Types of wine glasses: which glass for which wine?

The right wine glass can noticeably change the wine experience. Not because every bottle necessarily requires a unique glass, but because the shape of the bowl influences how much space the wine has, how aromas collect, and how quickly the wine reaches temperature. With a few well-chosen glass types, you can go a long way.

In this guide, you will read which wine glass suits red wine, white wine, champagne, and various grape varieties. You will also see which models from the Mémoire collection match those styles and when a set of 2 pieces or 6 pieces is practical.

What types of wine glasses are there?

The most important types of wine glasses are red wine glasses, white wine glasses, champagne glasses, and all-round wine glasses. In addition, there are specialized shapes for certain grapes or wine styles, such as Burgundy, Nebbiolo, and Sangiovese glasses.

• Red wine glasses: usually a larger bowl to give the wine more room.
• White wine glasses: often slightly more compact to better maintain freshness and temperature.
• Champagne glasses: designed for sparkling wine, from slim flutes to larger aromatic bowls.
• All-round wine glasses: balanced shapes suitable for multiple wine styles.
• Grape-specific glasses: shapes that suit, for example, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo, or Sangiovese.

For those who do not want to use a separate glass for every wine, a good all-round glass, a larger red wine glass, and a champagne glass can cover almost every wine moment.

Quick selection: which wine glass for which wine?

Wine	Recommended glass type	Matching Mémoire models
Pinot Noir, Burgundy	Wide, round bowl that tapers slightly towards the top	Burgundy or Suprema
Nebbiolo, Barolo, and powerful red wine	Generous bowl with plenty of room for aroma development	Nebbiolo or Maestosa
Sangiovese, Chianti	Spacious red wine glass with a balanced bowl shape	Sangiovese
Full-bodied white wine, Chardonnay	More spacious white wine glass	Céleste Grande
Crisp white wine	Medium-sized, slightly narrower bowl	Ernestine
Champagne, prosecco, cava	Slim champagne glass or aromatic flute	Céleste or Flûte Diamante
All-round red and white	Universal, balanced bowl	Ernestine or Amore

Which glass for red wine?

Red wine usually gets more space in the glass than white wine. A larger bowl provides room to gently swirl the wine and increases the surface area where wine and air meet. Which shape works best depends mainly on the style of the wine.

Pinot Noir and Burgundy

Elegant and aromatic red wines like Pinot Noir come into their own in a wide, round bowl that becomes slightly narrower toward the opening. That shape offers plenty of room in the lower part of the glass and keeps aromas concentrated around the nose.

The Burgundy wine glasses have a 720 ml round bowl and are designed for this. The Suprema, with a capacity of 700 ml, is also suitable for Pinot Noir and comparable red wines.

Powerful and complex red wine

For powerful red wine, the glass can be even more generous. More space makes it easier to swirl the wine and allow aromas to develop. The Nebbiolo, at 980 ml, is the largest wine glass in the collection and is intended for powerful, complex red wines. The Maestosa of 720 ml is an alternative with a striking, inward-curved bottom.

Sangiovese and Chianti

For Sangiovese and Chianti, a spacious but balanced bowl is suitable. The Sangiovese wine glasses of 650 ml are specifically tuned for this.

Check out the collection of red wine glasses for all models.

Which glass for white wine?

White wine is usually served cooler and often benefits from a slightly more compact bowl. That does not mean every white wine glass has to be small. Full-bodied, oak-aged white wines actually benefit from more space than crisp and light white wines.

Full-bodied white wine and Chardonnay

For richer white wines, such as Chardonnay, a more spacious bowl is pleasant. The Céleste Grande has a capacity of 600 ml and is intended for full-bodied white wines and richer champagnes.

Crisp white wine

For crisp white wine, you can choose a somewhat narrower all-round glass. The Ernestine, at 560 ml, is versatile for both white and red wine.

View all options in the white wine glasses collection.

Which glass for champagne, prosecco, and cava?

With sparkling wine, you want to preserve the bubbles on the one hand and have enough room for aroma on the other. A classic narrow flute keeps the surface area relatively small. A slightly rounder champagne bowl gives more room for smell and taste.

The Céleste champagne flutes have a rounder 430 ml bowl and are suitable for champagne and prosecco. The Flûte Diamante is a slimmer alternative with a distinct shape.

View the full collection of champagne glasses.

Do you need a different glass for every wine?

No. For those who want a practical approach, three categories can cover almost every wine moment:

• a spacious glass for red wine;
• a medium-sized glass for white wine and rosé;
• a champagne glass for sparkling wine.

If you mainly drink one specific style of wine, a more specific glass can be interesting. A Burgundy glass for Pinot Noir or an extra-large bowl for Nebbiolo, for example, provides a clearly different drinking experience than a small universal glass.

Choosing wine glasses in sets of 2 or 6?

At Mémoire, many models are deliberately available as separate sets of 2 pieces and 6 pieces. A set of 2 is practical when you want to try a new model, are drinking with two people, or want to combine different glass types. A set of 6 is suitable for dinners, guests, and a complete table setting.

The 6-piece versions are separate products. This way, you can immediately choose, for example, wine glasses 6 pieces – Amore, 6 Burgundy glasses, 6 Nebbiolo glasses, or 6 Céleste champagne flutes.

What else should you look for when choosing a wine glass?

Besides the wine style, there are a few practical points that make a difference:

• Bowl capacity: a larger bowl provides more room for swirling.
• Opening: a tapered opening helps concentrate aromas in the glass.
• Stem: holding the stem limits warming from your hand.
• Rim: a thin, even drinking rim feels more refined.
• Occasion: for daily use, an all-round glass can be more practical than multiple specialist sets.

Cleaning and storing wine glasses

A good glass stays at its best when you clean and dry it carefully. For this, read the guide how do you clean wine glasses without streaks or spots?. Do you want to know how many glasses are practical for your home? Then read how many wine glasses do you need at home?.

View all wine glasses

Do you want to compare different shapes side-by-side? Then view the complete collection of Mémoire wine glasses. From there, you can further filter by red wine glasses, white wine glasses, and champagne glasses.

Glasses for full-bodied white wine or complex champagne

A richer Chardonnay often benefits from a slightly wider bowl. The 600 ml Céleste Grande provides extra room to swirl and appreciate aromas. For sparkling wine, compare a slim flute with a rounder bowl in our champagne glass guide.

Which glass suits Chardonnay?

Fresh and fuller, oak-aged Chardonnay can suit different glass shapes. An all-purpose glass is often sufficient, while a larger bowl may suit more aromatic styles. Find out more in our Chardonnay wine glass buying guide.