Wine glasses come in so many different shapes and sizes. These designs and capacities are meant to give you the best wine-drinking experience you can have. All these options can make choosing your wine drinkware difficult. We've done the groundwork and have determined the standard size of a wine glass depending on the type of wine you're drinking.
Red wine glasses have a capacity ranging from 13 to 28 ounces. White wine glasses have a size between 11 and 18 ounces. Finally, specialty or dessert wine glasses can hold between 4 and 12 ounces of liquid.
Keep reading to learn the serving size of wine, how much wine the biggest wine glass can hold, and why there are different varieties of this kind of glass.
Types of Wine and Their Standard Glass Sizes
Red Wine
Red wine glasses typically have a large, round bowl. They will also have a bigger rim. The bigger bowls are designed to allow most wine to come into contact with the air. When wine comes into contact with air, it allows it to breathe. The wine will have a more complex taste and aroma.
The large opening of red wine glasses also brings your nose closer to the wine. This is another method of enhancing the flavor profile.
Cabernet Sauvignon
This type of wine glass is one of the larger types of red wine containers. The cup's design is meant to make the aroma bolder. Cabernet Sauvignon glasses have a large bowl and a narrow rim. The larger bowl means more wine can touch the air while the petite mouth traps the aroma and makes it easier to drink.
The Cabernet Sauvignon glass will typically hold 22 ounces of liquid. However, you shouldn't pour too much wine into this glass. When you pour a smaller amount, you can enjoy the flavors of the wine and enhance your drinking experience.
Check out this Cabernet Sauvignon glass on Amazon.
Burgundy
A burgundy glass has a vast bowl and a narrow rim. The bowl for this glass is even larger than a Cabernet glass. This glass is well suited for sweeter and more delicate wines. The thin lip is supposed to help deliver the wine at the tip of the tongue. The design is supposed to heighten both the taste and smell of the wine.
These types of glasses typically have a capacity between 21 and 25 ounces.
Check out this crystal Burgundy wine glass on Amazon.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux glasses have long stems and a wide and tall bowl. While the bowl is large, it is considered relatively small for a red wine glass. The shape of this glass helps younger wines breathe. Wines with a full-body flavor are best enjoyed in this cup. These can include drinks such as the Syrah, Cabernet, and Merlot.
A typical Bordeaux glass will have a capacity ranging between 21 and 22 ounces.
Check out this Bordeaux wine glass on Amazon.
Zinfandel/Standard Red
The Zinfandel glass is most commonly known as the standard red wine cup. This particular cup has a wide bowl, as is commonplace with red wine glasses. It's slightly shorter than a Bordeaux glass and has a wider rim. Zinfandel glasses are best suited for medium to full-body wines.
This style of glass has a capacity of between 13 and 14 ounces.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir glasses have long stems. They also have broad bowls that taper into a narrow, flared rim. The design of this glass helps direct all the flavor and aroma of the wine into your mouth and nose. The best wine to serve from this cup is a Pinot Noir. However, you can also enjoy Burgundy and Bordeaux wine.
These types of glasses can generally hold between 24 and 28 ounces of liquid.
Check out this set of 2 Pinot Noir glasses on Amazon.
White Wine
White wine glasses have a U-shaped bowl. This bowl tends to be more narrow and upright than a red wine glass would be. White wine glasses also tend to be shorter than glasses for red wine. The white wine glasses' design is supposed to enhance and preserve the aroma of the wine. The design is also supposed to help the wine maintain a cooler temperature.
Chardonnay
Unlike other white wine glasses, the Chardonnay glass has a wide bowl. It has a large mouth with a slightly tapered rim. The large size of the opening helps direct the wine to the tips and edges of your tongue. Drinking the wine in this method allows you to enjoy the sweet flavors of the drink.
A typical Chardonnay glass can hold between 11 and 14 ounces of wine. It is ideal for full-bodied wines such as Chardonnay or Semillon.
Montrachet
A Montrachet glass has a large bowl as well as a large opening. The large bowl is necessary for allowing the wine to come into contact with the air. The large rim allows you to smell the wine's aromas fully. It also helps the wine flow from the edges of your tongue to the back of your mouth. This allows you to really taste the flavor profile of your drink.
This type of glass will typically hold around 18 ounces of wine. Some ideal wines for this glass are Montrachet, White Burgundy, and other wines with complex flavorings.
Check out this Montrachet wine glass on Amazon.
Riesling/Standard Sweet
Wine glasses for sweet wines tend to be smaller than other glasses. The small rim for a Riesling glass pushes liquids to the back and center of your mouth. This allows you to enjoy your drink without being overwhelmed by the sweet flavors.
Riesling glasses will typically hold between 13 and 14 ounces. Sweeter wines such as Riesling and Gruner Veltliner are best enjoyed from this glass.
Sauvignon Blanc
A Sauvignon Blanc glass has a tall and thin bowl. The shape of this glass helps control the acidic nature of the wine it contains. Popular types of wine for a Sauvignon Blanc glass include Fume Blanc, Muscadet, Pinot Grigio, and other light- to medium-bodied wines.
This type of glass typically holds 12 ounces of liquid.
Check out this Sauvignon Blanc set on Amazon.
Other
There are also specific glasses for other types of wines. Dessert wine glasses tend to be smaller because their drinks contain a higher alcohol content than other wines. Glasses for sparkling wines are designed to preserve the drink's carbonation.
Universal or stemless glasses won't give you the same drinking experience as a proper glass will. However, having one glass for many types of drinks can help you save storage space.
Port
Port is a Portuguese wine. This type of drink is best served in a port glass. Port glasses resemble a smaller Bordeaux glass. The narrow mouth helps to reduce evaporation. It also helps guide the drink towards the back of your mouth, so you don't get overwhelmed by the flavor.
A port glass will typically hold 9 ounces of liquid.
Check out this set of 4 port glasses on Amazon.
Sherry
Sherry glasses tend to come in a few different shapes. One of the most common types of Sherry glasses is the flute-shaped glass. This glass has a more bulbous bowl that narrows and then flares outward at the rim.
A sherry wine glass generally only holds 4 ounces of wine. This small capacity is perfect for dessert wines and cordials.
Flute
Flute glasses have tall, narrow bowls to preserve the carbonation and flavor of the drink. It also has a medium-sized stem which helps the drink maintain a cool temperature. Drinks best enjoyed in a flute include Champagne and Prosecco.
These kinds of glasses hold between 5 and 8 ounces of liquid.
Check out this set of 4 flute glasses on Amazon.
Stemless
Stemless glasses are a type of universal wine glass. These glasses' overall shapes, sizes, and capacities can vary greatly depending on who makes them. However, it's common to find them in similar shapes and capacities to a regular wine glass.
The lack of stem does mean your hand can warm your drink more quickly. It can also be hard to differentiate stemless wine glasses from regular water glasses.
You can typically find stemless wine glasses with a capacity between 13 and 20 ounces.
Check out this stemless wine glass set on Amazon.
What Is A Serving Size Of Wine?
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse states that a standard serving of wine is 5 ounces. In the United States, one alcoholic drink contains approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol.
What Size Is A Large Glass Of Wine?
Glasses such as the Cabernet, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Pinot Noir can be considered large wine glasses. Each of these varieties has a capacity of over 20 ounces. You shouldn't overfill a red wine glass as this will detract from your drinking experience. There are also universal wine glasses that can hold an entire bottle of wine or 25 fluid ounces.
When selecting a glass, it's best to keep in mind how small a serving of wine is. Choosing a glass that's too big can cause you to over-pour and overdrink.
What Is The Best All-Purpose Wine Glass?
Gabriel-Glas is designed to be a "one for all" container for wine. These glasses are made from lead-free Austrian glass. It has a capacity of eight ounces, is durable, and is dishwasher safe.
The glasses are designed with a wide bowl and a narrow mouth. This design helps the wine flow like it was in a red wine glass. The rim is large enough to allow your nose to get close to the wine while you drink but small enough that it doesn't allow the aromas to escape.
Check out this set of 2 Gabriel-Glas brand universal wine glasses on Amazon.
Check out "Are Expensive Wine Glasses Worth The Investment?" to learn what price range of glass you should be looking at.
Why Are There Different Types Of Wine Glasses?
There are different types of wine glasses to complement all the varieties of wines. A stemmed wine glass has four different pieces to it. The rim is where your mouth comes into contact. The thickness of a glass's rim can impact how you taste the wine.
Next is the bowl or the area where the wine sits. The shape and size of the bowl control how much of the wine contacts the air. It also determines how much of the wine's aromas remain captured within.
Finally, there are the stem and foot of the glass. The stem is there to prevent your hands from warming your drink. It also prevents smudging on the bowl. The foot is what holds the glass upright. A small foot can make for an unsteady drink prone to spilling.
In Closing
There are many types of wine glasses. These glasses can create a better wine tasting experience. The capacities of these cups will vary depending on the kind you get. Some have a limit as low as 4 ounces, and others can hold an entire bottle of wine!
Need more information on wine glasses? You may also enjoy the following:
Are Wine Glasses Dishwasher Safe?
How To Store Wine And Cocktail Glasses
