10 Wine Glasses That'll Take Happy Hour to the Next Level

Though a 99-cent glass from IKEA will certainly do the trick in an emergency, the truth is: Not all wine glasses are created equal. In fact, using the right wine glass will enhance the flavor, aroma, and overall experience of whatever you're sipping, whether it's an expensive bottle for Christmas or your go-to cheap stuff.

"For instance, if you had a wine like a chablis, which is the purest chardonnay, you'd want to serve it in a smaller white wine glass," says Rebecca Fineman, a master sommelier and co-owner of San Francisco restaurant Ungrafted. "Even though these wines are not that aromatic, they have a lot of interesting things to smell, which get lost if they're poured into a big, bulbous wine glass. On the other hand, if you had a more aromatic grape, like a pinot noir, those aromas would be trapped in a little white wine glass, so you need a larger glass to allow it to breathe."

Now, that doesn't mean you have to buy different wine glasses for every varietal. While restaurants typically stock four types of glasses (a Champagne flute, a white wine glass, a Burgundy glass, and a Bordeaux glass), casual wine drinkers—and even devoted oenophiles—can get by with just one for red and one for white, according to Fineman. To pick the best red wine glass for you, consider your drinking habits: "If you favor medium-bodied reds, like pinot noir, go for a Burgundy glass," she says. "If you prefer something like cabernet or zinfandel, opt for a Bordeaux glass." Even better? You don't have to spend a fortune on expensive glasses to get your hands on some of the best ones out there. Case in point: The wine glass Fineman uses most often, which is included below, costs under $10 per stem.

Ahead, we asked sommeliers, wine makers, and beverage directors to share the best wine glasses in the world, including an all-purpose (or universal) wine glass from Zalto, a unique novelty cup available on Amazon (spoiler alert: it fits an entire bottle), some crystal ones for when you're feeling fancy-schmancy, and several options from some popular brands of wine glasses, like Riedel or Schott Zwiesel.