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The Sauternes glass: the best glass for dessert wine
Sweet wines need a smaller glass than you think. What makes a good Sauternes glass, my picks, and how to serve dessert wine like a sommelier.
Updated October 2026
Rewritten by Alper Billik, Advanced Sommelier
2 min read
The short answer: a dessert wine glass is smaller than a white-wine glass, with a bowl that narrows toward the rim. It suits the small pours sweet wines are served in and keeps their honeyed aromas together. The classic is Riedel's Sommeliers Sauternes.
What Sauternes is
Sauternes is the great sweet white wine of Bordeaux, made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and a little Muscadelle. In good autumns, a fungus called noble rot shrivels the grapes and concentrates their sugar and acidity. The wines were classified in 1855, with Château d'Yquem alone at the top as Premier Cru Supérieur.
What makes a good dessert wine glass
- A smaller bowl. Sweet wines are poured small, about 60 to 90 ml, and they look lost in a big glass.
- A bowl that narrows toward the rim. It concentrates aromas of apricot, honey and saffron.
- A thin rim, so the wine reaches your palate cleanly and its acidity balances the sweetness.
My picks
The classic
Riedel Sommeliers Sauternes
Mouth-blown, from Riedel's top Sommeliers range, and shaped for Sauternes. The reference glass for sweet wine.
The lightest
Zalto Sweet Wine
Zalto's feather-light glass for dessert wines, with the angled bowl of its whole range. For the true sweet-wine lover.
If you have one glass
Your universal glass
No dessert glass? A good universal glass with a small pour works well. See my picks of the best wine glasses.
How to serve Sauternes
- Well chilled, about 8 to 10 °C (46 to 50 °F). Too warm, and it tastes heavy.
- A small pour, 60 to 90 ml. A bottle serves more people than you think.
- With the right food: blue cheese such as Roquefort, foie gras, or fruit tarts. The rule: the dessert should be less sweet than the wine.
Questions people ask
What glass is best for Sauternes?
A small glass that narrows toward the rim, such as the Riedel Sommeliers Sauternes. A universal glass with a small pour also works.
How much Sauternes do you pour?
About 60 to 90 ml (2 to 3 oz), smaller than a normal glass of wine.
Should Sauternes be chilled?
Yes, to about 8 to 10 °C (46 to 50 °F).
Can I use a port glass for Sauternes?
Yes. A small port or dessert glass works for most sweet wines.
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