Matching the Glass to the Drink

There are eight main types of drinking glasses; each designed to complement the taste and bouquet of the wine or spirit it is intended to hold. The best quality glasses are full-leaded or lead crystal. Full lead crystal contains 30 per cent lead oxide, lead crystal contains 25 percent lead oxide and it is this addition that gives glassware its brightness, clarity, weight and strength. The thinner and finer the glass the better the wine or spirit tastes.

Crystal glassware, however, is expensive, so if you want to collect a full set of glasses for all occasions you may need to do so ever a period of time, starting with three basic types.

Sherry glass - Sometimes called a copita, this pear shaped glass is also suitable for port, Madeira and liqueurs.

Wine glass - There are three different shapes of wine glass - the Paris goblet, tulip glass and hock glass. Of these, either the Paris goblet or tulip glass can be used for drinking both red and white wines, though the tulip glass can also be used for sparkling wines such as champagne and spumante. Sizes of wine glasses are: 5oz, 61/4 oz, 8oz, 10oz and 12oz.

Whiskey tumbler A squat, straight-sided glass with a heavy base (Scotsmen do not like to have their drink knocked over!). The whiskey tumbler will hold about 225ml (8fl oz) and so can also be used for long drinks such as beer or lager.

The above three types of glasses can later be added to with more distinctive and sophisticated glasses, designed for the full appreciation of good wines and spirits.

Champagne glass Champagne or spumante, the Italian sparkling wine, should be drunk from a tall, conical glass called a flute, which allows the bubbles to rise evenly and rapidly. The dish-shaped version is not really suitable for sparkling wine as it allows the bubbles to dissipate too quickly.

Port glass The ideal shape for this glass is a bulbous base narrowing to a funnel top. Port has a pungent aroma, which would be almost over powering if allowed to escape through a wide-topped glass. A port glass should be filled to between a half and two thirds of its capacity, so that the fumes can disperse in the funnel formed at the top.

Hock glass Perhaps the most elegant and sophisticated of all wine glasses, there are designs for each region of these German wines. The Rhine-wine hock glass has a brown stem to reflect color into the wine, whereas Alsace wine is drunk in a glass with a green stem. The glass for Moselle wines is engraved to catch the light and bring out the green-gold coloring of the wine.

Brandy glass A thistle shaped glass which, like the port glass, traps the fumes in its funnel top. Some brandy drinkers prefer the 'balloon' glass, designed to be cupped in the hand so that body heat warms the brandy to evaporate the fumes more quickly.

Beer; glass, jug or tankard? Some beer drinkers prefer their beer in a straight-sided glass; others opt for a handles jug. Neither type affects the quality of the beer, but since a pint of beer weighs just over 450g a firm grip on a handle lessens the chance of a full pint slipping through your fingers.Pewter or silver tankards also have a handle, and often a glass bottom.