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Which one should you buy?

One good universal glass, thin at the rim with room to swirl, will make your reds and whites taste better than a cupboard full of special shapes. Here's what I'd point you to:

Wine shops would love you to buy a different glass for every grape. For most of us, one well-shaped glass does the job beautifully. Buy a few of those instead of six kinds of glass you never use.

And it really does matter. Pour the same wine into a thick tumbler and a good glass and taste them side by side. The good glass smells of more, and the wine feels smoother. It's the cheapest way to make a modest bottle taste like a better one.

Why the shape matters

Most of what we call flavour is actually smell. A wine glass is designed to collect that smell and deliver it to your nose.

A wide bowl gives the wine a big surface to meet the air, and room to swirl. Swirling coats the sides of the glass, and the aromas rise off that film. Then the rim narrows a little, which gathers those aromas in, so when you lift the glass they're waiting for you rather than drifting off into the room.

A thin rim matters too. A thick, rolled rim makes you sip awkwardly and the wine hits your mouth in a lump. A thin rim lets it flow onto your tongue. And the stem keeps your warm hand away from the bowl, so a chilled white stays chilled.

Gabriel-Glas StandArt at a glance

The StandArt is the machine-made version of the Gabriel-Glas. That's a big part of why it's affordable and sturdier than the mouth-blown Gold Edition, while still feeling light and fine in the hand.

What to look for in a wine glass

• A thin rim. The wine flows onto your tongue instead of tumbling over a thick edge.

• A bowl wide enough to swirl. If you can't swirl without spilling, the bowl is too small.

• A rim that narrows a little. It holds the aroma in.

• A stem. Your hand doesn't warm the wine, and you don't leave fingerprints on the bowl.

• Clear, plain glass. You want to see the colour of the wine, not the pattern.

The StandArt does all of this, and it's sturdier than its delicate looks suggest.

Who it suits, and who should skip it

Good for you if

• You want one glass for red, white and sparkling

• You'd like something fine and thin that won't shatter if you look at it wrong

• You enjoy wine with dinner and want it to taste its best

Skip it if

• You drink wine very casually and a cheaper sturdy glass makes you just as happy

• You need stemless or unbreakable glasses for the garden, the boat or small children

How to get the best from it

Pour about a third

About 5 ounces (150 ml) in a glass this size. That leaves plenty of room to swirl, which wakes up the aroma, and it looks generous rather than crowded.

Swirl, sniff, sip

Keep the base on the table and draw small circles if you're nervous about spills. Then put your nose right in the glass before you sip. You'll be amazed how much more you taste.

Hold it by the stem

Especially with whites and sparkling. Cupping the bowl warms the wine within minutes.

Cleaning and safety

• Rinse soon after use. Red wine left to dry in the glass can stain.

• Go easy on soap. Soap residue can change how the next wine tastes. Use a little fragrance-free soap or just hot water, and rinse very well.

• Dishwasher? These are dishwasher safe. Use the top rack and don't let the glasses touch. Hand-washing in a small tub means fewer chips.

• Dry upside down on a rack, then polish with a microfibre cloth. Hold the bowl, not the stem, when you polish, so you don't twist it off.

The one rule

Rinse well and keep soap smells out of the glass. A clean glass with no scent is what lets the wine speak.

Questions people ask

Do I really need different glasses for red and white wine?

No. A single well-shaped universal glass works brilliantly for most people, and this one holds its own against glasses costing much more.

How full should you pour a wine glass?

About a third full. You need room to swirl, and the aroma gathers in the empty space above the wine.

Is crystal glass safe? Does it contain lead?

This glass is made from lead-free crystal.

Can wine glasses go in the dishwasher?

These can. Use the top rack, keep them apart, and rinse well. Hand-washing is gentler if you want them to last.

Why does my wine glass smell of soap?

There's residue left on the glass. Rinse it thoroughly with hot water, or wash with hot water alone.

Pour it with

Dinner from my Chef Jon's Kitchen School lessons. A glass of wine and a pan sauce are old friends.

Updated October 2026. Prices change often, so check before you buy.