Are There Different Types of Wine Glasses for Different Cocktails?

Wine glasses aren’t just for wine — their varied shapes also make them suitable for many cocktails. Choosing the right type of wine glass for a cocktail can alter aroma, temperature, and presentation, creating a more enjoyable drinking experience. While it’s possible to serve most mixed drinks in almost any vessel, there are advantages to matching glass size and silhouette to the drink’s style.

Why Use Different Types of Wine Glasses?

Not all wine glasses serve the same purpose. Their bowl shape, rim width, and stem length affect how aromas reach your nose, how much liquid is exposed to the air (impacting taste), and even how chilled a drink stays. These factors matter for both wine and cocktails, especially drinks built with aromatics or delicate flavors.

Wide-bowled glasses intensify aroma, perfect for cocktails featuring fresh herbs, citrus, or wine-based ingredients.
Narrower glasses highlight crisp, clean flavors and keep effervescence (bubbles) in sparkling cocktails longer.
A long stem prevents your hand from warming the drink, important for chilled or stirred cocktails.

Common Wine Glass Types Used for Cocktails

Understanding the basic types of wine glasses will help you match them to various cocktail styles. While the original intent might have been wine, their structure complements many mixed drinks as well.

Red wine glass: Wide bowl, rounded shape, helps release aromatics — use for aromatic cocktails with citrus, herbs, or bitters (think sangria, wine spritzers, vermouth-forward drinks).
White wine glass: Slightly smaller and narrower, channels subtle aromas — great for refreshing or floral cocktails, such as a French 75 or simple spritzers.
Wine flute: Narrow and tall, perfect for cocktails with bubbles, like a Mimosa or sparkling wine spritz.

white wine glass with a French 75 cocktail

Examples: Cocktails That Benefit from Specific Glass Types

Sangria: Served in a red wine glass for maximum aroma and space for fruit and ice (120–150 ml cocktail base, topped as desired).
Aperol Spritz: Traditionally in a large white wine or balloon glass, which gives plenty of room for ice and orange slice (60 ml Aperol, 90 ml prosecco, 30 ml soda water).
French 75: Usually served in a flute or white wine glass, preserving bubbles (30 ml gin, 15 ml lemon juice, 15 ml sugar syrup, 60 ml sparkling wine).

aperol spritz in large wine glass with orange

Can You Use One Wine Glass for Everything?

If you have only one style of wine glass, you still have a versatile vessel suited for many cocktails, especially simple spritzers, sours, or wine-based mixes. However, opting for a glass shape that matches a cocktail’s characteristics can elevate flavors, keep ingredients at their best temperature, and highlight the intended aromas.

If you have a choice, use a wine flute or narrow white wine glass for drinks with bubbles.
Choose a wider glass for aromatic, ingredient-heavy mixes that benefit from being swirled.
Serve large, fruit-filled cocktails in glasses with more volume and a broad bowl.

Experimenting with different wine glass types is a simple way to influence your cocktail experience. The difference may be subtle for some drinks, but for those with nuanced aromas or a showy garnish, the right wine glass makes a memorable impact.