Cabernet Sauvignon is a big, firm red, and the glass most makers design for it is the Bordeaux shape: a tall bowl with fairly straight sides, a generous capacity and a rim that tapers only slightly. The height puts distance between the wine and your nose, and the large bowl gives a tannic red room to be swirled. If Cabernet, Merlot, Malbec or a red Bordeaux blend is what you open most often, this is the shape to own.
This page is the narrow version of our main guide to the best wine glasses, which covers universal, Cabernet and white wine glasses together. Here we look only at tall Bordeaux and Cabernet shapes, none of them repeated from that guide, and we say plainly what each maker or listing states about its crystal, including lead.
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Quick verdict: which Cabernet glass to buy
For most households, the best wine glasses for Cabernet are the Zwiesel Glas Pure Bordeaux glasses, set of six: a 10.5-inch-tall glass holding about 23 ounces, in Tritan crystal that the maker says is made without lead, sold as dishwasher safe and made in Germany. If you want a glass its maker designed for Cabernet by name, choose the Riedel Extreme Cabernet. For a special bottle, the hand-blown Zalto Bordeaux is the splurge, and the Libbey Signature Red set is the sensible budget choice.
The rest of this page explains why, and which glass suits the way you pour.
Five Cabernet glasses side by side
Our five standout picks, one for each kind of table, with the capacity and material each maker or listing states. All seven glasses are reviewed in full below.
| Cabernet glasses | Best for | Pieces & capacity | Material (as stated) | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Zwiesel Glas Pure Bordeaux Glasses, Set of 6Best overall
|
Cabernet at the family table | 6 x about 23 oz | Tritan crystal, lead-free (maker) | View on Amazon |
Riedel Extreme Cabernet Glasses, Set of 4Cabernet-specific shape
|
A glass shaped for Cabernet | 4 x about 28 oz | Machine-made crystal glass (see note) | View on Amazon |
Zalto Bordeaux Glasses, Set of 6Splurge pick
|
Special bottles, collectors | 6 x about 765 ml | Hand-blown lead-free crystal (listing) | View on Amazon |
| Casual dinners, low shelves | 6 x about 18.5 oz | Tritan crystal, lead-free (maker) | View on Amazon | |
| A big red glass for less | 4 x 24 oz | ClearFire glass, lead-free (listing) | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Capacity, material and lead statements are as given by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
Our picks for the best wine glasses Cabernet calls for
These seven glasses all have the tall, roomy Bordeaux-style bowl that suits Cabernet Sauvignon and other full-bodied reds, and none of them repeats a pick from our main wine glass guide. They cover an everyday set of six, a glass Riedel designed for Cabernet by name, a classic German goblet, a hand-blown splurge, an Italian set with reinforced stems, a stemless option and a budget set. Each pick explains who it suits, the specifications that matter and one honest reason to skip it.
1. Zwiesel Glas Pure Bordeaux Glasses, Set of 6 – Tall Bowl, Lead-Free Tritan
The Pure Bordeaux is the glass most households drinking Cabernet should start with: a properly tall Bordeaux bowl in a set of six, made from a crystal the maker says contains no lead.
The listing gives a height of 10.5 inches, a diameter of 3.7 inches and a capacity of about 23 ounces. Zwiesel Glas describes the shape as a wide bowl with a tapering rim, made for powerful wines such as tannin-rich Bordeaux, which is exactly the job a Cabernet glass has. The Pure line has sharper, more angular contours than a classic goblet, so it looks modern on the table while keeping the height and volume a big red needs.
The material is Zwiesel Glas’s Tritan crystal, made in Germany. The maker says all of its Tritan crystal glasses are manufactured without lead, and the listing credits its Tritan Glass Protect technology for the glasses’ strength. The set is sold as dishwasher safe.
At 10.5 inches, this is one of the taller glasses here. That is part of the point with Cabernet, but measure the gap between your cabinet shelves and the clearance of your dishwasher’s top rack before you order.
Why we like it
- Tall Bordeaux bowl of about 23 ounces
- Tritan crystal the maker says is made without lead
- Sold as dishwasher safe
- Made in Germany
- Six matching glasses in one box
Key specifications
| Model | Pure Bordeaux, 26.11242 |
|---|---|
| Material | Tritan crystal glass |
| Capacity | About 23 oz |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | 10.5 in tall, 3.7 in diameter |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (listing) |
| Made in | Germany |
| Lead statement | Made without lead (Zwiesel Glas) |
Why we recommend it
It gives a household a real Bordeaux shape at a full set size, in a crystal the maker says is lead-free and that goes in the dishwasher. For regular Cabernet drinkers, that combination covers almost everything a glass needs to do.
Skip it if your cabinets are tight. At 10.5 inches, the Pure Bordeaux needs more headroom than most everyday glasses, and the stemless version further down solves that.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Tall bowl for a full-bodied red
- Lead-free per the maker
- Dishwasher safe per the listing
- Set of six
Cons
- Very tall for some cabinets
- Angular look will not suit every table
2. Riedel Extreme Cabernet Glasses, Set of 4 – Designed Around Cabernet
Riedel made its name designing glasses for individual grapes, and this one is drawn for Cabernet and Merlot by name.
The listing gives a capacity of about 28 ounces and a size of roughly 9.7 inches tall by 4.1 inches wide, which makes it the largest bowl in this guide apart from the Zalto. Riedel says the angular bowl has a large surface area that helps full-bodied reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, red Bordeaux and Malbec breathe and develop. The Extreme line’s diamond-shaped bowl is distinctive; it is not the soft, rounded goblet many people picture.
The glass is machine-made, and the listing states that all Riedel glasses are dishwasher safe. This is a set of four sold as a “pay 3, get 4” value pack, which makes it a practical way into a Riedel varietal glass.
On lead, Riedel’s wording is careful rather than absolute. Its frequently asked questions page says that since 2015 the company has produced only “Crystal Glass,” a material “that does not use lead oxide as a principal ingredient.” Neither this listing nor that statement uses the words lead-free, so we report Riedel’s wording as written. Our main guide already recommends Riedel’s Performance Cabernet/Merlot glass, so the Extreme is the Riedel Cabernet shape we add here.
Why we like it
- Designed for Cabernet and Merlot by name
- Large bowl of about 28 ounces, per the listing
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
- Four glasses in the value pack
Key specifications
| Model | Extreme Cabernet, 4411/0 |
|---|---|
| Material | Machine-made crystal glass |
| Capacity | About 28 oz (listing) |
| Count | 4 glasses |
| Dimensions | About 9.7 in tall, 4.1 in wide |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (listing) |
| Made in | Not stated on this listing |
| Lead statement | “Does not use lead oxide as a principal ingredient” (Riedel FAQ) |
Why we recommend it
If you want a glass its maker designed for Cabernet specifically, rather than for red wine in general, this is the clearest option we found in stock. It suits someone who drinks a lot of big reds and wants a generous bowl.
Skip it if you want a maker to state plainly that the glass is lead-free. Riedel’s wording stops short of that, and the Zwiesel, Stölzle, Zalto, Luigi Bormioli and Libbey picks here are all described as lead-free.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Cabernet-specific design
- Very large bowl
- Dishwasher safe per the listing
Cons
- Lead wording is not a plain “lead-free”
- Angular bowl is a matter of taste
- Country of manufacture not on this listing
3. Stölzle Lausitz Experience Bordeaux Glasses, Set of 6 – Classic Goblet, Lead-Free
The Experience Bordeaux is the traditional Bordeaux goblet: a tall, gently curved bowl on a slender stem, from a German glassmaker with a long history.
The listing gives each glass a capacity of 21.75 ounces and says the series is designed to bring out the aroma and bouquet of Bordeaux wines. It describes the material as durable lead-free crystal, shatter-resistant and dishwasher safe, and credits German craftsmanship and more than 130 years of glassmaking. Height and bowl width are not stated on this listing.
If the Zwiesel Pure looks too angular for your table, this is the softer, more familiar shape. It is a set of six, so it covers a table of four with spares, and the plain outline matches most dinnerware.
Our main guide includes a different Stölzle Lausitz glass, the angular Power red. The Experience is a separate line with a rounder bowl.
Why we like it
- Classic Bordeaux goblet shape
- 21.75-ounce capacity
- Lead-free crystal, per the listing
- Shatter-resistant and dishwasher safe, per the listing
- Set of six
Key specifications
| Model | Experience Bordeaux, 220-00-35 |
|---|---|
| Material | Crystal glass |
| Capacity | 21.75 oz |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (listing) |
| Made in | Not stated (listing cites German craftsmanship) |
| Lead statement | Lead-free (listing) |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who wants the familiar rounded Bordeaux silhouette from an established German glassmaker, in a lead-free crystal that goes in the dishwasher, at a full set size.
Skip it if you need exact dimensions before you buy. The listing gives none, so compare against a glass you already own of similar capacity.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Traditional goblet shape
- Lead-free per the listing
- Dishwasher safe
- Set of six
Cons
- Dimensions not stated
- Smaller bowl than the Riedel or Zalto
4. Zalto Bordeaux Glasses, Set of 6 – Hand-Blown and Feather-Light
Zalto’s Bordeaux is the Austrian maker’s glass for full-bodied reds, and this listing sells it as a set of six.
The listing gives a height of 9.1 inches, a width of 4.3 inches at the widest point and a capacity of about 765 ml, roughly 26 ounces. It names Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux blends, Syrah, Brunello and Rioja among the wines it is proportioned for. It describes the glass as designed in Austria and hand-blown by European glassblowers from lead-free crystal.
Hand-blown glass of this size is very thin and light, and that is both the appeal and the risk. Our main guide recommends Zalto’s Universal glass as an all-round splurge; the Bordeaux is the shape to buy if Cabernet is what you open for special dinners.
This listing does not say whether the glasses are dishwasher safe. With thin hand-blown glass, careful hand washing and drying by the bowl rather than twisting the stem is the safer habit.
Why we like it
- Hand-blown lead-free crystal, per the listing
- About 765 ml capacity
- Proportioned for Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends, per the listing
- Set of six for a dinner table
Key specifications
| Model | Zalto Bordeaux, 11 201 |
|---|---|
| Material | Hand-blown crystal |
| Capacity | About 765 ml (about 26 oz) |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | 9.1 in tall, 4.3 in wide |
| Dishwasher safe | Not stated on this listing |
| Made in | Hand-blown in Europe; designed in Austria |
| Lead statement | Lead-free (listing) |
Why we recommend it
For a wine lover who wants the most refined Bordeaux shape for good bottles, or a gift for someone who does, this is the most special glass we found in stock.
Skip it if the glasses will see daily use or a crowded sink. They are thin and hand-blown, and the Tritan picks here make far more sense for regular dinners.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Hand-blown and light
- Large bowl for big reds
- Lead-free per the listing
Cons
- Delicate
- Dishwasher guidance not stated on this listing
- A large outlay for six glasses
5. Luigi Bormioli Crescendo Bordeaux Glasses, Set of 4 – Titanium-Reinforced Stems
The Crescendo Bordeaux is an Italian-made Bordeaux glass built around durability, with a stem treatment aimed at the most common way wine glasses break.
The listing gives each glass a 20-ounce capacity and describes the material as SON.hyx, Luigi Bormioli’s lead-free blown crystal, which it calls break resistant. It says the stems receive a permanent anti-abrasion treatment with titanium for more resistance to snapping and bending, and that they are pulled stems without mould seams. The rims are laser-cut, the foot is flat for stability, and the glasses are sold as dishwasher safe.
At 20 ounces it is the smallest stemmed glass in this guide, though still well above a standard pour. Height and width are not stated on the listing.
Our main guide recommends Luigi Bormioli’s Atelier stemless Cabernet glass. The Crescendo is a different line, stemmed, for people who want the Bordeaux shape with a stem but worry about breakage.
Why we like it
- Titanium-treated stems, per the listing
- SON.hyx lead-free crystal, per the listing
- Laser-cut rims and a flat, stable foot
- Made in Italy and dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | Crescendo Bordeaux, 09627/12 |
|---|---|
| Material | SON.hyx blown crystal glass |
| Capacity | 20 oz |
| Count | 4 glasses |
| Dimensions | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (listing) |
| Made in | Italy |
| Lead statement | Lead-free (listing) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a busy household that wants stemmed Bordeaux glasses for everyday dinners and has lost a few stems to the sink or dishwasher.
Skip it if you want the biggest bowl you can get. At 20 ounces, the Riedel, Zalto and Zwiesel picks all give a Cabernet more room.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Reinforced stems
- Lead-free per the listing
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Smaller bowl than most here
- Dimensions not stated
- Four glasses rather than six
6. Zwiesel Glas Pure Stemless Bordeaux Glasses, Set of 6 – No Stem to Knock Over
A stemless Bordeaux tumbler, for casual dinners, patio tables and cabinets that cannot take a 10-inch glass.
The listing gives each tumbler a height of 5.2 inches, a diameter of 3.6 inches and a capacity of about 18.5 ounces. Zwiesel Glas says the wide bowl allows rich wines such as Bordeaux to develop their aroma. Like our top pick it is machine-made Tritan crystal from Germany, which the maker says is manufactured without lead, and it is sold as dishwasher safe.
Why a second Zwiesel glass? Because it answers a different need: it is the stemless member of the same Pure collection as our top pick, so the two can share a shelf and look like a set. If you only want one, choose by how you drink rather than by brand.
The trade-off with any stemless glass is warmth. Your hand rests on the bowl and warms the wine slowly. Cabernet is usually served a little below warm room temperature, so pour smaller amounts and top up.
Why we like it
- Only 5.2 inches tall
- Bordeaux-shaped bowl of about 18.5 ounces
- Tritan crystal the maker says is made without lead
- Dishwasher safe and made in Germany
- Matches the stemmed Pure glasses
Key specifications
| Model | Pure Stemless Bordeaux, 0026.118968 |
|---|---|
| Material | Machine-made Tritan crystal glass |
| Capacity | About 18.5 oz |
| Count | 6 glasses |
| Dimensions | 5.2 in tall, 3.6 in diameter |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (listing) |
| Made in | Germany |
| Lead statement | Made without lead (Zwiesel Glas) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a household that wants a Bordeaux-style bowl without a stem to snap, or simply has no room for tall glasses. It is also an easy glass to hand guests at a cookout.
Skip it if you like your Cabernet cool and drink it slowly over a long dinner. Without a stem, your hand will warm the wine.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stable and easy to store
- Lead-free per the maker
- Dishwasher safe
- Set of six
Cons
- Hand warms the wine
- Smaller bowl than the stemmed Pure
7. Libbey Signature Red Wine Glasses, 24 oz, Set of 4 – A Big Red Glass for Less
Libbey’s Signature red wine glass gets you a tall, large-capacity red wine bowl without the cost of the German and Austrian makers.
The listing gives a capacity of 24 ounces, a height of 9.4 inches and a width of 4.4 inches, so it is close in size to the specialist glasses above. Libbey names Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz as the wines it is meant for. The bowl is angular, on a tall pulled stem that flows into the bowl without a seam, with a reinforced flat foot and laser-cut rims.
This is glass rather than crystal: Libbey calls it ClearFire glass and describes the glasses as lead and BPA free. They are sold as dishwasher safe. Our main guide includes two different Libbey sets, both all-purpose shapes; this is Libbey’s dedicated red wine glass.
Why we like it
- 24-ounce bowl, 9.4 inches tall
- Named for Cabernet, Merlot and Shiraz, per the listing
- Lead and BPA free, per the listing
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | Signature red, 9326/NLS4 |
|---|---|
| Material | ClearFire glass |
| Capacity | 24 oz |
| Count | 4 glasses |
| Dimensions | 9.4 in tall, 4.4 in wide |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (listing) |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Lead statement | Lead and BPA free (listing) |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who wants a proper large red wine glass for Cabernet at a modest cost, or who needs extra glasses for a party without worrying about breakage.
Skip it if you want crystal. This is ordinary glass, so it will feel thicker at the rim than the Zwiesel or Zalto picks, and the listing gives no country of manufacture.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Large, tall bowl for the money
- Lead-free per the listing
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Glass, not crystal
- Country of manufacture not stated
- Four glasses rather than six
What makes a glass right for Cabernet
The difference between a Bordeaux glass and a Burgundy glass is mostly height and width. A Burgundy glass is short and very wide at the base, for light, perfumed reds such as Pinot Noir. A Bordeaux glass is taller, with straighter sides and a bowl that narrows only slightly toward the rim. The makers in this guide describe it the same way: a large bowl gives a tannic red room to breathe, and the height keeps the aroma gathered above the wine.
That is why capacity matters more here than with almost any other glass. Most of the picks above hold between 20 and 28 ounces, but none of them is meant to be filled. Riedel recommends a pour of about 4 ounces for its Cabernet-shaped Veloce glass, and the same logic applies to every glass here: most of the bowl stays empty.
A note on crystal and lead
Traditional crystal was made with lead oxide. Most makers now sell lead-free crystal, which gets its clarity and strength from other minerals, and we only recommend glasses here when the maker or its listing says something specific about lead. Zwiesel Glas says its Tritan crystal glasses are made without lead; Stölzle Lausitz, Zalto, Luigi Bormioli and Libbey describe these glasses as lead-free on their listings. Riedel says its crystal glass “does not use lead oxide as a principal ingredient,” which we quote rather than paraphrase. We left out Riedel’s Vinum Cabernet/Merlot: its listing makes no material statement, and Riedel’s Vinum Pinot Noir listing on Amazon describes those glasses as made with over 24% lead crystal. We report these statements as the makers give them and are not making any health claim of our own.
How to choose a Cabernet glass
Look for height and volume. A Cabernet glass should be tall, with a bowl of roughly 20 ounces or more. The Bordeaux shape is about room for a big red, not about a dramatic curve.
Read the lead statement. If lead content matters to you, choose a glass the maker calls lead-free. If a listing says only “crystal,” look for the maker’s own statement before you buy.
Choose stem or stemless for how you drink. A stem keeps your hand off the bowl and looks right at a dinner table. Stemless glasses are steadier, store anywhere and suit casual meals.
Measure your shelves and dishwasher. Bordeaux glasses are the tallest in most cupboards; the Zwiesel Pure is 10.5 inches. Check the space between cabinet shelves and the clearance of your dishwasher’s top rack against the dimensions given.
Match durability to your household. Tritan crystal, titanium-treated stems and ordinary glass suit everyday use. Thin hand-blown glass like the Zalto is for careful hands and special bottles.
Keep the pour modest. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines one standard drink of table wine as 5 fluid ounces at about 12% alcohol. A wine stronger than 12% makes a standard drink a smaller pour, and in a 24-ounce glass even 5 ounces looks like very little. That is how the glass is meant to be used.
How we chose these seven Cabernet glasses
We started from what a restaurant table asks of a wine glass: a shape suited to the wine, a size that fits a cupboard and a dishwasher, and a maker who says plainly what the glass is made of. For this page we looked only at Bordeaux and Cabernet shapes from identifiable glassmakers sold on Amazon in the United States, left out every glass recommended in our main wine glass guide, and checked that each pick was in stock when we wrote this. We set aside listings that were low on stock, including several Riedel Veritas and Spiegelau Bordeaux glasses, and Amazon-only brands with no maker information beyond the listing.
Specifications come from the Amazon listings and, where we could reach them, the makers’ own statements: Riedel’s frequently asked questions on its crystal, and Zwiesel Glas’s statement that its Tritan glasses are made without lead. We have not drunk from every glass listed here; where we describe what a shape does, we say whose description it is.
Cabernet glass questions, answered
What are the best wine glasses for Cabernet?
A tall Bordeaux-style glass with a large bowl. The Zwiesel Glas Pure Bordeaux is our pick for most households, the Riedel Extreme Cabernet is designed for the grape by name, the Zalto Bordeaux is the splurge and the Libbey Signature Red is the budget choice.
Is a Bordeaux glass the same as a Cabernet glass?
In practice, yes. Red Bordeaux is usually a blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, so makers use the names for the same tall, large-bowled shape. Riedel’s Extreme listing names Cabernet Sauvignon, red Bordeaux and Malbec for the same glass.
Can I drink Cabernet from a universal wine glass?
Of course. A good universal glass works for any red. The taller Bordeaux bowl is a refinement for people who drink a lot of full-bodied reds, not a requirement. Our guide to the best wine glasses covers the all-purpose shapes.
How full should I pour a Cabernet glass?
Not very. Riedel recommends about 4 ounces for its Veloce Cabernet/Merlot glass, which leaves most of the bowl empty for swirling. That is also close to the 5-ounce standard drink the NIAAA uses for table wine.
Are these glasses dishwasher safe?
Six of the seven are sold as dishwasher safe by their makers or listings. The exception is the hand-blown Zalto, whose listing does not say; hand washing is the safer habit for thin hand-blown glass.
The Cabernet glass to start with
Buy the Zwiesel Glas Pure Bordeaux set if you want one set of six tall Cabernet glasses for regular use, in a crystal the maker says is made without lead. Add Riedel’s Extreme Cabernet if you want a shape designed for the grape, choose the Luigi Bormioli Crescendo if stems tend to break in your house, the Pure stemless tumblers for a casual table, and the Libbey Signature Red if you want the big bowl for less. Whatever you pour, pour moderately and keep water on the table too.
Related guide: Best red wine glasses.
Big reds often benefit from air, so see our guides to wine decanters, wine aerators and wine openers, or step back to our main wine glass guide. And if you would rather someone else cooked tonight, see the menu or call to order.