Glassware can elevate your enjoyment of wine and spirits in more ways than one. When your favourite drink is presented in a stylish glass, it makes the occasion feel more special. Plus, the size and shape of your glass can help to accentuate the flavour and aroma of what you’re drinking.  

In this guide, we’ll look at the different kinds of drinking glasses – from tumblers to champagne flutes. Keep reading for useful glassware insights, as well as tips for cleaning and storing your collection.

Here, we’ll provide info about the most common types of beverage glasses. Whether you need glassware for a special event or you’d like to refresh your collection, Myer has contemporary designs to suit every occasion.

Tumblers are versatile, flat-bottomed glasses designed for everyday use. This glassware type typically has straight sides, a flat-bottomed base and no stem.

• When to use: Ideal for casual dining, entertaining or everyday hydration.
• Best for: Water, juice, soft drinks, spirits over ice and simple cocktails like gin and tonic.
• Style options: Choose crystal or textured tumblers for elegance, or minimalist designs for a modern look.
• Buying tips: Pick smaller tumblers for neat spirits and larger ones for mixed drinks. For easy cleaning, ensure they’re dishwasher safe.

Wine glasses are designed to enhance the flavour and overall experience of the wine you’re drinking. They feature a stem to prevent heat transfer from your hand, and a bowl shape that helps direct aromas to your nose.

• When to use: Perfect for dinners, celebrations or any occasion where wine is served.
• Best for: Red, white and rosé wines. Different bowl shapes are tailored to each wine type.  
• Style options: Choose large, rounded bowls for reds and smaller, narrower bowls for whites.
• Buying tips: Look for thin, clear glass to appreciate the colour and clarity of your wine. You should also ensure the stem feels balanced in your hand.

This type of glassware is crafted to preserve bubbles and showcase the elegance of sparkling wines. The tall shape of a champagne glass helps to keep the drink bubbly for longer, while the slender design enhances visual appeal.

• When to use: Ideal for celebrations, toasts and serving sparkling wines or prosecco.
• Best for: Champagne, prosecco, cava and other sparkling varieties.
• Style options: Choose flutes for long-lasting bubbles, coupes for vintage glamour, or tulip glasses for aroma
• Buying tips: For extra brilliance, opt for crystal. Hand washing helps to maintain clarity and sparkle.

Beer glasses are specially designed to enhance the flavour and presentation of different beer styles. Their shapes can influence head retention, carbonation and temperature.

• When to use: Perfect for casual drinks, barbecues or craft beer tastings.
• Best for: Lagers, ales, stouts and specialty brews.
• Style options: Choose pint glasses for everyday beers, pilsner glasses for light lagers, and stemmed tulips for aromatic ales.
• Buying tips: Look for tempered glass for durability, and consider a slight taper or stem to keep beer cooler for longer.

Of all the drinking glasses types, cocktail glasses are the most varied. They’re designed to showcase mixed drinks while enhancing their flavour. Cocktail glasses usually feature wide-rimmed bowls to allow for easy sipping.

• When to use: Ideal for dinner parties, celebrations or enjoying your favourite mixed drinks at home.
• Best for: Martinis, margaritas, cosmopolitans and other classic cocktails served “up” (without ice).
• Style options: Choose traditional V-shaped martini glasses for timeless appeal, or rounded coupes for a vintage touch.
• Buying tips: Thin rims provide a refined feel, and ensure a sturdy base for balance. Hand wash delicate glassware to preserve clarity.

Decanters and carafes bring elegance to your table or bar. Designed to hold and serve wine, spirits or water, they also help aerate beverages to enhance flavour and aroma. Decanters typically feature a stopper, while carafes have an open top for easy pouring.

• When to use: Ideal for serving wine at dinner, displaying fine spirits or presenting water in style.
• Best for: Red wines, whiskey, brandy and table water.
• Style options: Choose crystal decanters for sophistication, or sleek glass carafes for modern dining.
• Buying tips: Look for easy-pour necks, durable materials and dishwasher-safe designs for effortless maintenance.

Practical yet stylish, jugs and dispensers are perfect for parties. Designed for easy pouring and serving, they’re ideal for entertaining larger groups. Many feature wide openings for adding fruit or ice, making them great for infused drinks.

• When to use: Great for family meals, picnics, parties or self-serve drink stations.
• Best for: Water, juice, iced tea, cocktails and punch.
• Style options: Choose glass jugs for a classic look or dispensers with taps for effortless serving.
• Buying tips: Ensure they’re sturdy, easy to clean and sized appropriately for your entertaining needs.

When exploring the many types of glassware for drinks, it’s worth thinking about how each piece fits your entertaining habits and personal taste. Here are our top tips for getting the right glassware:  

• Material: Crystal offers brilliance and clarity, while tempered or borosilicate glass provides strength for everyday use.
• Choosing sets vs individual pieces: Sets create a cohesive look for dining and entertaining, while individual pieces let you mix styles.
• Matching glassware to your style or occasion: Sleek, modern designs suit contemporary homes, while intricate cuts add classic charm.
• Practicality: Consider dishwasher-safe options for convenience and stackable shapes for easy storage.

Proper care keeps your glassware looking beautiful and ready for every occasion. Follow these tips to maintain longevity:

• Hand washing vs dishwasher: Hand wash delicate crystal and fine glassware with warm water and mild detergent. Use the dishwasher only for sturdy, dishwasher-safe pieces.
• Detergents: Choose gentle detergents. Avoid harsh cleaners or abrasive sponges that can cause scratches or clouding.
• Cleaning tall glassware: Use a soft bottle brush for champagne flutes or decanters to reach narrow bases.
• Drying: Hand dry with a lint-free cloth immediately after washing. Air-drying can leave streaks.
• Storage: Store upright and avoid stacking to prevent chips or rim damage.

The way you store your glassware can make a big difference to its lifespan and appearance. Keep these tips in mind when storing your collection:

• Upright vs upside down: Store glasses upright to protect delicate rims; place them upside down only if the shelf is clean and smooth.
• Spacing: Keep glasses slightly apart to prevent scratching or chipping, especially around the rim.
• Separate storage: Store crystal and fine glassware separately from everyday pieces to avoid accidental knocks.
• Shelving: Use padded or lined shelves to reduce vibration.
• Environment: Keep glassware in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Wine glasses come in different shapes and sizes to suit different wine varieties. Each drinking glassware type is designed to bring out the best in each wine.  

Red wine glasses have larger, rounder bowls to let the wine breathe and release aromas. White wine glasses are narrower, helping preserve cooler temperatures and delicate flavours.

Beverage glass types for champagne fall into two categories: flute and coupe. A champagne flute is tall and narrow, helping preserve bubbles and concentrate aromas. A coupe has a wide, shallow bowl that allows aromas to open up (but causes bubbles to dissipate faster).  

The modern champagne flute is perfect for serving up your favourite brand of bubbly. If you want to create an atmosphere of vintage charm, the champagne coupe is a stylish alternative.

A decanter is typically used for wine or spirits and often includes a stopper to preserve flavour and prevent oxidation. A carafe, on the other hand, has an open top and is used mainly for serving water, juice or wine at the table.

Crystal glasses generally offer more brilliance, clarity and a finer rim than regular glass. They’re often thinner and lighter, which elevates the drinking experience. Regular glass tends to be more durable, affordable and dishwasher-safe – making it ideal for everyday use. The best choice depends on your balance of elegance versus practicality.

Everyday glassware is usually safe for the dishwasher, especially if labelled dishwasher-safe. However, delicate crystal or fine glass should be hand-washed to prevent chips, clouding or breakage.  

When hand washing, use mild detergent and warm water, then dry with a lint-free cloth. If in doubt, hand-washing is always the safer option.

When choosing the right size for everyday glassware, focus on practicality and versatility. For most households, glasses with a capacity of 300ml to 500ml work well for water, soft drinks and juices.  

Shorter glasses (around 200–300ml) suit smaller drinks or compact storage, and taller options (500ml +) are useful if you often add ice or serve larger portions.  

Pick a size that balances your daily habits and storage space, then stick to that size across your set for easy table styling.

Highball glasses are tall and narrow, typically holding 300–400ml. These types of glasses are used for mixed drinks served with plenty of ice – like gin and tonic or mojito.  

A lowball glass (also called an old-fashioned or rocks glass) is shorter and wider, holding about 200–300ml. They’re ideal for spirits served neat or on the rocks, such as whisky or rum.

It’s a matter of personal preference whether you want matching glassware or a mix of different styles. Matching sets will make your life simple by giving your dining table a cohesive aesthetic. On the other hand, a mix of different designs allows for more personality and flair.  

If you regularly host formal dinners, a complete matching set may serve you well. But if you prefer a more relaxed, creative feel, mixing glassware can be a fun approach.

A good rule of thumb is to aim for 8 water glasses and 6–8 wine glasses for most households. This should give you enough glasses everyday use and small gatherings.  

If you entertain more often or host larger groups, consider upping your count to 10–12 glasses per type to give yourself extras in case of unexpected guests.  

Storage space is another important consideration – make sure you have the cupboard capacity before you buy.