Drinker: Spiegelau Vino Grande

Céline Bossart's entire journalistic career has been rooted in the world of beverage. Naturally, this involves extensive market research, which translates to a robust glassware collection built over the years.

Glasses should be cleaned with hot water or washed with a small amount of neutral soap. I always make sure to rinse out the glasses immediately after use to avoid any staining. At home with some very delicate glasses, I will often just clean very well with really hot water,” describes Rudzinski. The shape of the glass will affect the taste of the wine. The top of the glass should curve inward, concentrating the aromas; this, in turn, enhances the flavor of the wine. Red wine glasses should have a larger bowl than white since a bigger bowl allows for the red's bolder aromas and flavors to emerge and increases the rate of oxidation, which smooths the complex flavors. White wines require a smaller bowl to maintain the cooler temperature. Champagne glasses are tall and narrow with long stems to retain carbonation and prevent your hand from heating up the sparkling wine.

Okay, so, it’s no Zalto, but the Riedel Veritas is half the cost and was a consistent runner-up in test after test. This glass is still fragile thanks to a spindly stem the company has become known for, but the leaded crystal has a slightly sturdier construction than the Zalto while still boasting a narrow rim that feels luxurious and comfortable for sipping.

Best All-Around Wine Glass: Zalto

With its timeless design and wide bowl, the glass is ideal for white or red wines (and sparkling too, for that matter), as the aesthetic presentation of the wine is attractive and the aromatics are rich and pleasing. We found that delicate aromatics opened up a bit more after swirling, allowing us to experience more of the wine characteristics. If you’re prone to breakage or if you’re planning to use these glasses every day, opt for a more durable material. Glass is cheaper, but crystal is a stronger material and will last longer. That said, crystal glasses are more costly and pricey to replace. If you’re looking for a truly durable glass, Tritan glasses have become an increasingly popular material for high-end glassware. The glass-like material is far stronger than crystal or glass, making these wine glasses resistant to bumps and drops. Red wines can be unyielding, their flavors and aromas wrapped up in layers of tannins that take hours to unfold, but a well-designed wine glass can be extremely helpful in speeding along that process. We found that the unique design of the Josephine No. 3 allows the wine to be swirled vigorously with very little risk of any splashing out. Additionally, the wide surface area aids in aeration, and the flowing tapered design effectively conducts all those newly-released aromatics up to the nose. This is a purpose-built vessel for the red wine lover who doesn't shy away from making a definitive visual statement.

Riedel’s VINUM Viognier/Chardonnay Glass is versatile, lightweight, and durable but elegant looking—and at an accessible price point. If you’re looking for something special, the Zalto Denk'Art Bordeaux Glass is an industry favorite and won't disappoint. Even though it is crafted from machine-made crystal, the glass feels delicate and elegant enough to upgrade your daily drinking routine (though at this price point, you won’t flinch if you break one).

How We Tested the Wine Glasses

The first thing that anyone will notice about this glass is the unique and fascinating shape—but there's much more to the Josephinenhütte Josephine No. 3 Red Wine Glass than what first meets the eye. A visually striking glass crafted from lead-free crystal, it's also an ideal vessel for your next glass of robust red wine. While it might be a bit pricey compared to other options, it's a statement piece—and also happens to be a very practical red wine vessel.