How to Identify Stemware Size and Shape

The right shaped glass helps enhance the flavor and bouquet of wine.


The simplest definition of stemware is any stemmed beverage glass, but that doesn't answer the question of which stemware to use for what purpose. A stemmed glass for white wines, one for reds and a tall flute for sparkling wines are the basics you need, but you can always add more if you enjoy a variety of drinks.

Wide Round Bowls

If a stemmed glass has a relatively wide bowl on a long stem, it's meant to hold red wines. The opening is larger to accommodate the nose and to allow more air to circulate in the glass. The exception is the classic Bordeaux glass. It's a little narrower than the more rounded Burgundy glasses, for a generic-type wine glass. Another style for red wines is the balloon -- as the name indicates, it looks like a round glass ball on a stem.

U-Shaped Bowls

If a glass has a taller, more U-shaped bowl, it's meant to serve white wines. The basic white wine glass looks like the Bordeaux, only a little smaller and more narrow. The shape helps enhance the flavors and aromas of a chilled white. A wine glass that's narrow at the bottom and then flares below the rim before narrowing again is a Sauternes. It's designed specifically for sweet whites, but can be used for any dessert wine.

Tall and Thin

The tall flute makes a dramatic display with effervescent wines, and champagne goes with everything.

Long, tall, thin flute-shaped stemware is designed for sparkling wines and champagne. The narrow shape preserves more of the wine's fizz, creates a pretty display of vertical bubbles rising to the surface and keeps the drink cooler longer. A wide, shallow coupe glass is also meant for sparkling wine, but they have become less popular because they allow the bubbles to dissipate and the beverage to warm too quickly, and increase the chance of spills.

Other Stemmed Glasses

From the dessert wine glasses that look like smaller versions of their dinnertime brothers, to the curvy Madiera glass, there are many more stemmed varieties of glassware. Among the more common are the easily identifiable martini glass, which looks like an inverted pyramid on a stem, and the broad, bowl-like margarita glass. Other stemmed barware includes the V-shaped sherry glass, tiny U-shaped cordial glasses, and the wide, balloon-shaped brandy snifter.

About the Author

Rochelle Karina has been writing for more than 20 years; her opinion and humor pieces have been published in local newspapers and international magazines. Karina was the creative force and principal writer behind the eco-design and decor blog Inspired Habitat. A San Diego native now living in Baltimore, she currently maintains several relationship blogs and has completed two novels, as well as writing for Demand.

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