Wine enthusiasts know that drinking wine in high quality crystal stemware makes a good wine taste great. Why? Because the simple elegance and delicate nature of a quality crystal stem not only feels better in your hand, but these glasses are designed to accentuate the flavors and aromas of wine in a way that a normal glass would not.

My personal favorites are Movia crystal stemware, Bottega del Vino, Spiegelau and the Riedel Sommelier Series Burgundy stem is basically my everyday glass. As a wine drinker and collector, I feel that quality stemware should simply be part of the enjoyment of a fine wine. Today, most of the top manufacturers have multiple lines to choose from and it’s easier than ever to find great glassware in most food or wine retail stores. Target even carries a specific line of Riedel glassware. Plus, the Internet enables consumers to acquire hard-to-find, rarely stocked products like Zalto, Movia and Ichendorf, which are some of my favorite fancy glasses.

When looking for quality glassware to enjoy in your home, you should keep four basics in mind:

STYLE. I recommend purchasing a few different styles according to the type of wines that you most enjoy. If you like Riesling, Riedel makes multiple Riesling glasses that are beautiful and offer a great addition to any stemware collection. Most manufacturers have a standard Bordeaux and Burgundy glass. If you want both, great. If not, I would decide on one based on the type of wine you drink. If you typically drink lighter skinned, aromati wines go with the Burgundy glass. If you prefer dark skinned, tannic wines, the Bordeaux glass will be better. Also consider a good all-around white wine glass that you can use for anything from Chardonnay to Sauvignon Blanc. Lastly, if you prefer to have one great glass for all wines,my favorite is the Riedel Overture Series. The Overture “Red Wine” or “White Wine” glasses will work for the enjoyment of any variety. In fact, I think this is perhaps the greatest tasting glass on the market.