And of course, wood has been used to make stemware and flatware.  However, with the prevalence of materials like glass, metal and ceramics, wood has basically become obsolete when it comes to making simple forks and knives.  You may see it once in a while as the fancy salad spoon, but not much else.

But what about wooden wine goblets?  Wine has been traced back to very early time periods (about 6000 B.C.) – long before glass and metal were commonly used.  After all, you always here about how wine is kept in wooden barrels to get their “oaky tones.”  At about that time, the only other material getting much attention was clay for pottery.  In fact, pottery was used to make most earthenware.

There are a few problems with wood.  First, the wood will absorb the wine.  This will damage the wood over long periods of time, as well as stain it (if drinking red wine.)  Secondly, the wine can be affected easily from being exposed to the wood itself.  This is not a problem so much nowadays because there are wood finishes to seal the wine and prevent moisture from penetrating into the wood.  Centuries ago did not have this luxury, making wood much inferior to pottery wine goblets.

Consequently, wood is not a popular choice for wine goblets.  However, with wood finishes available today it is perfectly fine to drink from them.  In fact, many that you find are very beautiful.  Wooden wine goblets are pretty rare finds, so the ones available are usually handcrafted and specially designed, meaning they can be quite expensive.

Because of their native look and feel, they act best as red wine goblets to complement the full bodied and earthy reds.  They can also be used for white wines, but they simply do not go with the light taste of a white wine.  For better or for worse, wood is just too loud for whites.

The easiest place to find wood wine goblets is online.  Since it is mostly small businesses that do custom jobs, it is most efficient for them to sell online.  However, if you keep your eyes open, you are sure to find them also in antique shops, garage sales and in other small corners of the universe.

Pottery wine goblets add a very unique tone to the table.  Since it is an old technology, they add a distinct rustic style, as well as a level of respectability, to the wine experience.  These wine goblets are best with full bodied red wines because of how well they complement the earthiness and power of those red wines.  They do not fare well with white wines aesthetically, as the primitive look of clay does not really match its delicate flavor.  If looking to buy pottery, buy them to use as red wine goblets.

If indeed you want pottery wine goblets to add a rustic tone, it is best to get ones that have earthy colors.  This includes shades of brown, red and grey.  Many pottery wine goblets also come with a glossy coating over the clay prior to firing it in the kiln.  This process is known as glazing.  It is best to avoid this if you want an earthy looking goblet.

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On the flipside, a lot of pottery is created with intricate shapes with beautiful designs on it.  There are many potters out there that are very crafty in making earthenware.  Be sure to check your area for local pottery stores for handcrafted wine goblets, as well as other flatware, vases and artifacts.  Also look online as there are more and more people are finding it easier (and less expensive) to sell their goods online!

There is a final option, which is also the most fun.  You can always make your own pottery wine goblets!  Go to a local pottery shop and learn how to do it.  It’s always fun to indulge in new hobbies.  Take a few classes and try making your own.  Or, you could pick out a premade goblet and design it yourself!  After you are done designing it the way you want it, they will glaze it and fire it in a kiln for you to use.  This is a fun and relatively cheap option that you should definitely consider.