The Auswine Forum

Sorry if there is another thread about this somewhere... I couldn't find anything (hard to search for). I want to buy some wine glasses... I drink everything. What do you guys think are the best wine glasses around for each variety of wine?

So far I'm looking at the Vinum XLs but the fragility of Riedels would probably be an issue (I don't want to constantly be replacing broken glasses). Anyone here use these? Anything better out there? I don't want to go as expensive as the Sommelier series.

Not sure how freely available they are in Australia, but Riedel 'wine' series glasses have proven to me to be more robust than their 'vinum' counterparties. They have similar shapes, but are much cheaper than the vinums.

Schott Zwiesels are pretty tough...and equally as elegant..

Spiegelau's are cheaper, stronger..maybe slightly less elegant..but there is a reason Riedel bought them and continues to sell them...

Or if you can find the restaurant series Riedels..they're thicker, less elegant than Vinums but a LOT less fragile...

A cheaper suggestion, however great value for money. Check out S&P Cuvee series. They are available at Myer and cost around $60 for a set of six, however every couple of months they are discounted to around $40.

I'd go for the cheaper Riedels or the Schott Zwiesels. I wouldn't worry too much about glasses for different grape varieties. Two types of bigger bowls for the reds should suffice, a Cab/Bordeaux style and a wider bowl for the Pinot/Burgundy types of grapes. And for the whites perhaps a wider bowl for the Chardonnays and Viogniers and a smaller bowl for the Rieslings etc.

Cheers..................Mahmoud.

My other suggestion... don't laugh and sorry to mention a big chain Gavin but I think in this case it will be passable... but The Dan Who Shall Not Be Named sell a line of $10/6/pack wine glasses if they still sell them which I reckon are worth a few packs for when you do have a larger group or a party going on or want a lot of wines side-by-side... they are obviously less nice than the proper brands, but I think the shape is actually excellent, they have a very thin lip which I greatly prefer, and they are relatively robust (and so cheap if you smash them, who cares!)

I have some Luigi Bormioli bordeaux glasses which are great. Got them on special at an unnamed dept. store.
They're perhaps not as elegant/fine on the rim as the Riedels I have but they were a lot cheaper at the time.
Purists may think they're a little clunky....but they always see the light of day post dinner party.

For everyday drinking I use Riedel 'O' series - the stemless ones. They go in the dishwasher with no problems. I have been using them for more than 5 years with only a few clumsy breakages. I also have some of the Spiegelau stemless ones that are very similar.

I have a tasting set of the Vinum XLs which came as part of the Riedel glass tasting sessions. The set covers most of the grape varieties where it has a rieseling, chardonnay, pinot and cab sav glass.

Lovely glasses. Look and feel of the glasses are excellent. As nice as they are, they are still an expensive option especially when looking at the RPP here in Aus. I've found a lot better value from ordering overseas which made it more affordable.

*touch wood* I haven't had any breakages so far but not sure whether that is testiment of the durability of the glasses.

A couple of years ago I bought some stemless wine glasses from a department store in NZ for about a dollar a glass. They worked brilliantly for about 2 years and now have become a bit dish washer crazed. They would be almost the same as a red wine glass without the stem and hold about 12 oz. The advantage is that they don't break in the dishwasher (and are easy to stack) and don't fall over when the dog wags it's tail too close to the coffee table. I also have full sets of Riedels, Orrefors, Kosta etc glasses that cost a mint but hardly ever use them except for dinner parties (and maybe Granges)....

I have a set of 6 Schott Zwiesel Burgundy grand cru and a pair of Riedel Vinum Shiraz and a pair of Riedel Cabernet. All are pretty big glasses at around 680ml except for the Riedel Cabernet, they are about 900ml. They all seem sturdy enough for everyday use and I use them for whites also, dont know why they use smaller glasses for whites as if its good wine I like a good size glass whether its red or white.

For the record, I don't live in Australia so the oz RRP isn't an issue. I'm mainly concerned in presenting the wines in the best possible way. Not just expensive wines. Personally, I don't see why you wouldn't use a good glass on a lesser wine if it makes the wine better. I want the wine to reach its fullest potential regardless of how much was spent on it. If I can avoid breaking them, that's even better. Many here have probably done glass tastings which compare different Riedels but has anyone compared competing brands? That might be something I have to do at some point.

Most of the nicer glasses are all going to show well...I don't think you'll see any difference in Schott Zwiesel vs. Riedel or Spiegelau...The only difference might be how the rim feels but that will be personal pref.

I like Riedels..but I don't think they're any better or worse than their competition...but they do tend to break easier IMO..

I too am a big fan of the Riedel "O" series for everyday drinking. Use the Cabernet and Pinot ones.

Cheers,

monghead.

How about the "Geo" series by John Rocha from Waterford Crystal?

Good heavy glasses that don't break when they get knocked over by a drunk at the table and make a really bad wine look good.

Thanks for your replies. I'm going to have to do a glass off. Will give you my findings at a later date.

Glasses are overrated. Just put your mouth under the tap.

griff wrote:Glasses are overrated. Just put your mouth under the tap.

...of the bladder in a box?

daz wrote:

griff wrote:Glasses are overrated. Just put your mouth under the tap.

...of the bladder in a box?

Have most of the O series Shiraz, Cab, Pinot, Riesling and port
Building the Vinums up currently mainly shiraz and a couple each of Bordeaux and Pinot
A coupls of Schott Zwiesel which came as part of something
And 4 of the Waterford Marquis oversize reds

The O get the most use and the Vinums are the preference

Had a 'moment' when I saw the title of this thread and was picturing the wine equivalent of "beer goggles".

forget riedel... go for Zalto!

I have just re-equipped with Spiegelau glasses (subsidiary of Reidel) - mixture of bought at auction and from Denmark to complete my set of Bordeaux and Chardonnay super sizers but opted for regular Champers (the big ones were quite crude I felt) and some very nice water glasses. They are dishwasher safe and some may argue "industrial" Riedel, but I absolutely love them. Great feel in hand. And I am always generous in my pourings ....

Not a fan of stemless glass ware. Speiglau are excelent option, more robust and have good size and style

sjw_11 wrote:My other suggestion... don't laugh and sorry to mention a big chain Gavin but I think in this case it will be passable... but The Dan Who Shall Not Be Named sell a line of $10/6/pack wine glasses if they still sell them which I reckon are worth a few packs for when you do have a larger group or a party going on or want a lot of wines side-by-side... they are obviously less nice than the proper brands, but I think the shape is actually excellent, they have a very thin lip which I greatly prefer, and they are relatively robust (and so cheap if you smash them, who cares!)

100% agree. These are my everyday glasses. Have broken 4, but that was over nearly 12 months. at $9 a box, who cares.

They are also a great shape / weight. Cheap glasses are usually base-heavy or totally flimsy - these feel like good glasses.

Just refurbished with set of 12 each chardy, bordeaux, champers and water glasses. SPIEGELAU - Riedel's commercial arm - dishwasher safe. Splashed out on the uber XO sized glasses for the chardy and bordeaux, but standards for the champers (big ones just loose any semblance of elegance). Breakage count to date despite hard everyday wear and tear and the odd knock on the silestone bench - NIL.

Seven wrote:forget riedel... go for Zalto!

And Seven wins the day!!! Oh for a cabinet full of Zaltos like my folks. The most wonderful feel and function. Ooooooh.

We've got bunch of Riedel's Vinums and they are OK, but feel like a hack job compared to the Zaltos.

Save your pennies and try a Zaltoooooooooooomygoodess.

Cheers, Travis.