I’m a Wine Snob and I Use These Ultra-Cheap Glasses More Than Any Other

Made by the 200-year-old Italian glassware giant, the bodega glasses are constructed with durable tempered glass. The glasses are dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, and heat-resistant.

I first encountered glasses like these on vacation in Spain, where small 6-ounce pours of beer were served alongside skewers of olives and plates of sliced manchego. With smaller pours like that, the beer stayed cool to the last drop under the hot sun. It’s not uncommon for Italian and Spanish bars to serve wine in tumblers like these over standard wine glasses—you still get a standard pour, despite the lack of a wine stem. (Fun fact: In Spain, these glasses are known as ‘chatos’, or short, snub glasses.)

There are many reasons to advocate these glasses. First, rather than being serious and formal like standard wine glasses, they’re casual and cool. Secondly, the thin, tempered glass is durable enough to withstand bumps, drops, and heavy cheers. 

Not to mention the wide mouth and straight sides make the glass versatile enough for all manners of beverages. In the mornings, they’re excellent glasses for espressos or cortados with just a fluff of foam—the surprising clarity of the glass allows you to see the crema. They also function as an excellent vessel for small serves of desserts—scoops of ice creams or individual-sized tiramisu. I’ve also used them for dips, from salsa verde, Maldon salt or soy sauce with sashimi, or for chutneys with pakoras or samosas. 

Best of all, when you’re ready to wash and put them away, the glasses are highly stackable—a set of 7 or 8 sit beside my espresso maker and you can stack a half dozen in the cupboard footprint of one glass. (Hello, condo dwellers.)

To put a cherry on top, each glass retails for a few dollars a piece so when the inevitable smash or crack happens, it’s not quite as jarring. (That said, best of luck breaking them—after two years of using these glasses every day, I have yet to crack the tempered glass.)

Essentially, simple, serviceable glasses that fit every situation. With a little European flair, they’re casual, cool, and eye-catching.

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Kate Dingwall is a freelance writer whose work focuses on food, drinks, and travel. Her writing regularly appears in Liquor.com, Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, and beyond. She is based in Toronto and holds a Wine & Spirits Education Trust Level III qualification.