I remember walking into a Williams-Sonoma store looking for affordable glassware. A questionable sales associate approached me and started talking about a wine tasting she attended where she tried different varietals in their respective glasses and how the quality of a glass or decanter can drastically improve what you’re trying.
“All due respect,” I replied,” but that tasting was most likely designed to make you feel like glassware itself has a significant impact on what you’re drinking.” All I got was a snobby, salesperson- knows- best reply from her.
What most consumers don’t know about the wine business is just how big it is. By 2030 it’s expected to generate roughly half a trillion dollars! It’s not just the consumption of wine itself though- companies like Williams-Sonoma, Crate&Barrel, and Bed Bath & Beyond are making a killing in the sales of wine accessories. And the best sales tactic ever is to tell customers they need unique glasses for different types of wine. WRONG.
The truth is, you don’t need anything. Yes, as someone who drinks wine you can go quite nuts and buy individual glasses for Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Riesling, and so on and so forth. Glasses, much like decanters are meant to aerate, or open up the properties of the wine. In other words, a glass for drinking water may not be the most ideal method for drinking wine as it’s constrictive to letting the wine properly breathe. Having said that, there are often subtle differences from one type of glass to the next. Unless you’re drinking champagne, I would recommend targeting a fairly wide-opened glass that can suit a Pinot Grigio just as well as it can accommodate a big red like a Cabernet.
My choice glass for most varietals is the Riedel Vinum Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot (Bordeaux) glass:
https://www.riedel.com/en-us/shop/vinum/cabernet-sauvignon-merlot-bordeaux-641600098
The Chosen Vine 