Buying Stemware

Wine Glasses

A red wine glass bowl will be fuller and rounder with a larger opening; this increases the rate of oxidation. For red wine, you may want both a Bordeaux and a Burgundy glass. As for the size of red wine glasses, the more generous, the better, to allow for a third fill and the rest of the glass permitting aeration.

A white wine glass bowl will be more U shaped and upright allowing the aromas to be released while also maintaining a cooler temperature. To preserve a crisp, clean flavour, many white wine glasses will have a smaller mouth, which reduces surface area and in turn, the rate of oxidization. The reason that white wine glasses need to be smaller is that white wine should not warm up too much before it is consumed.

Champagne Glasses

Champagne glasses are suited to sparkling wine, such as Champagne or Asti. A champagne glass has a small mouth to keep the wine sparkling longer and ensure the best flavour and aroma.

When it comes to serving champagne it's not just about the champagne flutes. Champagne buckets are a great way to the keep bottle ice cold as part of your table service. They come in loads of different designs so you can match them with your existing table settings.

Washing Stemware

Choosing stemware that is dishwasher-proof will save you time and effort. For non-greasy glasses, wash them on the shortest cycle without detergent. For dirtier glasses, use a little detergent but no rinsing aid. Open the door at the end of the cycle to let the glasses air dry without humidity. For hand-washing, use hot water and a minimum of detergent.

Storing Stemware

Make sure stemware is stored properly. There is an increasing habit to store all glasses upside down. For wine glasses this is not a good idea as it traps stale air. Instead, stand them upright in a closed cupboard. Any glass not used for a while needs to be washed before use.

Design of Stemware

Do you need stemware for a busy bar or do you provide a fine dining experience? Make sure you choose the best material for the job.

One Piece and Two Piece Pulled

One piece stemware is pulled or drawn in a molten state and is generally more durable than two piece stemware, where as the name suggests the bowl and stem are made separately and then joined together.

Style of Stemware

For serving fine wines, choose glasses that are clear in colour and do not have any painted or etched decorations. While coloured glass and decorations may make the glass pretty to look at, it detracts from the appreciation of the wine inside, particularly for wine tastings.

Stemware to Accompany Dinner

For wine accompanying dinner, choose wine glasses that are slightly larger so that they can accommodate larger pours, while still having ample empty space in the bowl.

Stemware for a Wine Tasting

For wine tasting events, choose small, inexpensive glasses. Wine glasses for a wine tasting party don't need to be as pretty or expensive. As you will need so many and some are liable to be broken by guests, prefer cheaper ones for such occasions. Smaller tasting glasses are preferred, especially if many wines will be served at one time and over the course of the evening. They are easier to clean and you can fit more in front of each guest on the table. Also, tasting pours tend to be smaller so that each wine can make it around to each guest and each guest can drink more wines without getting too tipsy.