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The Spruce Eats / Vicki Denig
This post is part of our 'This Is Fire' series, where our editors and writers tell you about the products they can't live without in the kitchen.
Hosting friends for “wine nights” at my apartment is one of my favorite things to do—however, as many of my industry colleagues know, it’s not the bottle selection that creates the biggest dilemma, but the glassware. While my go-to stem at home is the Zalto Universal, I certainly don’t have enough on hand to go around (and even if I did, I don’t think I’d feel particularly comfortable using them for at-home happy hours). It’s not that I don’t trust my friends, it’s just that accidents can happen—especially after a few glasses of wine—and a $78 dollar mistake doesn’t sound like a great way to end the evening.
As someone who deeply believes that glassware greatly influences the overall drinking experience, I certainly don’t want to reach for just any old stem.
However, as someone who deeply believes that glassware greatly influences the overall drinking experience, I certainly don’t want to reach for just any old stem. So, what’s a serious wine drinker to do? Since buying numerous Zalto glasses isn’t the answer, I set out to find the best affordable glassware that fits my happy hour standards—meaning it’s durable, feels great in the hand, and is a cost-effective option. Enter Zwiesel’s Glas Tritan All-Purpose Pure Stem, the answer to my at-home happy-hour dreams.
Schott Zwiesel Tritan Pure Cabernet Wine Glasses (Set of 6)
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Amazon
All purpose—great for all colors/styles of wine
Feels great in hand
Durable and chip resistant
Slightly thick stem
While the $88 and change price tag may seem like a lot at first, when divided by six, the cost breaks down to less than $15 a stem, which for me, seems like the perfect middle-of-the-road option. Sure, it’s not your $9.99 4-pack from TJ Maxx, but it’s not nearly as costly as a $78 Zalto Universal glass (or equivalent).
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The Spruce Eats / Vicki Denig
After testing multiple options, it was clear that this all-purpose stem from Zwiesel was the best in its category. In my experience, wine tends to show its best—and therefore, offer the best drinking experience—when the stem feels light in the hand, has a thin rim, and is easy to maneuver. The Glas Tritan All-Purpose Pure glass is the perfect size, in that its bowl is large enough to properly convey aromas, yet remains small enough that the bouquet (or bubbles, in the case of sparkling wine) doesn’t dissipate too quickly. In terms of physical size, the stems also clock in at less than 10 inches in height, meaning that storing them in small spaces is easy as ever.
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The Spruce Eats / Vicki Denig
Although the stem is slightly thicker than I prefer, it's still way thinner than most glassware in its price category. The rim, however, is perfectly thin, which allows it to sit light on the lips. In terms of durability, the titanium crystal glass feels quite sturdy, especially when hand-washing. Although the product deems itself dishwasher safe, I always recommend hand-washing glassware, as this is the best way to keep your stems safe.
Whether my friends and I lean red or white or even decide to pop some bubbly, I know that the Glas Tritan All-Purpose Pure will serve our needs and look elegant while doing so.
In addition to durability and feel, what I love most about the Glas Tritan All-Purpose Pure is its versatility. I generally don’t follow glassware recommendations by region or variety but rather look to all-purpose stems that will get that job done for whatever style of wine the night calls for. Whether my friends and I lean red or white or even decide to pop some bubbly, I know that the Glas Tritan All-Purpose Pure will serve our needs and look elegant while doing so.
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The Spruce Eats / Vicki Denig
Material: Glass | Dimensions: 9.6-inch tall, 3.6-inch wide | Capacity: 18.2 ounces | Dishwasher safe: Hand wash recommended
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Vicki Denig is a wine, spirits, and travel journalist based between New York and Paris. Her writing regularly appears in major industry publications, including Liquor.com, WineSearcher, Decanter, and beyond. Vicki also works with a prestigious rolodex of monthly clients, including Paris Wine Company, Becky Wasserman & Co, Corkbuzz, Provignage, and beyond. She is a Certified Specialist of Wine. When not writing, Vicki enjoys indoor cycling classes and scoping out dogs to pet in her local parks.