Best Wine From a Plastic Cup

[JDavisRoby]

Let’s say you book a house in a well known destination, get settled in, have a nice day out and then while preparing to cook dinner realize there aren’t any wine glasses in the house.

Other than immediately packing up and getting a new house, what wine do you grab from the local wine shop that’ll drink from anything?

You know something good to sip while you unwind on the patio with a good pour in a plastic cup, a rocks glass or a disposable wine glass the wine store sells?

[Eric_Sch]

Rosé, perferably Provence. Not serious, doesn’t care about stemware. But that’s why we bought the Grassl travel case.

[Andrew_Demaree]

Yep, rosé…or a decent zinfandel. I’ve enjoyed a few Ridge zins from plastic cups over the years without complaint.

[Bob_Hoelting]

Cheval Blanc

[Andrew_K]

Thoroughly enjoyed some aged GC Burg in a Solo cup in the RV before. Nothing wrong with that.

[Ben_M_a_n_d_l_e_r]

Yep, rosé…or a decent zinfandel. I’ve enjoyed a few Ridge zins from plastic cups over the years without complaint.

Geyserville was my first thought when I saw this thread.

[Rodrigo_B]

I subscribe to the school of thought that most good wines can be enjoyed regardless of what glassware you’re using. Stems can certainly elevate an experience, but often won’t deter much from it on most occasions. More delicate and fragile wines certainly benefit a lot from quality stemware, but I feel like that’s more the exception than the rule.

That said: CdR, Gamay, Zin, Carignan, Mourvèdre or most chillable light red can do nicely. For whites, riesling seems to always do the trick for me regardless of receptacle.

[Jim_Stewart]

I subscribe to the school of thought that most good wines can be enjoyed regardless of what glassware you’re using. Stems can certainly elevate an experience, but often won’t deter much from it on most occasions. More delicate and fragile wines certainly benefit a lot from quality stemware, but I feel like that’s more the exception than the rule.

That said: CdR, Gamay, Zin, Carignan, Mourvèdre or most chillable light red can do nicely. For whites, riesling seems to always do the trick for me regardless of receptacle.

I’ll give you an ‘Amen’ on that thought, Rodrigo.

And unless I’m misreading the scenario, it’s almost a celebratory one , so why not Champagne!?

[scamhi]

I travel with stems or stemless glasses for this very reason.
I use the govinos on a boat only. Don’t really like them

[Sarah_Kirschbaum]

I will be that snob who says plastic cups ruin every wine you put in them. I’d drive many miles to find something at least made of glass. If it’s a well known destination, shouldn’t there be a Target or Crate & Barrel nearby?

[DougS]

I either travel with stems or buy some. Wine out of a plastic cup offers little pleasure.

[JIMCOH]

If I can buy wine at the local shop, I can certainly buy glasses as well.

I don’t drink wine from plastic and I don’t drink coffer from paper or plastic. There just isn’t any need.

[Marshall_Manning]

I will be that snob who says plastic cups ruin every wine you put in them. I’d drive many miles to find something at least made of glass. If it’s a well known destination, shouldn’t there be a Target or Crate & Barrel nearby?

Yep. Even a simple Libbey glass is far better than a plastic cup. Spend the $4.

Sarah, we need to share wine someday. In a real glass

[Sarah_Kirschbaum]

I will be that snob who says plastic cups ruin every wine you put in them. I’d drive many miles to find something at least made of glass. If it’s a well known destination, shouldn’t there be a Target or Crate & Barrel nearby?

Yep. Even a simple Libbey glass is far better than a plastic cup. Spend the $4.

Sarah, we need to share wine someday. In a real glass

Would love to, Marshall!

[seanr]

Simple inexpensive gulpable reds - Chianti, CA Zinfandel, CdR…

[HoosJustinG]

Zin, Bojo, Rose are all good bets … wine for a solo cup should be delicious and not take itself too seriously. I bring a Corkcicle wine glass to one of my favorite takeout places since they’re always running late … and drinking out of a stainless steep cup with a sliding sippy opening is pretty much the same as a solo cup … feel like Bojo (or new world Pinot) is usually my go to

[Tom_R_W]

Yep, rosé…or a decent zinfandel. I’ve enjoyed a few Ridge zins from plastic cups over the years without complaint.

Geyserville was my first thought when I saw this thread.

Second or third the Zinfandel mention!
Earlier this summer met another family we hadn’t seen in awhile for camping; drive in camping so we had many of the comforts of home with no concern for weight. I keep 4 GoVino glasses in our car-camping cook kit. Been loving Saxum Paderewski’s this summer, so brought a bottle along. Was about to open it the first afternoon and realized the wine glasses weren’t in the kit. Turns out my wife borrowed them for a girls’ lake cruise a few weeks prior and didn’t put them back. Seriously considered not opening the Saxum, but I’d been playing it up and didn’t want to be a wine-tease. Into the Solo cups it went! The aromatics were all wrong while letting it breathe, so I covered 2/3rds of the cup opening with Saran Wrap and tape which helped immensely.
I’m not saying it was the best Paderewski has ever tasted, but was certainly memorable! Zins and Petite Sirahs have such powerful flavors and aromatics that I think they’re best suited to overcome the non-optimal glass.

[B_Beachy]

And unless I’m misreading the scenario, it’s almost a celebratory one , so why not Champagne!?

This seems the answer to me. Not-too-serious sparkles in a plastic cup is a great time every now and then. That’s what St. Hilaire is for, and the fun of the sparkles distract from the fact it isn’t in a perfect glass.

[JDavisRoby]

I subscribe to the school of thought that most good wines can be enjoyed regardless of what glassware you’re using. Stems can certainly elevate an experience, but often won’t deter much from it on most occasions. More delicate and fragile wines certainly benefit a lot from quality stemware, but I feel like that’s more the exception than the rule.

That said: CdR, Gamay, Zin, Carignan, Mourvèdre or most chillable light red can do nicely. For whites, riesling seems to always do the trick for me regardless of receptacle.

This was kind of my point. What wines will you enjoy from any vessel short of an old boot.

[JDavisRoby]

I will be that snob who says plastic cups ruin every wine you put in them. I’d drive many miles to find something at least made of glass. If it’s a well known destination, shouldn’t there be a Target or Crate & Barrel nearby?

Mountain towns in the Rockies don’t tend to have big box stores. And, the gift shops at best will sell an overpriced engraved goblet. The bottle shop sold thin lipped plastic wine glass shaped stemless. That’s what I chose on this occasion. Better than a thick lipped unbalanced glass in this situation. Especially because now I can feel better about taking them on picnics in the National Park.