The Pinot Noir glass did equally well with red Burgundy, Nebbiolo, Bordeaux and more tannic reds. Fuller whites were even slightly better in this one than in the Zalto. The white wine glass enhances the aromas of German Riesling, Italian whites like Fiano, and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Depending on your reasons for buying glassware, you need to think about the size of the bowl. If you’re more of a red wine drinker, you’ll need a bigger bowl to properly swirl and aerate the wine and a smaller bowl for white wines. The actual height of the glass is something to think about, too. How does the glass feel in your hand? You don’t want it to feel too small or too big. Weight Material: Lead-free crystal | Capacity: 8.1 ounces | Dimensions (HxW): 8.9 x 2.7 inches | Dishwasher safe: YesWith its timeless design and wide bowl, the glass is ideal for white or red wines (and sparkling too, for that matter), as the aesthetic presentation of the wine is attractive and the aromatics are rich and pleasing. We found that delicate aromatics opened up a bit more after swirling, allowing us to experience more of the wine characteristics. Many of the world's finest white wines are all about precision and elegance—and those also happen to be two key attributes of "The Perfect Wine Glass" from designer Richard Brendon and renowned wine critic Jancis Robinson. Featuring a tall, thin profile and crafted from gorgeous hand-blown crystal, this glass is an excellent vessel for most white wines. We appreciated its beadless rim and base, and we loved how dainty it felt in the hand. That said, we did find ourselves a little nervous about breaking it!

Wine glasses range from small glasses of under two ounces for dessert and fortified wines to giant balloons that can hold nearly a whole bottle if you don’t stop pouring! Generally, you want glasses large enough to get some air in the wine. A standard pour is around 3-5 ounces, or about the bottom third of a tulip-shaped glass or the bottom quarter of a balloon-shaped glass. If you are not purchasing varietal-specific glasses, choose a glass with about an 8-ounce capacity for white wines and a 10- to 12-ounce capacity for reds to allow for that airspace. You should also consider cleanup; if you intend to put them in the dishwasher, be sure the stems are not so tall as to prevent them from fitting in your washer. Céline Bossart's entire journalistic career has been rooted in the world of beverage. Naturally, this involves extensive market research, which translates to a robust glassware collection built over the years. Naysayers might feel there's no difference, that a pour into a regular drinking glass doesn't ultimately change the wine for the casual wine drinker. Our feeling is that there's nothing snooty about enhancing an everyday experience with an upgrade, and when it comes to enjoying wine, it can make a genuine difference. We've tested dozens of wine glasses, all vetted by our editors, sommeliers, and wine industry experts, to bring together a list of the most timeless wine glass sets to serve yourself and your guests at home. In terms of shape, I recommend buying one set of white glasses and one set of red (Burgundy are more useful than Bordeaux) glasses. Although Zalto has challenges because it is so delicate and thin, the absolute pleasure and improvement of each glass is worth every moment of stress…but only if you can handle being overly cautious with the glass. My advice: Get one or two Zalto Burgundy glasses for special occasions and buy the Riedel Veritas or Spiegelau Vino Grande for your everyday enjoyment. Material: Crystal | Capacity: 12.3 ounces | Dimensions (HxW): 7.75 x 3 inches | Dishwasher safe: Yes

Another Glass We Tried

With so many styles available at a wide range of price points, shopping for wine glasses can be overwhelming. Getting insights from wine experts, though, can ease the process—especially now that the wine scene is moving toward a more pared-down approach to glassware. “I’ve noticed that people aren’t into individual glass shapes as much as they used to be,” says Doreen Winkler, a natural wine sommelier and founder of the wine club Orange Glou. “People want to simplify the wine-drinking experience,” she says. “You don’t need a burgundy wine glass to drink burgundy.” Still, specialized glasses will always have their place in fine dining and for the serious, at-home drinker.

Though they are whisper-thin and special-occasion worthy, pop them in the dishwasher when you’re done with them.

This Pinot Noir glass did equally well with red Burgundy, Nebbiolo, Bordeaux and more tannic reds but didn't allow for quite the nuance of flavors and aromas in red wine as the winning Zalto glass. Best Wine Glass for the Casual Wine Drinker: Spiegelau Vino Grande The first thing that anyone will notice about this glass is the unique and fascinating shape—but there's much more to the Josephinenhütte Josephine No. 3 Red Wine Glass than what first meets the eye. A visually striking glass crafted from lead-free crystal, it's also an ideal vessel for your next glass of robust red wine. While it might be a bit pricey compared to other options, it's a statement piece—and also happens to be a very practical red wine vessel. Additional reporting was done by Amina Lake Abdelrahman, a commerce editor, and Laura Denby, a WSET Level 2 Award in Wine and Spirits