I'll Drink to That

I’ll Drink to That!

by Rosanna Mignacca Sometimes, it’s the little things that count... a lot. Take glassware, for instance.

Sure, in theory, you can imbibe any beverage from any type of glass. But just the right one, selected with care, can heighten your senses and enjoyment.

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Photo by Evgeny Karandaev

Specific shapes of glassware help you to see, smell, and taste your favorite beverage better.

And for those who feel that entertaining is the very spice of life, planning the details makes all the difference in the world.

So thank goodness for the myriad shapes, sizes, and textures of glassware. There’s a glass to match every type of drink... from sleek Champagne flutes, rounded brandy snifters, and hefty

beer glasses to tall Collins tumblers, tiny jewellike liqueur glasses, and full-bodied red-wine goblets. And who can resist the attraction of Depression glass... the milky white pieces or those with green, pink, blue, and amber tints that cheered up a whole generation of housewives? These still find a place in our hearts, and collections, today. Clear and sparkling glassware, however, is most likely to stand the test of time and passing fashions. E

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Think of your entertaining needs when choosing what to serve your refreshments in.

For the cocktail hour, select a good set of oversized martini glasses that are works of art on their own. Tall tumblers are perfect for a wide array of mixed drinks, beer, and soft drinks.

You may also want a set of Champagne flutes (please, no squat 50s-style Champagne glasses... recycle those to serve sorbets in). The flute is beautiful to behold and enhances the Champagne experience. The bubbles rise within the narrow space to tickle your nose and tell you a party is on its way!

The burly beer stein has been replaced by the tall beer glass, giving an air of trendy coolness to those who enjoy a cold one. Short, heavy­ weight tumblers are perfect for whiskey, vodka, and gin, but sherry should be served in small, sleek, goblet-style sherry glasses... nothing else will do.

Large-bowled red-wine glasses, taller whitewine glasses, and short, wide water goblets should suffice during dinner. The best are those that are clear and unadorned, allowing you to view the color and clarity of the wine. Not too thick, though... the glass shouldn’t obstruct your contact with the wine, and the stem should be long enough so you can hold the glass without han-

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dling the bowl (which raises the temperature of the wine). As a rule, the bowls of red-wine glasses are larger and wider than those for whites.

Table wines should be served in moderately sized (8- to 10-ounce) glasses, while dessert wines are better in smaller (6-ounce) glasses. Sparkling wines require a slender Champagne flute, which keeps bubbles from dissipating. E

Top photo by Evgeny Karandaev. Left photo by Douglas Freer. Right photo by Jill Chen

For true connoisseurs willing to spend some money, there are glasses specifically designed to highlight the attributes of different wines. The most famous producer of such glassware is Georg Riedel, an Austrian whose collections of crystal stemware are treasured by professional and amateur epicureans throughout the world.

An assortment of port glasses, brandy snifters, and small liqueur glasses are available for after-dinner indulgences. Port and brandy should be served in a glass that curves inward, to concentrate the aroma. Brandy snifters should be large enough so that you can swirl the liquor in the glass as it sits comfortably in the palm of your hand. Both the swirling motion and your skin temperature warm the brandy, which is the desired effect.

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You’ll quickly discover the joy of owning, displaying, and, more importantly, sharing your glassware with family and friends. Don’t be tempted to buy the mass matched set and stop there. It’s fun to use your imagination to mix and match yourself. A simple glass of lemonade, served to your guest in a vintage brilliant amber goblet, will have your hospitality perceived as both creative and thoughtful.

So go ahead, raise your glass and make a toast... whether it be with the delicate clink of expensive crystal or the solid clack of everyday glassware, remember that good times come in all packages. K

Left photo by Fedor Patrakov. Right photo by Lynn Seeden. Bottom photo by iStockphoto