From baked clay goblets to titanium reinforced crystal glass, the modern wine glass has come a long way. According to a study published in the 2017 British Medical Journal, wine glasses between 1700 and 2017 have gotten 7 times bigger. That contributes to the vast variety of glasses we have today. 

It goes without saying: wine glasses should look beautiful on the table. But it is critical that they also provide function. Each piece of stemware should bring out the optimal flavors and aromas of wine, focusing both the nose and palette on the taster.

Some things are just iconic. Often that's because they're the first.