Red, White & Champagne: Which Glass Do I Use?

All too often we are faced with the dilemma of which type of wine glass to use for red, white or champagne. Wine glasses come in various shapes, sizes, colors and styles and making sure you use the proper glass for your special occasion is much simpler than you think.

Appropriately called stemware (glasses with stems), the etiquette for pouring a good wine into the proper glass makes all the difference. It seems to be that wine is tastier in a glass that is elegant and stylish. A good wine should always be poured in a clear glass. Although those pretty colored wine glasses that are in your china cabinet may look great, they interfere in the true color of the wine and your subliminal palette.

Wine Glass Size and Shape

The taste of wine seems to change depending on the type of wine glass you are drinking from. Therefore, it is important to get the most out of the flavor of your wine and by choosing the correct wine glass to serve the wine in makes the difference. Three aspects of proper wine glass selection are taken into consideration: the glass size, the shape and the thickness of the the glass.

When choosing wine glasses,the glass should be plain and clear. Part of the enjoyment of a good wine is appreciation of it's color. The color of the wine portrays a lot of information about the wine, giving clues to the grapes used, the age of the wine, and so on. Hence, wine glasses that are colored or frosted, or worse still solid materials such as pewter or silver, are useless and can effect the drinkers true enjoyment of the wine.

For red and white wine, a larger glass (such as the stemware pictured to the right) is required to swirl the wine around releasing its aroma and enhancing the drinking experience. Small wine glasses are used for sherry or dessert wines, which have stronger aromas and do not have the need for aroma release.

Stemware made of very thin, fine crystal costs a lot more than normal glasses, but for some reason the wine tastes so much better! Many people do not use their expensive stemware and stores like TJMaxx and HomeGoods offer a wonderful selection of glasses that are both whimsical and affordable.

The shape of the bowl also matters. Some wine glasses have very round bowls, while others have more elongated, somewhat narrower bowls. The bowl should be large enough to allow for easy pouring and enough room to swirl the wine. Bowls that are oval-shaped and are much more narrow at the mouth are ideal for red wines such as Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, Chiantis and Zinfandels. Other red wines such as Burgundies, Pinot Noirs and Barolos are best suited in wider bowl glasses. Whichever size or shape that you choose correlates to the glass's shape and flow control of the wine onto your tongue.

Sparking Wine: tulips, flutes and trumpets

Lastly, we discuss that fine, sparking bubbly Champagne. Sparkling wine can also be included in this category and deciding which type of glass to use for this unique wine is also an issue. Fortunately, the same type of stemware is used for Champagne and Sparkling wine. The stemware that is utilized for this beverage is known as tulip, flute and/or trumpet (pictured below).

The tulip is the ideally shaped glass for Champagne and other sparkling wines. It is tall, elongated and narrower at the rim than in the middle of the bowl. This shape helps hold the bubbles in the wine longer, not allowing them to escape.

The flute is another good sparkling wine glass; but it is less ideal than the tulip because it does not narrow at the mouth.

The trumpet actually widens at the mouth, making it less desirable for sparkling wine but very elegant looking. Another drawback of the trumpet glass is that, depending on the design, the wine can actually fill the whole stem, which means the wine warms up from the heat of your hand.

A good wine is as good as the glass it is served in. Choose a glass that will fit your style and comfort and enjoy its flavor to the fullest. Salut!

Plate Chargers: What's Their Purpose?

The day of your dinner party has arrived and final details as coming together. As you begin to make the final touches to the table you are contemplating whether to use a plate charger has become the most trivial finishing touch to a perfect table setting.There is no right or wrong way in charger plate etiquette. Usually larger in size than most dinner plates, their function is for the sole purpose of being a decorative touch to a place setting, since no food is actually served on them. Many restaurants opt to keep the charger plate until the patron has finished the entire meal, while others take the charger plate after the soup and salad course. Choosing to leave this decorative plate until the end of the meal is your option.

If your decision is to use a plate charger, here are some pointers:

• Place the charger plate on to the table exactly 1 inch from the edge at each place setting.
• Silverware should be placed on both sides of the place setting.
• Set first course dishes, such as individual soup bowls, on to the center of the charger plate.
• Remove the first-course serving dish from the charger plate. If there is any food residue on the charger, remove it from the table. Take the charger plate to the kitchen. You can quickly wipe the food residue from the charger or hand wash it, if necessary. Replace the charger plate.
• Serve the next first-course dish. For example, a salad plate would be set in the center of the charger plate.
• Decide if you wish to keep the charger plates on the table during the entree serving. You can place the entree dinner plate directly onto the charger plate.
• Remove the charger plates from the table before serving dessert.

Whatever the decision, your selection of plate chargers to chose from are limitless. Stores like Macy's and Potterybarn offer a great selection of modern and unique styles. Plate chargers are available in a variety of material such as acrylic, porcelain and metallic and in many colors and shapes. The most common charger plate is round, but square and octagon shaped chargers are also an option. Whichever style you choose, your tablescape will surely be stylish!

To R.S.V.P. or Not to R.S.V.P.

More than ever I hear friends and colleagues complaining about people not responding to their personal invitations sent for an event they are having . All too often whether the invitation is to a small baby shower or a big charitable fundraiser, the consensus seems to be that people in general have forgotten common courtesy and the inclination to respond in a timely manner.

Perhaps it is time that we lay down a few ground rules for proper RSVPing to avoid people getting hurt, offended or feel disrespected because the invitee did not respond.

1. Keep track of your invitations. Once you receive an invitation, you should RSVP within 24-48 hours of its receipt. This helps to avoid any problems that may arise if another invitation for the same date and time arrives in the mail days later. Even if you take a little more time with your decision, proper etiquette dictates that you are supposed to RSVP to the first invitation that arrives and decline the subsequent. Once you have accepted the invitation, enter the date on a master calendar and then post a hard copy somewhere prominent to remind you of your upcoming engagement.
2. Split your time wisely. Although you are only obligated to attend the first invitation you receive, you may feel obliged to RSVP to more than one engagement for the same date and time. If that is the situation, you should be respectful and split your time wisely to ensure you do not offend the invitees who probably wish they had you committed for their event. If you are planning on splitting your time, let the invitee know and that you will make an effort to attend the party and be present to enjoy the entertainment.
3. Electronic invites. As we become a society driven by technology, electronic invites through websites such as Evite.com have become more and more popular. With electronic invites a host is able to see who has opened your invitation, but did not respond. Think twice before publishing your invite list for all to see if you are concerned that some may base their decision on who else is coming. These same recipients may wait until the last minute to see if anyone changed their mind before making a decision to attend. An advantage to Evites is they send out automatic reminders to those who may have forgotten to RSVP making it easy for them to accept the invitation or change their mind last minute and usually without confrontation. Although they are not a physical form of an invitation, they are just as real and demand the courtesy of a proper response.
4. Make sure you have a good excuse! If you are unable to RSVP positively to an event, that is perfectly fine, as long as you have a decent and thoughtful excuse. How you deliver your excuse and the words you choose to express yourself can make all the difference. This point comes particularly into play with electronic invitations where recipients can view everyone's responses and may make certain judgments based on their tone.
5. Closest friends may be the worst offenders. We all tend to assume that the first people to respond would be those closest to you. However, this is not usually the case and these people tend to take your relationship for granted never thinking that there may be a social price to pay for not RSVPing. If you are one of these friends, take note and curtail this behavior in the future because if you can't count on your friends, who can you count on?

Holiday Entertaining Essentials

The Holidays are slowly approaching and the hustle and bustle of the season will soon be in full swing. Being a step ahead of creating a holiday party is the key to ensuring a successful party. The following are essential "to do" tasks that will help any host for a stress free party.

1. Set the Date. Once the date has been set the option of sending invitations or just making a phone call is up to you. If you are having an informal party, a phone call a few weeks in advance is sufficient. On the other hand, for formal parties or events, invitations can be sent out three to four weeks in advance, or even earlier to allow the recipient plenty of notice of the upcoming festivities. If you opt to send invitations, be sure to include an R.S.V.P. with a telephone number. You can make your own invitations or use online sites such as www.vistaprint.com and/or www.shutterfly.com. Also, don't hesitate to call people who do not R.S.V.P; not knowing how how many guests are attending and the calculation quantities for an event is a sure cause of nervousness.

2. The Guest List. Whether you decide to invite colleagues, friends or family members be sure that your space is able to accommodate everyone. In addition, don't forget to about the mix of people so that everyone is able to have a good time.


3. Location. Consider the space where the party will be held. Evaluate every angle and aspect of the space taking into account if guests will be standing, sitting or both. If guests will be standing, the average-size room can generally accommodate 30 people, a three-room expansive about 60. If your party will include a buffet, you must provide seating. Consider renting a place or equipment if your home isn't able handle the party you want. Think outside the box -- a greenhouse or museum gallery could provide an interesting edge to your party.

4. Cocktails or Dinner? Asking yourself what type of party you want to throw can depend on location, budget and time of year. Cocktail parties are the least expensive and most versatile. For a sit-down meal, you must have (or rent) dishes, flatware, glassware, linens, seating, and serving pieces. A buffet is almost as versatile as a cocktail party, and the size and price can be tailored to your budget.


5. Your Budget. Depending on the type of party you are having, you must be within your budget allowance. Once an informal count of guests has been made consider liquor, food, rentals, service, music or entertainment, and flowers or decorations to establish an idea of expense. Think drinks first, as alcohol can be a major expense. Don't feel as though you need to be as well stocked as a restaurant; consider serving a signature drink. If you are having a formal sit down dinner, be inventive with your food choices to limit costs, instead of fillet of beef, have a Mexican fiesta. For cocktail parties, simple appetizers are the way to go.

6. Ambiance. Setting the mood and atmosphere whether an informal or formal party makes an impact on the guests mood and enjoyment. Music can make or break a party but it doesn't have to be complicated at all. For simpler affairs, it is generally there for background support. Hook your iPod up to speakers and create a specific playlist. With the holidays the choice is given; popular songs and melodies are always a background favorite.

7. Putting It All Together. Once you have answers to these questions, the foundation for your party has been made. Each one these points will determine the essential details that are needed to put the party together. The type of party you will be throwing will determine what you need for equipment, the season can inspire the menu, and the budget will factor into the type of entertainment you choose and if you use a caterer. Once all of that has fallen into place, be creative and tailor a party you would want to attend and enjoy!