Four Types of Drinking Glasses Every Table Needs
Formal dining is not dead. In the 21st Century, it just looks a little different, but the fundamentals are still there. For example, drinking glasses still have unique purposes! You might banish the five different forks, but your wine, beer, cocktail, water, and aperitif all need their own glasses. This part of luxe dining is important for many reasons, not the least of which because the glass is specifically crafted to suit the drink itself. Centuries of craftsmanship and innovation have come together to give us the drinking glasses every table needs.
Dining Table Essentials for Elegant Dinners
We’ve all learned the silverware rule of fork on the left, knife on the right part of elegant, proper table settings, but we at HORNE believe there is something more that is needed. For example, gorgeous, fringed, soft napkins woven from 100% cotton that is hand-dyed (thank you Hawkins New York).
The next dinner table essential is a good, well-crafted plate. We love the Flow Plate from Ferm Living that adds a spark of whimsy with an organic, undulating shape and a dark, glazed porcelain finish for a rustic, yet sophisticated look. If this darker palette is not your favorite, Ferm Living offers an Off-White Speckle finish, or you can select the more refined and classic Hammershøi Plate for your table.
Finally, our other must for our dining table is a carafe. It’s an underrated part of the table, but essential for larger crowds. Fill a Perfection Water Carafe or modern Grand Cru Water Carafe with water (of course), a pre-mixed cocktail or mocktail, or juice, lemonade, or iced tea. It’s your choice of beverage, but a carafe keeps it close at hand and makes serving a crowd easy.
Why Do We Use Different Glasses for Different Drinks?
Now we’re at the heart of the matter. Why do we use different glasses for different drinks? For the curious, there’s simply a science behind it. For the science-lovers, let’s get into it!
Cocktail Glasses
Ultimately, it’s all about glass shape. Depending on the shape of the drinking glass, aromas—a vital part of our sense of taste—are concentrated, enhanced, or diffused. So a tulip spirit glass, also known as a nosing glass, utilize that narrow top to funnel the aroma, concentrating it so we can enjoy the nuance and complexity before we’ve even let the brandy or whiskey touch our lips. A fluted glass for champagne offers height to preserve the carbonation, containing the bubbles in thin footprint of the glass.
Next we have the thickness of the glass. Your average drinking glass may not be very thick—they are the average. But a rocks glass, which is meant to keep the on the rocks cocktail cold, achieves this with its thick, glass walls that insulate the drink. For other glasses, like the martini glass, the long stem keep t he drink cold by separating the drinker’s hand from the v-shape glass containing the drink itself.
Wine Glasses
And then there are wine glasses. These glasses are shaped to not just control aromas or air out the wine, but to even control when and how the wine touches the drinker’s palate. Large, wide bowls on the glass (like those used for red wines such as Bordeaux and Burgundy), direct the wine to the back of the palate to emphasize the richer, bold flavors. While the white wine glass (used for Rieslings and Sauvignon Blancs) wants to direct the drinker’s attention to the aromas, creating a more holistic and sensory experience.
The Legacy of Glassware Design
Glassware has been crafted for millennia. This beautiful art has evolved and grown under the influence of brands like Holmegaard, Kähler, and La Rochère (which has been in business since 1475!). These makers are more than just glassware experts, they are the very beating heart of the industry—and we have their glassware masterpieces in the HORNE catalogue.
Quality, beauty, functionality, and expressly purposeful glassware is produced by these powerhouses of glassware design. Whether its authentic French heritage blown directly into the Artois Ice Tea Glass, Scandinavian design principles distilled into the Perfection Cocktail Glass, or simply the modern sophistication of Ferm Living’s Host Cocktail Glasses the legacy of glassware design is alive and well.
Four Types of Drinking Glasses Every Table Needs
So what glasses does your dining table absolutely need? We love our glassware collection at HORNE, so we get it, it’s hard to choose. But we’re guiding you through the choices and directing you to some of our favorites. At the very least, we suggest a water glass, a good beer glass, a white and red wine glass, and all-around versatile cocktail glass or tumbler.
Grand Cru Recycled Tumbler
The Grand Cru Recycled Tumbler, while it has tumbler in the name, is the perfect water glass. Small and elegantly shaped with a petal-like expression, this glass is big enough to quench your thirst, but small enough to transition to cocktails later in the evening. The bonus? This Rosendahl drinking glass is crafted from recycled glass for not only a healthier Earth, but a charming aquamarine color.
No. 5 Beer Glass
The importance of a good, all-around beer glass cannot be overstated. Serving the beer-drinkers at your table, the No. 5 Beer Glass was designed by Per Lütken and features a slender, tall silhouette that enhances the flavor of most beers. Contemporary and elegant, you’ll love how this glass looks on your dining table.
Regina White Wine Glass & Regina Red Wine Glass
Originally designed by Anja Kjær in 1992 as a Silver Wedding anniversary gift for the Danish Queen and Prince Consort, these glasses swirl and twirl right into your heart. Mouth-blown glass and a beyond-elegant stem combine to create a red and white wine glass that exudes luxury and sophistication.
Bouquet Tumbler
The Bouquet Tumbler is a versatile drinking glass that is all the more sophisticated for its simplicity. Its pedestal silhouette makes it a gorgeous addition to the table, while its shape means it can be used for cocktails, water, beer, or any other refreshing drink you love. Highly practical and designed to withstand the rigors of everyday living, the Bouquet Tumbler effortlessly maintains its refined look.
Where Do I Buy Modern Dining Table Place Settings
At HORNE, we pride ourselves on ensuring you have everything you need for your modern dining table and every place setting. From refined dinner plates to modern silverware and the essential drinking glasses, we have everything you need to build an impactful and welcoming table.
Browse the full dining and kitchenware collection at HORNE and find exactly what you need for your modern dining table and entertainment needs.
