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Zalto glasses: Universal, Bordeaux, Burgundy or Balance?
What makes Zalto different, the four shapes worth knowing, Bordeaux against Burgundy, and which one to buy first, from an Advanced Sommelier.
Updated October 2026
Rewritten by Alper Billik, Advanced Sommelier
3 min read
Zalto is the glass you find in many of the world's great wine restaurants, and the one many sommeliers dream of owning at home. It is mouth-blown, so light you forget you are holding it, with a rim so thin the wine seems to arrive on its own. It is also fragile and expensive. Here is what you get for the money, and which shape to start with.
What makes Zalto different
- Mouth-blown in Austria, from lead-free crystal, by a family of glassmakers going back generations.
- Thin and light. The thin rim is the point: nothing stands between you and the wine.
- Angled bowls. The Denk'Art bowls turn at 24°, 48° and 72°. Zalto says the angles follow the tilt of the Earth's axis; in the glass, they give the wine a wide surface to breathe.
The four shapes worth knowing
Best first Zalto
Zalto Universal
One glass for everything: whites, reds, rosé and Champagne. If you buy one Zalto, buy this.
For big reds
Zalto Bordeaux
A tall bowl with room for air, for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and other structured, tannic reds.
For aromatic reds and aged whites
Zalto Burgundy
A wide balloon for Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo and rich, aged whites: a large surface for delicate aromas. The most fragile of the four, and the hardest to store.
For wines built on structure
Zalto Balance
Launched in 2024 for wines that lead with texture rather than fruit: oaked Chardonnay, skin-contact whites, whole-bunch reds and sparkling wines aged long on their lees. A specialist; buy it after the Universal.
Zalto Bordeaux vs Burgundy
The Bordeaux is tall and narrower; the Burgundy is shorter and much wider. Structured reds with tannin, such as Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah, suit the Bordeaux. Delicate, aromatic reds such as Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo, and rich aged whites, suit the Burgundy, whose wide bowl gives the aromas room. Drink both styles and want one glass? The Universal handles both well.
| Glass | Bowl | Best for | Buy it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal | Medium, angled | Almost every wine, Champagne included | You want one glass |
| Bordeaux | Tall | Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah | You drink big reds most |
| Burgundy | Wide balloon | Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo, aged whites | Burgundy and Barolo are your wines |
| Balance | Medium, upright | Oaked, skin-contact and long-lees wines | You love textured, structured wines |
- Universal
- BowlMedium, angled
- Best forAlmost every wine, Champagne included
- Buy it ifYou want one glass
- Bordeaux
- BowlTall
- Best forCabernet, Merlot, Syrah
- Buy it ifYou drink big reds most
- Burgundy
- BowlWide balloon
- Best forPinot Noir, Nebbiolo, aged whites
- Buy it ifBurgundy and Barolo are your wines
- Balance
- BowlMedium, upright
- Best forOaked, skin-contact and long-lees wines
- Buy it ifYou love textured, structured wines
How to care for them
- Hand-wash in warm water. Zalto says the glasses are dishwasher-safe, but the thin rims chip when glasses touch, so most owners wash by hand.
- Hold the bowl when you polish, never the foot. Twisting the foot against the bowl is how stems snap.
- Polish with a lint-free microfibre cloth, while the glass is still warm.
- Store them upright, in a cupboard that doesn't smell of anything.
Is Zalto worth it?
If wine is a regular part of your life, yes: start with two Universals. If glasses get broken in your house, or the dishwasher does all the work, a tougher glass gives you more for the money. See my guide to Chef & Sommelier glasses and my picks of the best wine glasses.
For deeper reviews of each Zalto shape, see my guide site, Universal Wine Glasses.
Questions people ask
Which Zalto glass should I buy first?
The Universal. It handles whites, reds, rosé and Champagne, so one shape covers almost everything you drink.
Are Zalto glasses dishwasher safe?
Zalto says yes. Most owners still hand-wash them, because the very thin rims can chip when glasses touch in the machine.
Where are Zalto glasses made?
In Austria. They are mouth-blown from lead-free crystal.
Is the Zalto Universal good for Champagne?
Yes. A universal glass gives Champagne's aromas room to open while keeping the bubbles, and many sommeliers prefer it to a flute.
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