How to Choose Wine Glasses for a Wine

There are hundreds of styles of wineglasses designed for different purposes and types of wine. But for most wine drinking and wine tasting a few key characteristics can make your choice of wineglasses easy. Here are a few guidelines to help you choose.

1

Choose two different sizes of wineglasses. Select smaller wineglasses for white wine and larger glasses for red wine. Generally, more full-bodied wines work best in slightly larger glasses while lighter, fruitier wines can do well in smaller glasses. The reason that white wine glasses need to be smaller is that white wine should not warm up too much before it is consumed. As for the size of red wine glasses, the more generous, the better, to allow for a third fill and the rest of the glass permitting aeration.

• Select a balloon shaped wineglass to allow the wine to promote better flavor and to allow the wine to develop its full bouquet. Wine needs room to breathe and a tapered shape is the best for releasing the aroma.
• For still wine, have a fine, plain and colorless glass. If the glass is chunky, has designs or color, you won't be able to appreciate the appearance of the wine inside.^[1]
• Wine expert Joanna Simon recommends that a glass should be able to fit a quarter bottle of wine to about a third to half of the glass.^[2]

 2  Choose fluted or tulip-shaped (champagne) glasses for sparkling wines and champagne. This shape helps keep the bubbles intact for longer and ensure the best flavor and aroma while drinking the sparkling wine.

1. 
   
   
   • Avoid using the Champagne saucer or coupe for champagne; it causes both bubbles and bouquet to disappear instantly.^[3]
2. 3
   Look for cut over rolled edges to the glass. This is more finished look and feels pleasant to the mouth touch.
   
   
   
3. 4
   For wine accompanying dinner, choose wine glasses that are slightly larger so that they can accommodate larger pours, around 4 to 6 oz each, while still having ample empty space in the bowl.
   
   
   
4. 5
   For wine tasting events, choose small, inexpensive glasses. Wineglasses just for tasting wine at a wine tasting party don't need to be as pretty or expensive. Indeed, since you will often need many and some are liable to be broken by guests, prefer cheaper ones for such occasions. Smaller tasting glasses are optimal, particularly if many wines will be served at one time and over the course of the evening. They are easier to clean and you can fit more in front of each guest on the table. Also, tasting pours tend to be smaller so that each wine can make it around to each guest and each guest can drink more wines without getting too tipsy. A small pour in a very large glass can get lost and be hard to assess how much has been consumed.
   
   
   
5. 6
   For serving fine wines, choose glasses that are clear in color and do not have any painted or etched decorations. While colored glass and decorations may make the glass pretty to look at, it detracts from the appreciation of the wine inside, particularly for wine tastings.
   
   
   
6. 7
   Purchase the best wineglasses that you can afford. The experience as a whole when drinking wine matters, including the glass.
   
   
   
   • While you can find good deals on stemware on the internet through various companies, it is best to see the glasses firsthand to really appreciate their clarity, size and how they feel in your hand.
7. 8
   Prefer dishwasher-proof wineglasses over hand-wash only. This will save you time and effort.
   
   
   
   • Wineglasses made from glass can be washed in the dishwasher and provide easy care. For non-greasy glasses, wash them on the shortest cycle without detergent. For dirtier glasses, use a little detergent but no rinsing aid. Open the door at the end of the cycle to let the glasses air dry without humidity.^[4]
   • For hand-washing, use hot water and a minimum of detergent.
   • If you do choose crystal glasses, expect them to require a bit more care and as they are delicate and can only washed by hand.

Fashion Made Easy

We know, we know -- shopping's a huge pain. Not only do you need to find the time to get your sorry self to the store, but you also need to know which stores to go to in the first place. If you don't have the time or state of mind to spend hours searching for your next piece of clothing, then our partners at Five Four Club might have the service you're looking for.

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All you have to do is provide them with details about your size, preferred colors, patterns and fit, and they'll send you a curated collection of apparel.

Shirts & Socks

 

A single button-up normally runs at least $60. From Five Four, you'll get two  for that, in addition to two pairs of snazzy socks normally worth $15 a piece. 

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Graphic tees regularly hit $30 a pop. For the price of two, you'll get five from Five Four.

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 Your jacket is always a focal point of your wardrobe, and finding a stylish option under $100 is a difficult proposition. Lucky for you, Five Four has you covered.

12 Ways to Dress Slim

 Let me be crystal clear about this piece of advice: there's no article of clothing or fashion strategy that will literally take weight off your body. The clothes you wear, however, and the way you wear them can make you look 10 pounds lighter in seconds. I'm the farthest thing from a fashionista, but the following secrets were given to me by top stylists in Los Angeles, Miami and New York — and they work!

Wear a V-neck

It lengthens your neck and shows off your collarbone.

Go monochromatic

Dressing in one color head to toe is the easiest slim trick of all because it creates one long, clean line and doesn't break your body up into separate visual parts. It also makes you look taller. This tip is a great one for us petite people.

Buy only what you can move in

Don't stuff yourself into clothes that don't fit. If you do, it will cause rolls and bulges on even the slimmest of women. If you have to wiggle around in the dressing room to get it on, put it back on the rack.

Practice the art of camouflage

Darker colors will minimize and lighter or shiny ones will highlight. So if you have a thicker waist, wear a brown or black belt. If you want to play down a large double-D chest, avoid wearing a gold or silver blouse.

Choose flattering fabrics

When you're trying to deemphasize a "problem area," wear a crisp fabric, not clingy materials that show everything you're trying to disguise. Conversely, when you want to show off an area of your body that you feel good about, wear the clingy materials. If you have killer legs but a little muffin top, opt for fitted jeans with a crisp tucked-in shirt as opposed to the stretchy wool sweater and baggy jeans.

Don't go baggy

Big shapes make you look bigger. I'm telling you, this is true. I learned this one firsthand on a bikini shoot for Shape magazine. I wanted to wear the cute boy-short bathing suit, and they wanted me in a small bikini. I insisted that bigger was better, but when I saw the pictures, I realized I was wrong. The bigger the suit, the bigger I looked. The directive you should follow here comes straight from famed costume designer Edith Head: "Wear clothes loose enough to prove you're a lady, but tight enough to prove you're a woman."

Tailor your clothes

You can't expect every size 8 to fit every size 8 woman. Get a tailor you love and trust to fit your nicer clothes to your body. I know this can get pricey, but once you have a few beautifully tailored staples in your wardrobe, you'll be prepared for any event.

Go small with prints

This one came from a Redbook cover shoot I did, when the stylist put me in jeans with a paisley pattern on them. I was extremely resistant, thinking these jeans were going to make me look like I had thick legs. Wrong. They looked great and slimming, and here's why: the smaller the pattern, the smaller you look.

Belt it

Every single stylist has told me to draw attention to my waist. This is because it accentuates the smallest part of a woman. Tossing a belt on or over just about anything will help give your body a slimmer profile—just don't overcinch. That's how muffin tops are born.

Pick the right pockets

The ideal size for a super-sexy bum pocket is no smaller than your palm and no bigger than your hand. Stray outside these guidelines and you're playing with fire. And make sure that the bottom of your pocket never dips lower than your actual bum.

Go same on same

Pair any color pant with the same color shoe for longer-looking legs. This also works with nude shoes if you're wearing a dress.

Invest in the perfect push-up

This one has been a life-changer for me. I can't tell you how many rumors on the Internet started circling that I got a boob job after I found the right bra. Higher, bigger boobs in seconds with no surgery at minimal cost — I'll take it. Plus, the higher your boobs sit, the slimmer your waist looks. Go to an expert and get yourself professionally measured, it's so worth it.