A Guide to Glassware

From cocktail glasses and beer glasses to champagne flutes and tumblers, the different types of glassware available are extensive. And although in some cases it’s obvious which glasses should hold which drink, for others, it isn’t so clear. So, take a look at our guide to glassware for all you need to know. 

If you like to keep your home bar cart or cabinet topped up, ready for any last-minute get-togethers, you must have the correct glassware to match the drinks on offer. Of course, starting with the glasses perfect for serving your favourite drink is the ideal place to begin your collection, and from there you can expand to complete the set. 

Glassware also makes a wonderful gift, especially if you know the recipient has a particular tipple of choice. Wonderful as new home gifts or for celebrating an engagement or special anniversary, the perfect glass set can be a thoughtful touch. 

A common glass to have in your cupboard is the wine glass, although most people only have one type of wine glass and serve every type of wine from them. However, the shape of the wine glass can influence the taste, aroma, and temperature of the wine, so if you’re fond of a glass of red, white, or rosé make sure you’re opting for the best wine glasses for your choice.

Generally, red wine glasses have a wider bowl with a larger opening than white wine glasses to allow the complex flavours room to breathe and, in turn, enhance the flavour. Red wine needs to interact with the oxygen in the air as much as possible, a process known as oxidation, to bring out the complex flavours of the wine. You can do this by swirling the wine in the glass, and so having a glass large enough to swirl without spilling is necessary. 

In contrast, white wine needs a smaller glass and opening to maintain its cooler temperature. The smaller bowl also helps to preserve the subtle, fruity flavour and aroma of the wine. A glass with a long stem is ideal for keeping your wine cooler for longer. 

Stemless wine glasses are best for red wine, as it’s best to serve this at room temperature. Holding the stemless glass in your hand can warm the wine past its optimal drinking temperature, meaning they’re not as suitable for drinking cooler white or rosé wines. And alongside red wine, stemless wine glasses make beautiful vessels for soft drinks and water.

Although technically a type of wine, champagne, or sparkling wine as it’s also known, deserves its own type of glassware altogether. Perfect for celebrations of all kinds, champagne glasses come in different shapes and sizes too, including stemmed and stemless. One of the most sophisticated ways to serve champagne or prosecco is in champagne flutes, which have tall, thin stems and narrow openings that help to keep the bubbles in the glass for longer.

Goblet glasses have a deep bowl and wider rim and are often made of thicker glass to help maintain the temperature of the drink. Perfect for both hot and cold drinks, and in the festive months particularly great for enjoying a comforting mulled wine. 

A short, stemless glass with a heavy base, low ball glasses, or old-fashioned as they’re also known, are wonderful choices for drinking spirits neat, like whisky or brandy, or a cocktail. The heavy base of low balls feels great in the hand and makes them perfect for slow-sipping drinks. 

Highballs are tall glasses perfect for long drinks, such as those that contain a higher quantity of non-alcoholic mixers. A versatile glass, highballs can also be used for water or soft drinks, and are great for serving drinks with plenty of ice. 

Another short and stemless glass, tumblers are versatile glasses. You can use them to serve drinks with ice or neat spirits, as well as other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Similar in style to the low ball, tumblers don’t tend to have a heavy base, and often come shaped with a narrower opening. A stylish option for a range of drinks.