The Glass Test: A Wine Glass Review

We’ve got more than a few connections around and were able to get a variety of glassware, including some highly coveted crystal glasses, more common white wine glasses, and a basic coffee mug.

To make this review fair, we used three wines, eleven glasses(if you can call a mug a glass) and three (more than) enthusiastic tasters.

We rated each wine on a 10-point scale, considering the following factors:

– Aromatics: /4 points
– Palate: /6 points

Each wine was tasted by three judges, and their scores were averaged to determine the final rating.

Skip the whole rigmarole and just read the results here.

Let’s just get this out of the way: The mug was… not great. Sure, it didn’t ruin the wines, but it didn’t do them any favours either. The sparkling lost its sparkle, the Chenin Blanc became a generic white, and the Syrah? A little too much in a mug, if you ask us.

Final rating:

3.2/10 – Next time, leave the mug for your morning coffee, not your wine.

This one looks fancy enough, but the second you hold it, your palm starts heating up the wine. Now you’re not just smelling the wine; you’re getting a whiff of your own hand lotion too. Not the vibe.

Final rating:

5.8/10 – It’s fancy, but not the wine’s best friend.

Elegant? Yes. Good for Cap Classique? Absolutely. The nose was concentrated and sharp—just the way it should be. As for the Chenin Blanc well, the glass made it way too intense. Unfortunately the Syrah was less than enjoyable in this glass.

Final rating:

5.5/10 – Stick to sparkling.

Ah, the classic bistro glass. It’ll do the job—barely. It’s fine for a quick sip of red or white, but please, don’t bring sparkling anywhere near this thing.

Final rating:

4.1/10 – It’s basic, and it knows it.

The Burgundian-style glass offered a rather average performance. While it didn’t detract from the wines, it also didn’t enhance them significantly. The red stood out slightly more than the other two. The wine didn’t disappoint, but it didn’t exactly dazzle either.

Final rating:

5.7/10 – It’s fine, but we were hoping for a little more drama.

Ah, now we’re talking! This uniquely shaped glass did wonders for the Syrah, enhancing the nose and making the red pop. It’s made for aromatic reds, and it shows. The Cap Classique and Chenin were okay in this one.

Final rating:

7.3/10 – This is what a good glass does for red wine.

A solid red wine glass with a nice big bowl. The stem keeps your hands away from the wine, so no unwanted hand lotion aromas here! Surprisingly, this glass made the Cap Classique shine brighter than in the others.

Final rating:

6.4/10 – A good all-rounder, but not a showstopper.

If you like your reds bold and full-bodied, this glass is your friend. It helped the red wine open up beautifully, though it didn’t do much for the white wine, which felt a little shy in this glass.

Final rating:

6.6/10 – Red wine lovers, this is for you.

We were skeptical about the “universal” claim, but this glass actually held its own with every wine we poured. The Cap Classique was particularly happy in this glass, performing better than in the Champagne flute.

Final rating:

7.6/10 – If you want a do-it-all glass, this is it.

Very similar to the Gabriel Glas but even thinner and lighter—like, so light you could snap it just by thinking about it. It’s delicate and works for most wines, though the performance didn’t quite live up to the hype.

Final rating:

6.8/10 – Delicate and pretty, but we expected more.

Here’s the delicate, expensive beauty of the bunch. With its large bowl and super-thin design, it did wonders for all the wines, bringing out some lovely subtle notes.

Final rating:

7.9/10 – Pure elegance, if you’ve got the budget.