So far, the perfect wine glass does not exist, in my opinion. I’m not a wine enthusiast, so I cannot discern big differences taste-wise and therefore have to rely on the expertise of experts in this field. Two wine glasses are frequently mentioned as the best universal wine glasses: the Zalto glass (picture 3) and the Gabriel glass (picture1&2). Both work very well for a wide range of wines; some sommeliers prefer the former, while others prefer the latter.

Aesthetically, both have an appeal: the Zalto is very strict and almost disappears, as its form is as reduced as it could be. The Gabriel glass is much more curved and has more character. I find it a little too curved, but I like the proportions between the bowl and the stem much more than on the Zalto glass. If I were in the position to make my own wine glass, it might be something in between the Gabriel and the Zalto glass.

I had a hard time deciding between the two glasses for 17–19. I ended up liking the Gabriel glass just a tiny bit more. One reason made the final decision towards the Gabriel glass definite: it comes in two versions, the standard one and the gold edition. When you look at these two, they seem almost the same, but as soon as you have them in your hands, you feel the massive weight difference. The gold edition is much lighter. It disappears between you and the wine. It is hand-blown. However, the low weight also makes it very fragile. That’s why the standard edition exists as well. I like the thought of having both glasses in your household: using the standard version for big get-togethers and the hand-blown glass for special occasions. Changing between the two versions will make you appreciate the hand-blown gold edition even more.

Also, I actually really like drinking wine from unpretentious French bistro glasses.