Different Types of Crystal Stemware

Choosing crystal stemware shouldn't be difficult. All it takes is setting aside a little bit of time in familiarizing oneself with the different kinds of stemware out there in the market today.

Just to be clear, let's define what stemware is. Stemware essentially refers to any kind of glassware whose bowl (the vessel which holds the drink) is perched on top of a stem (hence, the term stemware). It would also have a broad base called a foot to keep the glassware stable.

The stem is really what differentiates this glassware from other kinds. And while one might assume that the stem was created for ornamental purposes only, it actually does have other practical purposes. The primary function of the stem is to serve as a handle to the glassware. This way, one avoids touching the bowl of the glassware which warms the temperature of the drink and mars the clarity of the bowl's surface (from the fingerprints left by the hand).

There are five kinds of popular stemware in the market now and these are wine glasses, champagne flutes, cocktail glasses (also called martini glasses), brandy snifters and cordial glasses. Of these five, the ones purchased by first time buyers are often the wine glasses and champagne flutes.

In choosing wine glasses, the rule of thumb is this: glasses for red wine have wider rims and bowls than glasses for white wine. And the darker the wine (or the more aged the wine), the larger the bowl of the glass should be. Conversely, the sweeter the wine, the smaller the bowl should be. Essentially, wide-rimmed glasses allow for the bouquet of the wine to breathe while narrow/small-rimmed glasses serve the purpose of concentrating the aroma molecules of the wine.

Champagne flutes in contrast are always tall with a narrow bowl. This serves to facilitate the process of creating the characteristic beads of the champagne liquid (thus the endearing term for champagne, 'bubbly'). The bowl of the glass is narrowly designed to reduce the surface area at the bowl's opening which in turn helps to retain the champagne's signature carbonation.

Some champagne drinkers prefer the belly or tulip-shaped glasses as these are narrower at the midpoint, allowing the retention of the bouquet more than a traditional flute while at the same time keeping the ideal conditions for 'bubbling' of the liquid. A tulip glass also does not need to be tipped as much in order to reach the liquid at the bowl's bottom unlike the regular flute.

Cocktail or so-called martini glasses have cone-shaped bowls. They have grown in popularity in recent times as their use became more commonplace in hip bars and clubs.

Brandy Snifters or balloons are short-stemmed glasses whose bowl has a wide bottom and a rim that is relatively narrower. The large surface of the snifter allows the drinker to take in the aroma of the brandy while the narrow rim keeps the aroma inside the glass.

Lastly, cordial glasses are used for drinking aperitifs and liqueurs. Cordial glasses refer to any stemmed glass that is smaller than a regular-sized wine glass. They are often made with thinner, more delicate glass.

The kind of stemware that one will buy will depend on how one intends to use them. After all, there is no point in buying something that will not be used. Also, in contrast to other types of glassware, stemware is normally purchased with the intent of being used and not just being displayed. Thinking of one's drink preferences would definitely be a good starting point.