Glassware

Glassware is a very broad term that encompasses commonly and not so commonly used ‘drinking vessels’ but also includes other glassware such as vases and even laboratory glassware. For the purposes of this article we will focus on the various types of drinking vessel glassware.

Broadly speaking, drinking glassware can be categorized as either cup or tumblers, beer, or wine/champagne glasses.

Cups/Tumblers

Cup glasware are traditionally drinking vessels that are used for non-alcoholic beverages and are cylindrical in shape. Tumbler glassware are a variation of cups and are traditionally flat bottomed and are differentiated from cups by not having any handles. Cup glassware can be used for soft drinks, milk drinks and water and come in varying sizes. Tumbler glassware can also be used for these drinks but can also be used for sprits, tall mixed drinks and some cocktails or spirit shots (shot glasses).

Beers Glasses

Beer glassware come in all shapes and sizes and the size is often relevant to it’s geographical location. For example a ‘schooner’ beer glass in Victoria Australia measures 425ml but in South Australia it measures 375ml. Names for different glassware can also change between relatively close geographical locations. For example, a 285ml beer in Victoria is known as a ‘pot’ but in Perth is known as a ‘middy’ or ‘half pint’. The type of glassware used for beers not only relates to the size of the serving but also to the type of beer being served. For example a ‘pilsner’ glass is used for pale ales whilst a ‘pint’ glass is used for Guinness stout.

Wine/Champagne Glasses

Wine and champagne glassware are traditionally referred to as stemware. Champagne is usually served in either champagne flute or champagne coupe glassware. A champagne flute is a tall stemmed glass with a narrow bow whilst a champagne coupe is a stemmed glass with a wide shallow bowl. Champagne coupes are also known as cocktail glasses can also be used for some cocktails.

Wine glasses are categorized by either red or white wine glassware. In general red wine glasses are stemmed and have a fuller bowl than their white wine counterparts to allow the wine space to ‘breathe’. Some red wine glasses such as Bordeaux glasses have slightly different shapes designed to direct the wine to a particular part of the mouth. In the case of Bordeaux glasses to the back of the mouth but in the case of Burgundy glasses to the tip of the tongue.

White wine glasses are narrower than red wine glasses but not as narrow as a champagne flute. They often have straight or tulip shaped sides which allows the wine to retain a chilled temperature.

It is important to be aware of the various glassware and how their uses relates to different beverages or indeed your geographical location.

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