A beginner’s guide to glassware
Your collection doesn’t have to be extensive, just well considered writes Anabela Rea.
At some point in life, we want to be a little more stylish. The idea of matching glassware suddenly feels necessary. But with the multitude of colours, shapes and purposes on offer in stores, it can be hard to know where to start.
The issue will be obvious with a look inside your cupboard. There might be 10 different styles in there and not enough of any of them to set the table cohesively.
This discovery might prompt a series of questions that you don’t have the answer to. ‘‘Do I really need the martini glasses I was given for that birthday? How about the 20 mismatched champagne flutes? Will frosted wine glasses ever come back around? And why do I have 16 sherry glasses? Who on earth drinks sherry anymore?’
Take a deep breath and start over with the basics.
First, you need every day glasses, which Stefan Michie, interior designer for Freedom Furniture, suggests should be a tall tumbler or high-ball glass and matching low-ball style.
‘‘At least a 250-millilitre low however,’’ says Michie, ‘‘as you don’t want a small glass that’s unpractical.
‘‘Anything under 200ml is just unneeded and you’ll find yourself filling it up often. You can always put a small amount in a large glass but you can’t put a large amount in a small glass.’’
‘‘Keep it simple and elegant,’’ he says. ‘‘No colours or patterns. These will become timeless.’’
Once you have the basics, with time you can build your a collection by adding ‘‘fun ones’’ to the cupboard. ‘‘These are your stemless wine glasses and maybe a set of standard wine glasses,’’ he says.
If storage space and budget is tight, go for one quality set that you serve both red and white wine in rather than a lacklustre set for each. Then, add some elegant flutes for the bubbly drinkers, or scour vintage stores for a set of coupes.
Family hand-me-downs can look modern again in the right context, so raid the side boards or attics for any gems gathering dust. ‘‘Dig around in your Mum’s, your aunty’s and your grandma’s cupboards to find an original,’’ says Michie. ‘‘They won’t mind. They’ll be happy someone wants it on display.’’
‘‘You can never go past a vintage tumbler with a beautiful texture to it. Some with the matching decanter can be stunning on display on a beautiful silver tray.’’
Any other specialty glasses can be added depending on what you drink. If martinis or beer are your go-to, invest in the appropriate vessel. But many other cocktails can be made in your regular low or high ball tumblers.
Colour-wise, charcoal tinted glassware will serve you well. ‘‘Smoked glasses are a long term trend but have some fun with it,’’ says Michie. ‘‘It’s personality that can come though when serving friends and family and becomes a talking point.’’
This season, amber and dark green glassware is also in. ‘‘Trends are trends and they come and go, however retro glasses are on their current rotation around again, with beautiful coloured glass. Any jewel toned styles are coming in hot,’’ he says.
The ideal number to begin your collection with is eight.
‘‘I would say go with eight glasses in each set. [There’s] nothing worse than to break one and have an awkward set of five. At least you’ll be able to break another and still have a set of six in the end.’’
Being fashionable is all well and good, but how does one spot a ‘‘good’ glass’’? ‘‘It’s all in the weight,’’ Michie says. ‘‘You want a glass to feel weighty as you hold it, but light on the lip. I love a good weighted glass at the base but with a fine edge. However, they are very delicate in the dishwasher if they are light on the lip.’’
Finally, if you’re updating your family’s glassware, it definitely pays to consider your specific needs. You may prefer to keep your new glassware for adults only and purchase perspex tumblers for the kids.
‘‘Pick the glass for the lifestyle,’’ said Michie.
Cloudy Night Cocktail
Put your new glassware collection to work by inviting friends over for drinks. The following is a super-easy recipe to show off your new tumblers.
❚ 50ml Cointreau Noir
❚ 60ml cloudy apple juice
❚ 2 dashes of aromatic bitters, Fee Brothers is good
❚ 3-4 ice cubes per glass
❚ Apple slices to dress
Add ice to a short glass, then the Cointreau and last, the apple juice. Note: a good quality apple juice is essential for the quality of this cocktail.
Add two dashes of bitters, then stir briefly.
Garnish with apple slices and enjoy.