What do we know about glasses and their purpose?

On weekdays, we often limit ourselves to simple dishes: we eat from plates, drink from glasses and mugs. However, on special occasions, “festive” dishes appear on the table, including glasses.

Glass - what is it?

This is usually the name given to a drinking vessel, which is a bowl, almost always on a foot. The latter ends at the bottom with a stable base stand.

What do they put in it?

Most often it is used for drinking strong or low-alcohol drinks, such as:

• cognac;
• whiskey;
• Martini;
• wine, including champagne;
• cocktails.

What does it look like and what can it be made of?

The appearance can vary, from its size to the thickness of the walls of the bowl.

The most popular material is glass, less often crystal. Gourmets believe that you need to enjoy not only the taste, but also the color of the drink. That is why transparent material is a priority. Although you can find exclusive specimens made of metal or stone on sale.

The bowl shape may look like:

• elongated cylinder;
• pear;
• ball;
• cone;
• tulip;
• ice cream bowl.

The leg can be either high or short. The first corresponds to vessels for wines, which are usually cooled before serving. It eliminates the contact of a warm hand with the walls of the bowl and thereby allows you to maintain the temperature of the drink longer.

How the choice of glass is related to the culture of drinking drinks

For each drink there is a vessel of a certain configuration, which most correctly and fully reveals its taste.

Wine glasses

Sparkling wine, such as champagne, contains many air bubbles. A small tall and narrow glass with vertical thin walls is intended for it. This is the only way the contact of bubbles with air on the surface is minimized, and the drink does not “fizzle out” longer. Those who are not used to savoring, waiting for the aromatic bouquet to open and do not like bubbles can use a tall glass -bowl.

White wine is well cooled before serving, its temperature ranges from 7 to 14˚. It corresponds to a glass with a small U-shaped bowl of no more than 200 ml in volume. This helps keep the flavor and coolness. Young wine is poured into containers slightly wider so that the delicate taste and sweetness are felt more fully. For aged drinks, the bowl is chosen a little higher and narrower so that the drink first hits the base of the tongue. Fill the bowl about 3/4 full.

It is recommended to drink red wine at room temperature, approximately 18˚. Glasses for it are larger and wider, especially in the center of the bowl. However, they are filled no more than halfway, so that the pronounced aroma does not “hit” the nose, but gently affects the olfactory receptors. There are two types of glasses for red wine:

• Burgundy - it is higher - for semi-sweet and sparkling wines, such as pinot noir and beaujolais;
• Bordeaux - it is wider and “squat” - for heavy ones, such as cabernet and cahors.

"Tara" for stronger drinks and some cocktails

There is a rule: the stronger the alcohol, the smaller the container, which is often called a glass, it is poured into.

Cognac glasses are called snifters. They are distinguished by a low leg and a small spherical bowl, narrowed at the top. It is filled with a drink at room temperature only a quarter (sometimes half, but no more). This is the only way his “bouquet” will reveal itself completely.

Glassware for whiskey is as varied as its varieties. Varieties that accompany only pure, undiluted taste - a glassTulip or glass-knowing. The shape of the bowl resembles an opening tulip, and the stem of the latter is practically absent.

Martini (vermouth) is not in danger of rapid loss of taste and aroma upon contact with air. It is served in a small cone glass on a thin stem, allowing you to maximize its taste. This design also helps keep the drink cool.

Pina Colada and other tropical cocktails served in glasses hurricane, capacity from 400 to 800 ml. Its shape resembles a flower opening at the top, and the stem is low and quite thick.

One of the most original shapes of a vessel for alcoholic drinks based on tequila, primarily Margaritas. Its bowl consists of two parts, smoothly flowing into each other. At the bottom it is narrow like a glass, at the top it is wide.

There are a lot of varieties of glasses, as well as drinks, and it’s easy to get confused among them. Therefore, to summarize, we can skip some of the subtleties and focus on the main thing. The most voluminous and wide glasses are designed for red wines. Elongated and narrow glasses with a high stem are suitable for white and sparkling wine. For young, weak alcohol, it is desirable to expand the bowl upward, and for aged alcohol, vice versa.

Having remembered at least these general rules, you won’t have to rack your brains for long when buying glassware for your favorite wine or cocktail.A good choice made in accordance with the type, strength and age of the drink will allow you to enjoy the whole gamut of its tastes and aromas.