| New Years Eve is a great time for celebrating. | | | | - Make sure it is wide enough for swirling and deep |
| Friends and family together, toasting the year past | | | | enough to allow the colors and flavors to shine |
| and the new year to come except, their toasting | | | | through |
| with plastic or mixed match glassware. This is an | | | | - It is OK to serve white wine in a Red glass but not |
| absolute faux pas in the world of entertaining and | | | | the other way around! |
| you should take steps immediately to ensure your | | | | - Look for glassware that is 14oz to 16 oz. capacity. |
| guests have the proper glassware, flutes or | | | | Any thing bigger is a balloon glass and anything |
| stemware required to properly ring in the new year. | | | | smaller is a white wine or water glass. |
| Below we will highlight some common mistakes | | | | - Riedel is the most notable stemware out there. |
| people make and offer some easy tips and advice on | | | | They have been manufacturing and perfecting |
| how to avoid them! | | | | stemware for centuries. If you can afford it, Do it! |
| Mistake # 1: Toasting the new years with any and all | | | | - If you want Crystal but can't afford the best, then |
| glassware you have | | | | look for Bohemia Crystal as it can be cheaper and |
| It is not okay to toast the coming new years with | | | | just as nice |
| any old glasses. The only exception to this is if you | | | | Mistake # 3: Cocktails in beer glasses, water glasses |
| are outside or in a pool or hot tub, you may use | | | | or heaven forbid, coffee cups! Serving cocktails, |
| plastic, otherwise you lose the true effect of the | | | | martinis or beer in anything other than cocktail |
| cheer and will hang your head in shame for the year | | | | glasses, martini glasses or Beer glasses is not all right. |
| to come. | | | | Exceptions are for larger parties and outdoor parties |
| Solution: Champagne Flutes | | | | where plastic is there for safety and stupidity! |
| Champagne flutes come in a variety of shapes and | | | | Solution: A glass for everything...and everything in its |
| styles. The most traditional is the 5oz flute glass. | | | | glass! |
| They have a cylindrical shape to them and resemble | | | | Cocktails should be served in a High ball glass. These |
| a right side up thin, long bell. There is also the Tulip | | | | glasses range in size from 8 oz to 10oz in size. larger |
| shaped Champagne glass as well. This style is great | | | | glasses, anything over 12oz, is considered a double |
| for stacking and pouring, a technique where you | | | | highball glass. These glasses are great for what else, |
| stack the glassware in a pyramid and pour the | | | | doubles. (Anything over 1 1/2 - 2 oz) they will also |
| champagne or sparkling wine over the top of the | | | | dwarf drinks that are served neat or lighter in alcohol. |
| glass and filling all the other glasses. A very slick | | | | If you plan on serving fancier drinks, consider using a |
| technique but we suggest you practice first. Both of | | | | Collins glass. These particular glasses range from 14oz |
| these champagne glasses are readily available at | | | | to 16oz and are generally tall and cylindrical. One other |
| most kitchen stores or Online.. If you do not want to | | | | benefit is, they CAN double as a beer glass. Most |
| spend alot of money, consider a party rental outfit. | | | | bottled beer is 12oz and fits perfectly inside a Collins |
| Glasses can be rented for as little as $0.50 each. Be | | | | Glass. |
| sure to do this quickly and early as others will do the | | | | Martinis are best served in a traditional 10oz martini |
| same and you may be stuck with plastic and | | | | glass. This is because many fancier martinis today |
| obviously, embarrassed. | | | | require juice or other mixes and the glass needs to |
| Mistake # 2: Different wine glasses for different | | | | accommodate for this. If someone does ask for a |
| people | | | | martini on the rocks, you can offer them a double |
| Unless you are hosting a party for hundreds, it is | | | | high ball glass. (Be sure to use the ice you mixed the |
| never all right to have mixed and matched glassware | | | | drink with...Adds to the flavor!). Again you can find |
| for your guests and their wines. This does not mean | | | | any of this glassware at Discount outlets, Specialty |
| you must have every glass imaginable as there are | | | | kitchen Stores or Online. |
| hundreds of different varieties wine glasses for | | | | Mistake # 4: Going overboard! |
| hundreds of different varieties wines. For example, | | | | Do not go overboard in looking for the perfect glass. |
| Every shaped wine glass is constructed to optimize | | | | If you're a little overwhelmed with hosting this party, |
| the nose, flavors and colors of each distinctive wine. | | | | then simply go to you local bar and look at what the |
| This only matters if you are a wine snob, which | | | | professionals serve. Ask a bartender what they |
| hopefully you're not. | | | | recommend, Those who tend bar tend to know! |
| Solution: Pick a glass and go with it! | | | | By following a few simple steps and using your head, |
| Find a great wine glass you love and stock up. Look | | | | you can throw a great new years eve party that |
| for them at Discount outlets, Specialty kitchen Stores | | | | your guests will talk about for months to come. |
| or Online. Again, you can rent as well! | | | | They'll be impressed with your knowledge, attention |
| - Find a glass that fits nicely in your hand and look for | | | | to detail and of course, your great hospitality. Yours |
| glassware without a rim - "rimmed wine glasses | | | | will be a New Years to remember. Cheers! |
| promote drips" | | | | |
