Home Decor
Types of Wine Glasses
The main types of wine glasses: Bordeaux, Burgundy, white, flute, tulip, coupe, stemless and port, with which glass suits which wine and how full to pour.
At a glance
- Red wine glasses have larger bowls than white wine glasses.
- A Bordeaux glass suits bold reds and a Burgundy glass suits Pinot Noir.
- A flute is narrow, a tulip curves in at the rim and a coupe is wide and shallow.
- Fill a wine glass less than half full.
Tall Red Wine Glass, 550ml, 24cm £19.99 · Free UK delivery Shop The main types of wine glasses are red, white, sparkling and port glasses, plus stemless versions. Red glasses include the Bordeaux and Burgundy shapes. Sparkling glasses come as flutes, tulips or coupes.
What are the main types of wine glasses?
The main types of wine glasses are the Bordeaux, the Burgundy, the white wine glass, the flute, the tulip, the coupe, the stemless glass and the port glass. The table sets out each shape.
| Glass | Bowl | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Bordeaux | Large bowl with a wide opening | Bold reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Burgundy (Bourgogne) | Large round bowl | Pinot Noir |
| White wine glass | Smaller bowl | Most white wines |
| Flute | Narrow and tall | Sparkling wine |
| Tulip | Round bottom, curves in at the rim | Sparkling wine |
| Coupe | Wide and shallow | Sparkling wine |
| Stemless | Bowl with no stem | Everyday wine |
| Port glass | Small bowl, narrow mouth | Port |
Wine Folly matches glass shapes to wine styles in its guide. It notes that the port glass reduces evaporation of a high-alcohol wine.
What is a red wine glass?
A red wine glass has a large bowl on a stem. The bowl gives the wine room to swirl. Wine Folly says the wider opening of a Bordeaux glass makes wines taste smoother.
The Tall Red Wine Glass holds 550ml and stands 24cm high. It costs £19.99 and is sold as a single glass. The supplier calls it crystal glass but gives the material as glass. LuxuryTrex sells it as glass.
What is a Burgundy glass?
A Burgundy glass is a red wine glass with a large round bowl for lighter reds such as Pinot Noir. Wine Folly says the round bowl helps collect the aromas.
The Large-Bowl Crystal Red Wine Glass is the Burgundy-style glass in the range. Its bowl is 11cm across. It is listed as lead-free crystal at £33.99. It is currently out of stock.
What is a white wine glass?
A white wine glass has a smaller bowl than a red wine glass. Wine Folly says the smaller bowl keeps the wine cooler and preserves floral aromas. It adds that full-bodied whites such as oak-aged Chardonnay suit a larger bowl.
LuxuryTrex does not currently stock a dedicated white wine glass. The larger red wine glasses in this guide suit a full-bodied white.
What are the types of champagne glasses?
The three types of champagne glass are the flute, the tulip and the coupe.
The Crystal Champagne Glasses have a tulip profile with a narrower mouth than a standard flute. They are listed as lead-free crystal and sold as a pair at £30.99. They are currently out of stock. The Crystal Champagne Flutes cost £54.99 and are also out of stock. The supplier gives no capacity, height or glass count for the flutes.
Do wine glasses come with decorative stems?
Yes, some do. A decorative stem is a design choice and not a separate glass type. The gold stem glass is a red wine glass with a gold-coloured stem and a black base. It costs £39.99 and is sold singly. The supplier photos show the stem separating from the base for storage.
The supplier gives no height or width. The bowl is glass. No material is given for the stem.
How do the wine glass sizes compare?
The Burgundy-style glass is the largest of the glasses with a stated capacity. The table compares every glass in the range.
| Glass | Capacity | Height | Bowl or opening | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burgundy-style glass | 650ml | 24cm | 11cm bowl | Out of stock |
| Tall Red Wine Glass | 550ml | 24cm | 7cm opening | In stock |
| Gold stem glass | 500ml | Not stated | Not stated | In stock |
| Tulip champagne glasses | 180ml each | 24cm | 6cm bowl | Out of stock |
| Crystal Champagne Flutes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Out of stock |
Capacities are the figures each supplier gives.
How much wine should you pour?
Pour less than half a glass. Wine Folly notes that most wine glasses are designed to be filled less than half-full.
The supplier of the Burgundy-style glass gives a 175ml pour as a quarter of the bowl.
Which wine glasses are dishwasher safe?
Only the Burgundy-style glass and the tulip champagne glasses are listed as dishwasher safe. Both are listed for the top rack with stem cradles.
The Tall Red Wine Glass and the gold stem glass have no care guidance. Hand wash them in warm water. Dry them with a soft cloth.
How do you display wine glasses?
A tabletop holder keeps wine glasses together on a table or a bar. The bronze iron holder is one example.
It is welded iron and measures 26 x 15 x 33cm. It weighs about 565g. The supplier lists it for home, hotel or bar use. It costs £24.99. Glasses and wine are not included.
Which wine glasses are sold as a set?
Of the glasses with a stated pack size, only the tulip champagne glasses come as a set.
The in-stock wine glasses are sold singly. Order two or more of one model for a matching set.
Which one to choose
Pick the glass by the wine you pour.
- An everyday red: the Tall Red Wine Glass.
- A statement stem: the gold stem glass.
- Pinot Noir: the Burgundy-style glass when available.
- Sparkling wine: the tulip pair once it is back in stock.
- A tidy display: the bronze iron holder.
Every wine glass in the range is in Home Decor.
Wine glasses compared in this guide
| Product | Price | Why it is here |
|---|---|---|
| Tall Red Wine Glass, 550ml, 24cm | £19.99 | A single tall red wine glass with a long thin stem and a round foot. |
| Red Wine Glass with Gold Stem and Black Base, 500ml | £39.99 | A single red wine glass with a gold-coloured stem and a black base that separates for storage. |
 Large-Bowl Crystal Red Wine Glass. Burgundy Profile | £33.99Out of stock | A single Burgundy-style red wine glass listed as lead-free crystal, currently out of stock. |
 Crystal Champagne Flutes | £54.99Out of stock | Champagne flutes with no stated size or glass count, currently out of stock. |
 Crystal Champagne Glasses. Tulip Profile | £30.99Out of stock | A pair of tulip-profile champagne glasses listed as lead-free crystal, currently out of stock. |
| Bronze Iron Wine Glass Holder, 26 x 15 x 33cm | £24.99 | A bronze welded iron holder for wine glasses, sold without glasses or wine. |
Questions answered
How many wine glasses do you need at home? +
A set of red glasses and a set of flutes covers most drinking. Wine Folly suggests six red glasses and a set of 4 to 6 champagne flutes as a starter set.
Why do wine glasses have stems? +
The stem lets you hold the glass without warming the drink. Hold it by the stem for chilled white or sparkling wine.
Are champagne flutes better than coupes? +
No, neither is better for every occasion. A flute suits a tall pour of fizz. A coupe suits a shallow pour or a cocktail served straight up.
Can you drink red wine from a white wine glass? +
Yes, any clean wine glass works. The smaller bowl gives the wine less room to swirl.
Are stemless wine glasses a good choice? +
Yes, for everyday drinking. Wine Folly describes stemless glasses as easier to maintain.
