If you ever want to have a lively discussion that everyone has an opinion about, bring up wine glasses in a room full of wine lovers. Honestly, I have experienced an array of wine drinking vessels, from the loveliest of stems to red solo cups, and I hope you have too, because what is life without variety?

In general, I tend to have a Goldilocks opinion on wine glasses. I don’t want some thick rimmed chunky glass. But I have also had Gabriel Glas break while hand washing them, and I have 0 patience for that kind of drama! Not to mention when it comes to wasting my money, fool me once. And I don’t have the space to own Riedel glasses for every varietal that exists.

I want something made of crystal, pretty in appearance, that feels good in my hand, that is a decent price and I can drink most wines out of. I also want to be able to serve a small crowd and not feel actual grief if a stem should break. Sturdy doesn’t work for a wine glass, but neither does extreme fragility.

You may have seen a meme with this quote on social media fairly recently:

I like to think I am not high maintenance.

And then I get served wine in an ugly, fat stemmed glass,

And I remember who I really am.

That pretty much sums it up, but I am a firm believer that really nice stems do not have to be expensive. My go to glasses for red are a universal stem by Stoetzle. I found these glasses a few years ago at Costco. These have averaged $25 for a box of 8. Such an incredible steal! I bought them three years in a row and haven’t seen them in the warehouses for a couple of years now. So far, I have only broken one. These glasses hold a place of respect in my heart.

For whites I have used the Creamy & Silky Karen MacNeil glasses by Oneida, I am down to two of those and I don’t think they are made any longer. Another favorite are the gorgeous Zwiesel Pinot Noir glasses I found at my local Homegoods store. I think the set of 4 was about $20. $29.99 at most. I don’t have dedicated sparkling glasses, even though I do love sparkling wine. I use my pinot glasses, just something with a wide bowl and slightly tapered rim works just great for me.

So how then, did I end up with the most beautiful wines glasses in existence? Glasses that go against all my rules for wine glasses, and make me wonder if $100 (yes, for real) for two wine glasses has some sort of moral implications.

This all started on the evening of my birthday. After a lovely dinner at favorite restaurant, I was perusing my phone before bed and discovered that Total Wine has a birthday perk for it’s rewards members – 50% off a glassware purchase. It is only good on your actual birthday.

Some combination of birthday revelry, and wine math had me pulling the trigger – with less than an hour to spare – and suddenly a set of two Riedel Veloce Chardonnay glasses ended up mine.

I would say it was by accident, but so beautiful are these glasses, they make me wonder if perhaps it was not an accident at all, but rather some sort of universal magic energy that knew I needed these glasses in my life at this very moment.

How could I pass up 50% off? I mean really, I was actually saving $50. Nevermind that I had to spend $50 to save $50. Or that even with the discount, $25 a stem still exceeds what I consider to be a good price per glass. There is no reasonable explanation, I just did it.

Did I mention that Chardonnay is not even my go to wine? I guess it was what my wine glass collection was lacking?

The next day, I went and picked the glasses up and brought them home. I was excited to see a $50 a stem, but expected disappointment. How could a wine glass hold up to the expectations required of such a price tag?

Ummm..,,.

These glasses have rocked my world! Ethereal. Elegant. Beautiful. They feel like a feather, yet have a presence. The long impossibly thin stem, and beautiful big bowl remind of the long legs and big tutu of a ballet dancer.

If wine is a multisensory experience – and it definitely is – these glasses enhance the experience in ways I could not have imagined. Its like the elegance transfers to me when I hold them. Pure magic I tell you.

It has reminded me of the importance of beauty for beauty’s sake. Like a flower. A rainbow. Or a piece of art. Beauty is an important aspect of living and I think one that too often is cast aside as unnecessary. Maybe because it is too often attributed only to the physical appearance of humans. Arguably the most unjust application of beauty.

A painting. Nature. A display of kindness. A moment of connection. All beautiful things, that can literally evoke an emotional response. Just as real as the emotion that comes forth in response to things that are ugly, unjust, sad, or cruel. A reminder that beauty and joy are real and worth seeking out. If no other reason than to counterbalance the sadness, ugliness, and grief that we all know naturally happens, no seeking required.

How ridiculous is it that these wine glasses have brought up all of these feelings? I can’t answer that, and honestly it doesn’t matter to me. The important thing is that they have, and I am reminded that sometimes, we all need to experience something ridiculously beautiful.

Also, I am drinking more Chardonnay lol!

Worth $50 a stem? I’m still struggling with that, but I have no regrets about buying these glasses. Pour me a beautiful Chardonnay in one of these glasses, and I am suddenly like a child, enamored with some newly discovered and perfectly delightful thing.

I think they might be priceless. Cheers friends.