German Wine Glasses

Think Germany, and you'd think beer, Michael Ballack, bratwurst, German shepherds, the Autobahn, Black Forest cake, and BMW, depending on your leanings - but did you know some of the world's best glassware comes from the Deutsche? German wine glasses are known not only for their elegance and beauty but also for their superb craftsmanship that elevates a wine drinking experience, from the pleasant, to the extraordinary. To the connoisseur, drinking wine is part art and part science, requiring the right atmosphere and certainly the right receptacles for service. Wine glasses come in specific sizes and shapes, each meant to enhance the inherent qualities of the wine they hold, with scientific backing to add practicality to theory. As a result, you have the long stemmed champagne flute, the wide bowled brandy goblet, the distinctive red wine glass and the slim white wine glass, as your basic options with myriad styles available within each category. Here's a list of some types of wine glasses that are typical of the German culture.

Green-Stemmed Wine Glasses
You'll often find that traditional German wine glasses have a green stem, which is typically ridged, with a plain green colored base. These are the glasses that are commonly used on Rhine cruises, and are also known as Roemer wine glasses. Shaped more like goblets, such glasses typically have a wide bowl, and a broad stem, and come in sizes that hold 3.5 fluid ounces and 6.8 fluid ounces. Many manufacturers will also offer etched wine glasses should you so desire; you could also get fill level marks engraved.

German Crystal Wine Glasses
A number of companies offer crystal wine glasses to lend the edge of sophistication to any dinner service. Advancements in technology mean that many of these glasses are break and scratch resistant, a distinct plus when it comes to the main risk associated with crystal ware - easy breakage. Wine glasses, from companies like Schott Zwiesel for instance, are not only endowed with these qualities, but also dishwasher safe, which makes them particularly suitable for home use, as well as professional catering services, where the price differential is made up by means of enviable durability. Newer additions include stemless wine glasses, a break from the traditional.

Antique German Wine Glasses
If you're looking for antique wine glasses, you may have to scour a few dealers, to find a worthwhile set, though online sites like eBay and Amazon may also offer some good deals. Antique glasses make a great addition to a vintage collection; you may also find some German Roemer wine glasses that qualify as 'vintage' to add value - pair them with a decanter for a lovely wedding gift.

When you're shopping for German wine glasses or wine accessories, particularly online, take care to verify the manufacturer's authenticity. While companies like Schott Zwiesel, Riedel and Stölzle might be high-priced options, they'll come with the guarantee of quality products that are worth the investment. Many high-end fine dining restaurants and hotels use glassware from these companies because of the superior drinking experience they offer - not only for wine, but spirits too; the price differential delivers a far superior experience, which many professionals feel is very much worth it.