Everything about Pictures and Movies

Should you choose lead crystal for wine, or make it glass stemware? Generally speaking, lead crystal is for formal use or the big occasion, while glass is for more casual use. Nevertheless, many feel that a good wine is occasion enough for lead crystal stemware. Why a stem? To avoid unnecessary warming of the wine and fingerprints on the bowl. And a connoisseur will want a clear wine glass to appreciate the colour of their wine…

You will find that 24% lead crystal enhances the whole wine drinking experience - the lead oxide literally adds sparkle to glass by delivering intricate hand cut patterns and a variety of finishes, dull or polished, and is reassuringly weighty too. But don’t underestimate glass. Royal Doulton glass stemware is stylish, well made, and robust for casual and formal use, and may even be combined with crystal as a raw material for the best of both worlds.

As for the correct choice of glasses, here are some suggestions from Royal Doulton:

Goblet
Strictly speaking, this is the way to serve up a mature red wine, using the sheer width of the rim and capacity of the glass, to appreciate the depth of the bouquet and the taste. But the size and scope gives you plenty of choice of white as well as red wines.

Table Wine
A versatile piece of stemware that can be used for both red and white wine. The small size wine glass is typically used for white wine; nevertheless, feel free to use it for rosé as well.

Fluted Champagne Glass
Yes, the fluted champagne glass is there for the definitive celebratory drink, but it’s also excellent for the full range of sparkling wine, since the small rim is designed to preserve as much of the bubbles in your bubbly as possible.

Highball
Purpose-designed for a long drink, this barware is also ideal for wine spritzers.

Tumbler/Rummer
It’s made for short drinks, most typically stronger types such as spirits, but it’s also useful for serving up wine spritzers.

Champagne/Cocktail Saucer
Why not try your champagne or cocktail in classic Hollywood style?

Martini Glass
A vermouth is a wine, of course, and do feel free to use a martini glass as a champagne saucer, as the occasion requires, or a variety of cocktails.

Wine Decanter/Carafe
With its traditional rounded bottom, the wine decanter is ideal for serving up wine that genuinely needs decanting, such as an old red wine that has sediment. The vessel must be clear to give the right impression of colour. What’s more, a decanter is good etiquette for the right occasion.

Jug
Whether it’s indoors or al fresco, the jug is there for mixing and serving up drinks such as Bucks Fizz (champagne with fresh orange juice).

Care of Glasses

While most are now dishwasher safe, it’s best to retain the purity and clarity of crystal and glass - especially their textures and patterns - by hand washing in hot water with detergent. Always store upright.