The same red wine, two different glasses. From the first glass: fruity, fine, nothing wrong with it. From the second: as if someone turned up the volume. Suddenly there are spices that weren't there a moment ago. Rounder tannins. A finish that lingers.
No trick, no imagination. Simply the difference between a random glass and a wine glass that suits the wine.
The wine speaks, but the glass gives it its voice. The right wine glass doesn't change what's in your glass. It does let you hear everything the wine has to say.
Why your wine glass matters
Every wine glass has three parts: the bowl, the stem and the foot. Of those three, only the bowl really matters. Its width determines how much air reaches the wine. The opening at the top directs aromas towards your nose, or doesn't.
Wide and round gives wine room to breathe. Exactly what powerful red wines need. Wines like Amarone, Bordeaux and Ribera del Duero need oxygen to open up. In a glass that's too small they stay closed, tight, sometimes even a little sharp.
Narrow and tall concentrates the aromas and pushes them straight towards your nose. That works well for aromatic white wines and light red wines that rely on finesse.
Tulip-shaped captures aromas through a slight tapering at the top. Not too wide, not too narrow. For most wines, actually the best choice. Not sure which wine glass to pick? Go for a tulip shape.
It's not about expensive or cheap. It's about the shape of your glass working together with what's inside it.
Which wine glass to choose? Spiegelau Definition
Spiegelau has been around for more than 500 years. The brand is part of the Riedel Group and makes glasses that look like mouth-blown craftsmanship but are machine-made. Thin rim, pleasing weight, honest price. And they survive the dishwasher. That sounds like a detail, but anyone who drinks wine regularly knows: it isn't.
The best wine glasses for everyday use
The Definition series combines everything a good wine glass set needs. Each glass weighs just 120 grams, has a razor-thin rim and sits beautifully balanced in the hand. With three or four glasses you cover virtually every wine.
Definition Bordeaux glass. This is the red wine glass for powerful wines. The wide bowl gives tannin-rich wines the space they need to open up. Think of a Guerriero Della Terra, an AALTO, a PSI or a Clos Martinet. Wines with structure and backbone that only come to life when they can breathe. This Bordeaux glass does exactly that: giving air where it's needed.
Definition Burgundy glass. Wider and rounder than the Bordeaux glass, with a larger opening. Made for wines where elegance matters more than power. The Vina Tondonia Reserva belongs here. So do the Brunello di Montalcino and the Vina Arana Gran Reserva. Wines that whisper instead of shout. The Burgundy glass captures those subtle nuances and brings them to your nose.
Definition white wine glass. Smaller and tighter. Designed to preserve freshness and concentrate fruit aromas. The Guerriero Bianco shines here, as do the Kreyss Weissburgunder and the Rioja Blanco. You want to keep white wine cool. A smaller glass helps, simply because you pour smaller amounts that warm up less quickly.
Definition Champagne glass. Not a flat coupe that lets all the bubbles escape. Not a narrow flute that gives you nothing on the nose. But a tulip shape that combines bubbles and aromas. The Gosset Grande Reserve and the Guerrieri Spumante come fully into their own here.
Zieher Vision: wine glasses for special moments
And then there's Zieher. A completely different story.
Every glass in the Vision collection is fully mouth-blown by a master glassblower. That means each glass is unique, so light it startles you the first time you pick one up. The wall is thin enough to almost feel the wine through it.
What Zieher does differently from most glassmakers: the glasses aren't named after grape varieties, but after the character of the wine. The collection was developed together with Silvio Nitzsche, one of Germany's finest sommeliers. You choose your glass based on what's in the bottle, not on what's on the label.
A lovely philosophy. Wine doesn't always fit into boxes.
Vision Fresh
Small, compact, made for freshness and bubbles. This is the glass for the Prosecco DOC, the Guerrieri Spumante Rose and the Rosa dei Venti rose. Wines that are young, lively and uncomplicated. Summer wines. Terrace wines. You reach for this glass when the sun is out and you have nowhere to be.
Vision Straight
For pure wines that should come across clear and unadorned. No frills, no distractions. The Guerriero Del Mare fits here well: Bianchello in its purest form. The Artigas white Priorat and the Kreyss Sauvignon Blanc are also at home here. Wines that rely on honesty get exactly that in this glass.
Vision Intense
The glass for powerful, full-bodied wines that need focus. The tapered neck concentrates intense aromas without overwhelming them. This is where the Amarone from Speri, the Desti from Priorat and the Le Argille Cabernet di Cabernet belong. Wines at 14.5% or more that benefit from a glass that keeps their power in check.
Try the same Amarone side by side in an ordinary glass and a Vision Intense. The people at your table will think they're two different wines.
Vision Balanced
Wide enough for complex wines, but with a shape that respects both power and subtlety. The Zyme Harlequin belongs nowhere else but here. Fifteen grape varieties in one wine. That calls for a glass that gives every layer room. The Chateau Giscours Margaux and the Guerriero Della Terra Vintage 2017 deserve this glass too.
And perhaps surprisingly: the Gosset 12 Ans de Cave a Minima. Champagne aged for twelve years in a wide glass? Sounds odd. But mature champagne needs room to show its complexity. A narrow flute is a waste for a wine like that. Try it once.
Vision Rich
Small glass, narrow opening. Made especially for dessert wines and fortified wines. The alcohol doesn't dominate, the sweet aromas do. The Oro dei Guerrieri passito and the Recioto Amandorlato from Zyme are at their best here. These are wines you drink in small sips. So you want a small glass that holds the concentration.
Buying wine glasses: which brand to choose?
The most common question: which wine glass set should you buy? The honest answer depends on how you drink wine.
Spiegelau Definition if you're looking for a reliable wine glass set for everyday use. The quality is high, the price is fair, and you won't have to cry when one breaks on a Saturday night. These are the best wine glasses for anyone who simply wants to drink good wine without turning it into a whole ritual.
Zieher Vision if you want the best for special moments. When you open a bottle you've been saving for months and you want everything to be right. Each glass is a unique piece of craftsmanship. You feel the difference in your hand. You see the difference in your glass.
Start with a Spiegelau Definition set. A Bordeaux glass and a white wine glass cover eighty percent of your wines. Finding yourself opening special bottles more and more often? Then add a few Zieher Vision glasses. That combination works.
At a glance: which wine glass for which wine?
For quick decisions:
- Powerful red wines (Amarone, Priorat, Ribera del Duero): Spiegelau Definition Bordeaux or Zieher Vision Intense
- Elegant red wines (Brunello, Rioja Reserva, Margaux): Spiegelau Definition Burgundy or Zieher Vision Balanced
- Crisp white wines (Bianchello, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc): Spiegelau Definition White Wine or Zieher Vision Straight
- Bubbles and rose (Prosecco, Spumante, rose): Spiegelau Definition Champagne or Zieher Vision Fresh
- Complex top wines (Harlequin, older vintages, Grand Cru): Zieher Vision Balanced
- Dessert wines (Recioto, Passito): Zieher Vision Rich
Both brands will soon be available in our shop. Keep an eye on the shop for the full range.