Types of Drinking Glasses

• An attractive drinking glass can enhance a beverage. Yagi Studio/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Glasses can range from rugged plastic for tumblers to leaded glass for crystal glassware. The wide variety of shapes includes designs to prevent drinks from warming and to retain carbonation. In the eighteenth century, drinking glasses for the wealthy included elaborate shapes and decorations, such as opaque twist-stems and white enameled decorations and domed feet.

Everyday

• Water glasses and smaller juice glasses often made from soda lime glass offer practical everyday use. Larger water glasses can double as beer glasses. Pint beer glasses, also known as pounders or tumblers, hold approximately 16 ounces. Tall pilsner beer glasses or tall flare glasses sometimes have a slightly flared opening.

Versatility

• Plastic tumblers for children offer a safe alternative to glass that can break into pieces. These tumblers work well for casual settings such as barbecues and picnics. Insulated drinking glasses allow warm beverages to stay warm without scalding fingers. Cold beverages stay cool with little condensation.

Wine and Champagne

• Wine glasses, usually made from fine glass, vary greatly in size and design. They include smaller white wine glasses. Wider red wine glasses allow an increased rate of oxidation to help smooth the flavor. Types of red wine glasses include the tall Bordeaux and the rounder Burgundy for the more delicate Pinot Noir. A wine tasting glass includes a stem and elongated tapered bowl.

  A standard sherry glass holds approximately 4 ounces. Small shot glasses hold 1 to 2 ounces. Graceful champagne glasses with a tall, thin shape expose a smaller surface area to the air. Rising bubbles and a sparkling effect give visual appeal.