How to choose ... wine glasses
It's true that wine can be drunk out of any type of receptacle, but the right glass adds to much more than the aesthetic enjoyment of a good wine.
What are they? They are almost always made of glass and usually have a stem. Unfortunately, the stem is frequently where they break so there are now stemless wine glasses.
What to look for: the glass should be clear, colourless and smooth. If it is coloured or heavily engraved, it will be more difficult to see the colour of the wine. You should also look for thin glass without a thick rim because fine glass feels best on the lips.
Which to buy: most of us can get away with three basic types: champagne (a tall, narrow bowl), red (a large bowl that's widest towards the bottom and tapers slightly to the rim) and white (similar to red but smaller), and perhaps other glasses if you like port, sherry or dessert wines. Wine connoisseurs with money to burn have a much larger array. Some glass makers have ranges specifically for vintage or young champagnes, Bordeaux (mature, red or white), Barolo, Rioja or single-varietal wines. The makers say these glasses are specifically designed to deliver the wine to the precise parts of the tongue that will best appreciate each wine's unique characteristics.
Where to buy: the obvious places are wine shops such as Watson's. Sogo (tel: 2833 8338) sells various brands at the small boutiques throughout the store and Lane Crawford department stores also