Serving drinks at a formal dinner – glassware tips you need to know about

by Groshan Fabiola I try to cover as many topics as I can

Ever wondered if there is an etiquette for serving drinks at a formal dinner? Well, you should know it exists and it should be applied to all formal events that take place. Whether you are a business owner that decided to host a formal business party or you are just inviting some important people over, you need to get informed about the many modalities in which drinks can be served and the appropriate type of glassware required for each drink.

Consider this etiquette important for fine diners that often take place in such events. In most mid-range restaurants, you may not see the same type of glassware and the good manners such as the ones during a formal event. It’s best to get to know the rules of serving drinks in case you ever find yourself in this situation though. Here are the rules you may want to know more about and an extensive list of examples regarding drinks and the appropriate glassware to use:

Serving wine and champagne

You would be amazed how many types of glasses there are when it comes to serving wine. This is a short list of the glasses you can use for serving wine during a formal event and how to choose them appropriately. Keep in mind that British crystal glass is one of the most selected types of crystal when buying your glassware. People who know their glassware will immediately recognize whether the glasses you use are cheap or not. In business, all details matter.

· Shiraz

In the range of red wine glasses, Shiraz is the smallest type of glass you can drink red wine from. The edge of the bowl is visibly tapered inward, keeping the oxygen and aromas inside the glass for you to notice easier. For Shiraz wines, it is important to feel the tannins while you drink it.

· Cabernet

Cabernet glasses are pretty much the basic wine glass most people know about. It has a wide base and a medium to long step, a large bowl and a tapered edge. The glass is perfect for catching oxygen in and bringing out the best in the wine. Since Cabernet has fruity flavors, it is understandable why this glass is the most appropriate choice.

· Pinot Noir

Everyone drank Pinot Noir at least once in a lifetime, but the glassware used is the one that makes the difference. Pinot Noir glasses always have a specific rim that sends the aroma straight to your sinuses. The flavors will be instantly felt when the right glass is selected. What is special about Pinot Noir glasses is that they have a short stem and a wide bowl.

· Riesling

When it comes to white wine, there is a common characteristic that the glassware has – it is slimmer. Serving Riesling wine can be done using tall, narrow wine glasses. These are similar to Chardonnay glasses, but much slimmer and tapered. The glass also has a longer step to keep the wine to a good temperature during serving.

· Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is served in long-stemmed glasses that have a very narrowed bowl. The bowl tapers inwards just a bit. Sauvignon Blanc requires this slim design so that the numerous aromas of the wine can be detected. Through the slim design, there is just a little oxygen resting in the glass. That keeps this wine type fresh at all times.

· Chardonnay

White wines are served in a larger variety of glass types, in terms of their looks. For instance, Chardonnay is served in a tapered-edge, wide bowl glass. It may be similar to other wine glasses, but the characteristic that distinguishes it is the fact that it is smaller.

· Champagne

Crystal champagne glasses are a must when hosting a formal event. These are also known as flutes because of the very slender shape they have. Flute champagne glasses are never tapered, but there are some differences between sparkling wine glasses and vintage champagne glasses, which have a wider base and they are slightly tapered. The coupe style champagne glass is used for vintage champagne.

· Rose

Rose wine is served in very specific glasses that you won’t forget once you see them. They have narrow bowls; a long stem and they are tapered outwards. Rose wine can be also served in white wine glasses, but this is not recommended as long as you afford using specific rose wine glasses.

· Dessert

Dessert wine glasses have a very tapered rim, which makes it very easy to swirl the wine around as long as you want without spilling it, no matter how many drinks you’ve had. These glasses make the acidity of the wine stand out a lot, since dessert wines can be too sweet at times.

Other types of glassware

· Shot glasses

Shot glasses are very small and they usually come in a very basic, cylindrical shape. Having a few shot glasses around should be mentioned. Even though the event may be a formal one, one of your guests may require a strong drink. The most common drinks that are served in shot glasses are Lemon Drop, Kamikaze, Flatliner, Sangria and plain drinks.

· Cordial

The most common drinks served in cordial glasses are cocktails. The derby cocktail, the anisette cocktail and the Zen flute are the preferred ones. Cordial glasses are petite, and they are used for serving small amounts of drink. They are usually tall and narrow, similar to the ones in which champagne is served.

Final thoughts

The glass is more than just a support that helps you enjoy your favorite wine, it depends largely on your experience in tasting and enjoying a drink. Each type and variety of drinks has a different composition, and glasses are designed to highlight their flavors well. The shape and opening of the glass plays an important role in tasting the drink.