The Different Types of Dining Glasses and Their Uses

In a formal dining setting, there can be at least four glasses on the table. To help you tell which is which and what is what, we took the liberty of listing down each kind for the benefit of both entertainers and those being entertained. Here’s T&C’s guide to the different types of dining glassware as well as some useful tips to remember.

Water Goblet

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Defining Features: The water goblet is the most frequently used glass in a dining setting. Though it can vary in size and shape, when compared to a wine glass it usually has a shorter stem and a larger capacity.

Uses: Water and sparkling water. It’s always important to remember never to serve wine in a water goblet, similar as they might be, it would be very improper.

Juice Glass

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Defining Features: In essence, the juice glass is a tall tumbler with a flat bottom. It’s usually five- to 10-ounce in capacity with either straight or slightly curved sides.

Uses: Drinks which need heaps of ice are ideal for this glass. Aside from fruit juices, it’s also perfect for soda, iced tea, and many others.

Sherry Glass

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Defining Features: At two ounces, a sherry glass is comparatively smaller than all of the others on the table. It has medium length stem and a drawn tulip-shaped bowl.

Uses: Though called a sherry glass, you can typically serve any aromatic alcohol in it such as aperitifs, port, and liqueurs.

Red Wine Glass

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Defining Features: A red wine glass’ capacity varies, but it should be large enough to swirl a glass that’s filled to a third.

Uses: Reds. But certain types of red wines, such as Bordeaux and Burgundy, have their own types of glasses.

White Wine Glass

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Defining Features: Compared to red wine glasses, a white wine glass can be characterized by a smaller bowl, and at times, a taller stem.

Uses: Whites. But certain types of white wines may need a smaller mouth shape.

Dessert Wine Glass

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Defining Features: It’s a tad bit smaller than a regular wine glass since dessert wines have a higher alcohol content.

Uses: Sweet wines that pair well with dessert. These include bum wine, ice wine, Madeira, and more.

Champagne Flute

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Defining Features: A champagne flute comes in many different names including tall flute or tulip glass. The four-ounce glass has a tall stem that connects to a slender, conical bowl.

Uses: Anything bubbly including Champagne, sparkling wine, and cocktails that use both.

Cocktail Glass

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Defining Features: In its most classic iteration, a cocktail glass would have a four-ounce capacity, stemmed base, and a wide top.

Uses: A martini matches a cocktail glass like no other, but really, you can serve other mixed cocktails such as a Manhattan or a Cosmopolitan in it.