Table etiquette is not a simple science. When accepting guests or going to a restaurant, you should learn to navigate in different subtleties and peculiarities of table setting and tableware. One of the stumbling blocks is the table setting with glasses. There are a large number of their varieties and they are all designed strictly for a specific type of drink.
The main types of glasses
Glasses are all those glass or crystal containers into which alcohol is poured: wine, cocktails, spirits, liqueurs, etc. They are divided into several main groups:
- glasses for wine;
- glasses for sparkling wines, including champagne;
- glasses for cocktails;
- glasses for strong drinks - vodka, cognac, whiskey or brandy. Such glasses are also called snifters;
- glasses for liqueurs.
Glasses for wine and champagne
The modern culture of wine drinking has its roots in ancient Greece. It was not customary among the Greeks to drink wine undiluted, because it clouded the mind. Today this rule has been forgotten and wine is enjoyed in its purest form - its taste and aroma. Therefore, wine glasses come with a wide neck so that you can feel the most subtle notes of the bouquet. The glass is filled with wine completely, retreating from the edge of only 1-1.5 cm.
It is customary to serve pink and white wines in thin tulip glass glasses on a high stem with a wide neck. The volume of such a glass is from 180 to 260 ml. White wine can be poured into colored glass glasses.
Red dry and semi-dry wine is also served in a glass with a thin long stem, but wider and more voluminous - 200-300 ml. For red wine, use only clear glass glasses.
For champagne, two types of glasses with long thin legs are used. The first is a flute glass (160-300 ml). It is long, narrow, with a graceful curve. The second type is a glass-bowl (140-160 ml). It is a flat glass with a very wide neck. I often use it to build pyramids at weddings and parties.
Sweet fortified wines, ports, sherries are served as a dessert at the end of the meal in small glasses (80-100 ml) on a low stem, similar in shape to glasses for white wine.
Glasses for cocktails
To serve cocktails, several types of glasses are used in accordance with the composition of the cocktail itself. One of the most popular is a martini cocktail glass - on a high thin leg in the form of a wide cone, turned upside down. It serves not only martinis, but also other chilled cocktails without ice. The second popular cocktail glass is the Margarita. The famous cocktail of the same name and other frozen drinks are poured into it.
The Harikane glass is elegant and long, with curves, on a short stem. It usually serves tropical cocktails with umbrellas. Its volume is large - 400-480 ml. Tall, straight glasses of Highball and Collins are designed for drinks on ice, juices, soda and mineral water.
Glasses for spirits
Wine glasses for spirits - snifters or ballons. The most commonly used is a cognac glass. Its capacity is 275-875 ml. With a wide bottom and narrow neck, on a short stem, it allows you to preserve the aroma of cognac, brandy, young Armagnac for a long time.
Liqueur glass is an elegant low glass, it can be straight, cone-shaped and tulip-shaped. The volume usually does not exceed 40-60 ml. Stack - a cylindrical glass for spirits without adding ice. Alcohol is poured there in one sip and drunk in one gulp.
