Are Expensive Wine Glasses Worth The Investment?

Wine is both a culture and a phenomenon, instead of just another drink. From wine collection to wine tasting, wine is an expensive but popular hobby. That’s why there are so many types of wine glasses to choose from. They can cost as low as a few dollars, or soar at high costs. But with so much variety, selecting the right wine glasses for you can be difficult. This is especially true if you’re just starting out. We have researched if expensive wine glasses are worth the cost.

In the long run, expensive wine glasses can be a worthwhile investment. This is particularly true if you become committed to the hobby. At first glance, high end wine glasses may appear rather snobby. Although value can be relative, different wine glasses can have a very real effect on the taste of your wine. This can be determined by the glasses’ shape, material, and even stem. Over time, practice will only reveal more of the wine glass’ nuanced improvements. Also, expensive glasses are usually more durable.

Expensive wine glasses tend to be associated with elitist parties, which is unfortunate. There are plenty of wine glasses for everyday use. Others may become a prized family heirloom. Keep reading to learn how to choose the right wine glasses for you, and how much to spend on them.

High angle view of two red wineglasses shot on rustic wooden table, Are Expensive Wine Glasses Worth The Investment?

How Much Should You Spend On Wine Glasses?

The right amount of money to spend will definitely be relative to your interest in wine. This means that you will have to determine the purpose of the wine glasses, and how many you will need. You can read this post to learn about how many wine and cocktail glasses you should have.

Wine glasses can basically be served for either informal or formal occasions. However, there are also wine glasses that fit somewhere in between. No matter what, it’s unavoidable that paying more will result in higher quality.

Everyday Use

It’s possible you are only looking for a charming set of wine glasses that are intended for casual, daily use. In this case, you do not want to spend very much. Everyday wine glasses are usually sold as “all-purpose” glasses.

All-purpose glasses are available in a wide variety, but they rarely have any kind of ornate style. Some brands deliberately sell all-purpose glasses that are more elegant. But an entire set of traditional all-purpose glasses probably won’t run you over twenty dollars.

Click here to find these stemless all-purpose glasses on Amazon.

High-End Use

Then again, you may feel committed to very formal events. This is when the wine’s flavor is even more crucial. Some glasses are specially designed for tasting high-end wine. The slightest change in your wine glass will create a noticeable shift in the drink.

As such, you will probably end up with a finer, lead crystal set. Lead crystal sets are known to legitimately enhance the flavor of your wine. Higher-end wine glasses are often specially designed for wine tasting. Also, they usually have very elaborate and unique features.

These sets can cost eighty US dollars, or run as high as two hundred dollars. And you’ll probably only get half as many glasses as the all-purpose alternative. With some renowned brands, a single pair will cost hundreds.

Click here to see these crystal wine glasses on Amazon.

Middle Ground Use

It’s also likely that you are seeking out a set of wine glasses that will fit somewhere in the middle ground. These wine glasses should have more personality than those sold for all purposes. But they shouldn’t cost nearly as much as something made for fancy wine tastings. Wine glasses of moderately high quality will probably be reserved for special occasions and celebrations.

Fortunately, you don’t always have to sacrifice flavor for cost. There are plenty of sets that pay special attention to the style, stem, rim, and durability. These will generally cost around ten dollars a glass. This reasonable price includes those sold as a set. A set of four may cost about forty-five US dollars.

Click here to find these large wine glasses on Amazon.

Why Are There Different Glasses For Wine?

Sommeliers at the winery

Enjoying wine can be a lot more complicated than it seems. Drinking and tasting wine can be drastically altered by the shape and design of your wine glasses. This is because some glasses are clearer, intricately decorated, and shaped to make the experience more flavorful.

For example, the signature stem on a wine glass probably seems like a frustrating weakness. In reality, the stem is necessary to hold the wine glass without altering the temperature of the wine. This is crucial because many different wines require very specific temperatures to retain or maximize their flavor.

Also, the smell of any drink can make a difference in the way it tastes. Pros like Advanced Mixology agree that wine glasses with larger “bowls” can enhance the aroma. This is because you are traditionally meant to swirl the wine around, which releases the special scent.

Other glasses are made of various materials, which can increase the durability of the glass. Some companies infuse the glass with other substances to reduce your chances of breaking highly valuable glasses. This would also rescue you from more embarrassment at formal wine tastings.

Why Are Wine Glasses So Thin?

Wine glasses are deliberately designed to be thinner for a number of reasons. Firstly, a very thin glass is going to reinforce the clarity.

Clarity is important if you want to fully enjoy the colors of your wine. This may seem strange for beginners, but basking in the wine colors is a genuinely serious part of the wine tasting experience. In fact, sometimes color can impact the way you interpret the flavor.

Also, wine is meant to be sipped. A thicker rim can actually “get in the way” of smaller sips. A thinner rim will allow the wine to flow more smoothly.

In other words, the goal of making a thin glass is usually to remove the distraction of the glass itself. It is a tool for wine tasting that should allow you to focus completely on the wine.

What Is The Best All-Purpose Wine Glass?

Although “best” is a relative term, an all-purpose wine glass should be purchased for its versatility. This means that you’ll want to find a set that will service multiple occasions, without unloading your wallet.

All-purpose glasses should be durable enough to survive daily loads in the dishwasher. But they should also please guests for a weekend dinner party. This way, you can enjoy your wine without having to worry about dropping and breaking your glass during a busy get-together.

Usually, this means that you will want to aim for stemless wine glasses. The stem on a wine glass is probably most likely to break. Also, stemless wine glasses are easier to hold. You can grip the entire glass in your hand, which is useful for walking about while you drink. Finally, stemless wine glasses will be easier to fit in a dishwasher. You can also read this post to learn about how to store wine and cocktail glasses.

Can You Drink Wine Out Of A Regular Glass?

Technically speaking, it’s possible to drink any wine out of any old glass. While the flavor and experience will be damaged, it shouldn’t be too noticeable in a highly casual setting. This is because casual wine drinkers will probably feel less interested in a fancy experience. Casual drinkers will also be less likely to detect the nuanced differences.

Special wine glasses are used to create a unique atmosphere, as well as enhance the wine’s flavor and aroma. This only becomes more important when you begin paying for more expensive wine.

Meanwhile, regular glasses won’t be as easy to sip. Normal glasses are usually meant for frequent, casual use. The typical shape of cylindrical glasses won’t narrow out at the top, which makes it better to swirl and smell the wine.

Ultimately, this means that drinking wine out of a regular glass will come down to personal preference. You may not want to invest in wine glasses, or embrace the wine tasting culture. In this case, ordinary glasses won’t impact your wine very much.

However, keep in mind that high end wine is basically designed for a high end experience. Unless you want to waste your investments, the value of the wine should match the value of your glasses.

What Is So Special About Riedel Glasses?

Click here to find these stemless Riedel glasses on Amazon.

Riedel is a brand of glassware that’s been around for over two hundred years. They became very popular after deliberately engineering their glasses to accommodate wine. This means that Riedel glasses have had a long time to research and upgrade their designs. Enthusiasts like Wines and Winemaking find Riedel to be the best.

Riedel glasses are often more ergonomic than other brands. That means that Riedel glasses are built to feel very comfortable in your hand, without sacrificing the necessary shapes and designs that enhance your wine.

They have also been designed to accommodate any purpose. For example, this includes glasses that are less likely to fall over. They also sell wider glasses, which are better for certain wines, but also easier to clean. Even better, Riedel glasses are available in a variety of prices that balance cost with function.

Summary

High angle view of two red wineglasses shot on rustic wooden table, Are Expensive Wine Glasses Worth The Investment?

Wine glasses aren’t the pretentious purchase they can appear to be. Wine tasting is about nuance and experience. But there are perfect wine glasses for any occasion, from a daily treat to a romantic anniversary. Now that you know which wine glasses are best for any given occasion, you can invest in the glasses that will let you enjoy wine exactly the way you want.

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