Wine Glass Buying Guide for Restaurants

From sommeliers to casual wine drinkers – anyone will tell you that not all wines should be served in the same shaped glass. The most obvious case: champagne flutes. But your most discerning customers will expect more when it comes to serving different types of red and white wines.

We’ve teamed up with Libbey to present an easy guide for picking out the right glass for the right type of wine. Your choice of stemware will soon earn that nod of approval from your local wine aficionados.

Table of Contents

• • Red Wine: Light-bodied
  • Red Wine: Full and Medium-Bodied
  • White Wine: Light and Medium-Bodied
  • White Wine: Full-Bodied
  • Champagne and Sparkling Wines
  • Dessert Wines

Light-Bodied Red Wines

For these wines with fewer tannins and more subtle flavor, a large bowl and wide mouth allow the wine to breathe, enhancing delicate flavors.

Types of Light-Bodied Red Wines

• Beaujolais
• Pinot Noir
• Sangiovese
• Cabernet Franc

Full and Medium-Bodied Red Wines

These have the highest tannins resulting in complex flavors. A tall bowl directs the wine to the back of the palate for a richer tasting experience.

Types of Full and Medium-Bodied Red Wines

• Bordeaux
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Malbec
• Shiraz
• Syrah

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Light and Medium-Bodied White Wines

Perfect for lighter, more delicate white wines with less alcohol. A smaller bowl concentrates subtle aromas and directs the wine to the tip of the tongue for better appreciation of sweeter flavors.

Types of Light and Medium-Bodied White Wines

• Riesling
• Moscato
• Pinot Grigio
• Pinot Gris
• Petit Chablis

Full-Bodied White Wines

For heavier wines with a fuller body, a wide bowl enhances complex aromas while directing the wine to the back of the tongue, heightening flavor intensity.

Types of Full-Bodied White Wines

• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Gewurtztraminer
• White Zinfandel

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Champagne and Sparkling Wines

A tall, narrow glass maintains flavor concentration and displays effervescence, enhancing presentation.

Types of Champagne and Sparkling Wines

• Champagne
• Prosecco
• Lambrusco

Dessert Wines

A smaller glass enables proper portioning of these higher alcohol wines. A rounded bowl directs the wine to the back of the mouth, perfecting the sweetness.

Types of Dessert Wines

• Ice wine
• Sauternes
• Moscato

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