Buyer’s Guide Glassware.
Elegant stemware and on-trend tumblers bring see-through style to the party, writes Georgia Madden.
Summer is peak entertaining season and whether your style tends towards casual barbecues or more formal affairs, dressing the table with gorgeous glassware always adds to the sense of occasion.
“A beautiful glass helps set the scene. It’s like adding jewellery to an outfit as a finishing touch,” says Francesca Caleffi, Australia and New Zealand marketing manager for Villeroy & Boch.
“A superbly crafted vessel actually enhances the drinking experience, so I think it’s well worth the investment,” adds Sally Quinn, Australia and New Zealand public relations manager for Fiskars, which owns the Wedgwood, Waterford and Royal Doulton brands.
If you want to lift your glassware game, you’ll find no shortage of appealing offerings on the market. There are sleek, sculptural glasses,
glittering flutes in jewel shades and all manner of pieces in intriguing shapes and textures. “Smoke- or rose-coloured glass is ideal for summer entertaining,” says Caleffi. “Metallic accents have also become popular, for the celebratory mood they create.”
Cocktail and whisky glasses are trending, too, says Katerina Dominguez, national marketing manager for Noritake Australia. “This makes sense, given the current interest in cocktails and craft whiskies. We’re moving away from formal styles into more creative ones, with a variety of glass shapes and colours that have a casual, playful vibe.”
For Renata Puz, head of buying and product development at HAG (incorporating Krosno, Maxwell & Williams and Cristal d’Arques Paris), stemless glassware wins her vote. “These pieces are stylish, lightweight, comfortable to hold and extremely versatile and stable. A stemless flute is the newest style.”
When choosing glassware, be aware that certain shapes work better for different drinks. “The taste of Champagne, wine and spirits is greatly affected by the shape of the glass, so choose stemware that suits your drinking preference,” advises Quinn. “Drink Champagne from flutes if you wish to preserve the bubbles, or use a saucer that will disperse the bubbles faster if you like a softer taste.”
Other wines are similarly affected by glass shape, says Simone Unterlechner, tabletop category buyer at Myer. “If you drink white wine, choose small-bowled wineglasses as they will improve the taste,” she advises. “Large-bowled glasses are better for full-bodied wines; they make wine taste smoother.”
To maintain that all-important chill, look for a glass with a rim that’s narrower than the bowl, advises Puz. And when giving a top-up, avoid overfilling the glass. “Fill it no more than one third, in order to allow plenty of swirling room to oxygenate the wine and enrich its nose.”
A good glassware set will include white-wine glasses; goblets for red wine; flutes or saucers for sparkling; and tumblers for mixers, water and cocktails. “It’s a good idea to have as many glasses as you have place settings, plus about four extra of each for those inevitable mishaps,” says Puz.
Stemware comes in machine-made or handmade glass, crystal and crystalline (a relatively new, lead-free crystal that’s stronger than glass). You can pick up machine-made stemware for a few dollars, but expect to pay considerably more for handcrafted specimens. “Handmade glassware is very special,” says Puz. “Highly skilled artisans use traditional mouth-blowing techniques to produce unique designs. The result is brilliant and smooth, and the slight variation between pieces is charming.” Crystal stemware is the most pricey but, according to Quinn, is unrivalled for its brilliance, clarity and strength.
The best way to assess quality is to inspect glassware closely. “High-quality glassware will be light-reflective, free of seams and imperfections,” says Dominguez. “With stemmed glasses, check that they sit steady on a flat surface. Also, look out for bubbles in the stem, which can be a sign of possible weakness.” The glassware should also feel comfortable and not too heavy in your hand.
When it comes to dressing a table, don’t be afraid to mix glassware styles, shapes and colours, or to use them in unexpected ways, such as serving dessert in cocktail glasses, says Quinn. “Matching cut crystal with simple, plain designs can be very effective, and a great way to reflect your personal style.” We say cheers to that!