Bordeaux Glass

What is Bordeaux Glass? A Bordeaux glass is a tall, stemmed red-wine glass with a broad bowl designed specifically for full-bodied, tannic reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Its signature feature is the way it directs wine to the back of the mouth, in contrast to the Burgundy glass, which sends wine to the tip of the tongue. The wider bowl increases oxygen exposure, encouraging the oxidation of phenolic compounds — tannins and aromatic molecules — that gives complex reds their depth and balance. For Bordeaux-style wines, this combination of shape and surface area is not a stylistic flourish but a tool that shapes how the wine smells and tastes in the glass.

Shape and Dimensions

The Bordeaux bowl is broad but not as round as a Burgundy glass — narrower in profile, yet the glass overall is taller, often with a longer stem. Typical overall height sits in the 24–26 cm range (roughly 9.25 to 10.43 inches), depending on the model.

Bowl capacity tells a similar story. Standard Bordeaux glasses run around 600 ml, while larger Grand Cru versions stretch to 800–900 ml. For reference, the Riedel Vinum Bordeaux holds about 635 ml (21.5 oz), and the Riedel Sommeliers Bordeaux Grand Cru reaches roughly 887 ml (30 oz). The relatively narrow chimney concentrates aromatics above the wine, while the wide belly of the bowl provides the surface area needed to soften tannins through air contact.

Origin and Design Philosophy

The Bordeaux shape was one of the original varietal-specific wine glasses developed by Claus J. Riedel, the ninth generation of the Riedel family. His design followed the Bauhaus principle that form follows function — the idea that specific wines reveal more depth and balance when served from bowl shapes tuned to their character.

Riedel's Sommeliers collection, which includes the Bordeaux Grand Cru, launched in 1973 as the first varietal-specific, handcrafted and mouth-blown wine-glass range. In 1986, Georg J. Riedel introduced Vinum, the first machine-made varietal-specific series, which brought the Vinum Bordeaux to a wider audience at a more accessible price point.

When to Choose It

Reach for a Bordeaux glass when pouring tannic, full-bodied reds — classic Left Bank Bordeaux blends, varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot-driven wines, Syrah and similarly structured bottles. The bowl gives the bouquet room to develop, while the targeted flow to the back of the mouth lets fruit, oak and tannin land in balance rather than fighting on the front of the palate.

For lighter, more aromatic reds like Pinot Noir, a Burgundy glass is the better tool. The two shapes are designed to do different jobs, and matching the glass to the wine is the simplest way to get more out of the bottle you have already chosen.