No kitchen cabinet is ever complete without drinking glasses. Its indispensable for your everyday use and more so for hosting dinner parties. However, different drinking glasses are made for specific reasons and yes, your cupboard staples may not be the appropriate glass for your chosen beverage. To avoid the trouble of your guests missing out on the flavour of your favorite wine because its served on the wrong cup, you might need to do some glassware shopping. But fear not, we made this task less daunting by outlining the important factors for you to consider in buying drinkware:

A. What type of material makes up the glass?

First rule of glassware shopping is to have an idea about the kind of material that the glasses are usually made of. That way you would know which one to buy for your daily use and special occasions.

1. Sodalime

-this is the most prevalent and least expensive type of glass. It is perfect for everyday use- it is affordable, durable and dishwasher safe. It works well for unfussy and casual gatherings at home. Not to mention its also the most economical choice because of its cost-effectiveness and wide range of shapes and colors.  But the real catch of this material is that it’s non-porous and inert, meaning that it will not absorb chemical aromas or corrode if you wash it in your dishwasher.

2. Crystal

- this is a more delicate type of glass, it is slightly heavier and definitely of finer quality compared to everyday glassware. It offers high clarity making both the glass and drink have that sparkly effect when it hits the light. Because of its delicate and classy nature, it is usually not dishwasher safe and more costly than other glassware.

B. What are the kinds of glasses and its uses?

Now that you know the pros and cons of the components making up the glass, its best to get acquainted next with the different types of glasses. This may seem inconsequential on the surface but take it from us when we say, it makes a world of difference in your drinking experience if you use the appropriate glassware for a specific drink.

1. Red Wine Glass

-Full-bodied red wines need room to breathe and release their aroma, this is why a larger, rounder bowl is designed for it in order to swirl the wine easily and help air it. It also features a long stem to keep the hand away from the drink in order to prevent it from becoming too warm.

2. White Wine Glass

-If you prefer more of Pinot Grigio over Cabernet Sauvignon, you’d want to shop for a glass that is smaller and narrower than the typical red wine glass. You wouldn’t want your wine to oxidize too fast, and the small mouth area of a white wine glass avoids that problem and even helps retain its lighter and subtle flavors longer.

3. Champagne Flute
-Sparkling wine is perfect to make celebrations at your home extra fancy. The appropriate glass is oftentimes called the “flute” which is characterized by its very minimal surface area yet with with tall bowl and small mouth, as this will help prolong the bubbles and stop it from going flat too quickly.

4. Cocktail glass
-Picture out an inverted cone bowl which can come in a variety of sizes, and that is the go-to look for cocktail glasses. It has a large mouth which allows the drinker to get close to the cocktail’s surface and enjoy not just its taste but also its scent.

5.Highball glass

-This is used for cocktails and mixed drinks which are best served with ice. Its basically a glass tumbler which is shorter and wider in shape.

6.Shot glass
- No home bar is ever complete without a shot glasses. It is ideal if you’re hosting parties or tequila-and-lime drinking sessions with the whole squad. It is specially designed for drinks with high alcoholic content that taste best in small, short doses.

7. Decanter glass
-Decanters, especially if bought as a set, will make a fitting addition to your bar counter. Even if you don’t drink as often and you just put it on display you’re still basically getting worth its price. However while it is an aesthetically pleasing ornament to the whole home bar vibe, its purpose it not just decorative because it helps you mix your cocktails if you’re preparing in large volumes, serve water, or even aerate your wine.

Now that you know the nitty gritty details, don’t forget to look at the bigger picture when glassware shopping which is personal preference. Basically, it all boils down to factors like how often you have guests over, what are your drinking habits and how much space can you accommodate in your kitchen or bar counters.