Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Eating and Drinking => Kitchen Natter => Topic started by: Growster... on November 21, 2013, 20:00
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Over the years, Mrs Growster and I have used
broken all sorts of wine glasses, from those from her parents' pub, to really nice Swiss ones which are still 95% intact, down to garage glasses, up (slightly) to supermarket ones, then back to ordinary one-quidders...
Just of late, as we seem to have one left of every sort we've acquired, we decided to splash out and as I'd broken our favourite Wedgewood decanter some time ago and we'd been using another favourite French milk bottle (we just love it), enough was enough!
So off to Cranbrook we went, and found some fantastic small tumblers, which are like the ones you used to get in French cafes in the Beaujolais, which were a bit like old school glasses! We had some from a certain French grocer back in the nineties, and have just one left, so that's a no-no if we want to clink, as is the norm about the witching hour!
They're the same as the Debenhams ones you can buy on the net, only smaller, and apparently are American, but that doesn't worry us, as we hope we may not break all these like we do on a regular basis...;0)
So, does the team think that wine glasses need to be quartz crystal, or bog-standard...?
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We have some exceptionally stylish crystal glasses we treated ourselves to 30 plus years ago. They are so nice we hardly dare use them tbh
Elegant plain ones are our everyday use ... well, for wine anyway. Easily replaceable, but still with a decent ring when you clink :D
Like the sound of your French café style glasses though Growster :D
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We have american ones we purchased at a factory outlet, they are amazing cheap as chips over there but look amazing back here, not sure why we have them as we dont drink lol
We have posh water glasses at dinner though ???
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At the risk of being modded, these are the ones, and we didn't buy them at Debenhams... (sorry Debs, we like you really...)
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_334009907199TUM6_-1
Had we done so, we'd have got them cheaper, but would have had to drive to, and park in Hastings, which rather defeats the object etc etc...
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I bought 12 goblets with a crystal swirl in the stem from 'The Cooks' Kitchen' website when we gutted and renovated our kitchen back in 2005. We still have 9 left ::)
Can't get them anymore which is a b*gger.
We also have some pretty moroccan tea glasses which make a bottle of wine last longer! :D They used to use this size glass in Zakynthos,in our hotel - so cute. :happy:
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Yes, that's the general idea, Devon, about making a bottle last longer...
Have you tried 'Glassbay'..?
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Those would definitely do the job Growster. When our daughter comes over for a visit she will only drink wine from proper wine glasses so out come the fancy glasses otherwise on the odd occasion that I drink wine I use a fairly plain glass.
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In exasperation some years ago I bought a dozen small red wine glasses and a dozen white wine flutes, plus a dozen tumblers from IKea, on the principle that they were too cheap to cry over. Guess which glasses are still around .... ::)
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Mine aren't crystal, but they are pretty fancy and from the bargainhouse that is TKMaxx. For me they have to be as thin as possible, but that makes them just easier to break.
I can't have expensive ones because I am so clumsy....and I hate fretting over things like that.
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Over the years the local crystal place (Stuart crystal) used to have decent deals on factory seconds, but even those are now far to expensive to drink from :( as there's many a slip between cup and lip.
I've resorted to some very solid (the type you can drop on carpet without smashing) ½ pint tumblers from Debenhams - but I do prefer my none spill Talisker glass for later on in the night ;)
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In Vinopolis, by Borough Market, in London, they sell wine tasting glasses, (called 'Coupitres' (sp) I believe), for about a couple of pounds each. They are superb for drinking wine, but are so fragile, that they break when you even drool at them! Like the others, we have just one left...
Business partner used to have a glass which took a whole bottle, but that's just plain greedy in my book, but, he is generous in buying the next bottle or three..;0)
These thicker tiddlers are becoming a pleasant way to imbibe so far, so we'll report back when we wake up..;0)
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Here's some info people might not be aware of regarding wine glasses:
http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-Wine-Glasses-for-a-Wine
http://winefolly.com/tutorial/types-of-wine-glasses/
Somehow I doubt Growster will be so selective, but one never knows :D
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You've read my mind! Trills, they're all up themselves in the nicest possible way!
How on earth do glass manufacturers know what sort of glass we need to imbibe our own special homemade creation, which beats most seven or eight quidders from Twongos any time!
They clutch well, and have resilience to washing up, which expensive glasses don't!
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They clutch well
I love this term. I will be using it from now on. :D
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I used to think the different shapes and heights of wineglasses was just malarky, but I watched a video a few years ago that explained the reasons. Seems the 'body' of some wines, need more, or less, oxygen (in the swirling) to enhance the flavour so someone came up with the difference heights, etc to suit. The 'bubble' in the bell of some of the glass better enhances that particular type of wine. Same with quantity in the glass. Hence so many shapes and heights. I do know some wine guzzlers for whom I'd be just as happy to supply a horse bucket but I'm sure the horse would resent sharing. ;)
On the champagne glasses, I had some of the old fashioned wide type I inherited from OH's mother, and a BIL brought the narrow flutes to a family celebration where we had champagne. I'm not a bubbly wine drinker, but did so on the special occasion. To my great surprise, I noticed a huge difference in taste between the 2 glasses. (somehow I'd mislaid my original glass and simply grabbed another). The tall flutes are superior for retaining taste over the wider, shorter ones (supposedly modeled after Marie Antoinette's breasts).
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Thank you Surbie, whatever grabs you..;0)
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At 5.25 am, Trills, you've caused tea-sur-keyboard with the bucket jibe..;0)
Of course, you are correct in these styles of glass to go with such and such wine, and I'll ask another partner what he thinks as he is supposed to be an expert, well, he says he is...!
The reason why we went onto these smaller, stemless ones, is that I remember in 'Clochemerle', there was a Beaujolais drinking contest, and they were using glasses very similar to these. Now, although we just adore Boje, our home made creation (see Christleton in the other lot somewhere here), of which we just make gallons without even thinking about it, can get very close to the taste with a little blackberry, and a short memory, so it's doing us a nice favour at the moment!
All good clean fun, so I'll try and find your video, when I can stop laughing at the bucket reference..;0)
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Like various others who've posted on here, I have the posh crystal in the cupboard which comes out on high days and holidays. The rest of the time, I absolutely love and adore my plain (thin) glasses I picked up from a charity shop. I think they're probably 1940s, but judging by the shape they may be as early as art deco. They cost me the princely sum of £2.50, which makes them even more wonderful!! :D
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We still have seventeen out of a set of eighteen gorgeous lead crystal glasses, which were left us by a dear relative, but they really don't get an outing very much, for the very reason, that we rather like seeing them, and not breaking them..;0)
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Very nice Growster, chunky and good for stability. ;)
I use the extra-large bucket types that hold 1/3 of a bottle so I don't have to get up for a refill (as often :tongue2:) but I'm terrible for knocking them over or putting them down on the skew. Maybe I should reconsider my choice of vessel? :D
What's left of the Waterford comes out on occasion, on the basis that nice things are meant to be used or there's little point in having them. :)
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I use the extra-large bucket types that hold 1/3 of a bottle so I don't have to get up for a refill (as often :tongue2:)
Spot on! That's my (and The Husband's) only criteria!! :nowink:
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I have some lovely white wine glasses that I got in a sale (no way would I usually contemplate paying 36CHF (£25) per glass!) - my mother is not allowed near them!
For normal days I have Ik*a glasses, though at the stables we use plastic beakers to drink our crémant (Alsation sparkling wine) - true class ;)
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Marvellous choices all, and I'll be first in the line to get those...
The decanter drips by the way, so we need all those sheets of kitchen roll handy each time we need a refill.
Kitchen roll is on our list for Thursday...
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I like the tall narrow glasses, as used in Greek bars, cos they're all but indestructible!
I bought a box home with me courtesy of the local taverna ;)
I'm so clumsy that I'm frightened of using the delicate/pretty glases I have hidden away in the cupboard.......
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I like the tall narrow glasses, as used in Greek bars, cos they're all but indestructible!
I bought a box home with me courtesy of the local taverna ;)
I'm so clumsy that I'm frightened of using the delicate/pretty glases I have hidden away in the cupboard.......
Nice cupboard though, Mums!
And I thought you were an outgoing lady too!
;0)
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We had some wineglasses, just ordinary 80s cafe type glasses, which were getting fewer and fewer over the years.
So I decided it was time for some new ones.
I was amazed, in the intervening years wineglasses had doubled in size, no way could they be filled up anymore, each one took about half a bottle. And they were taller so I could clear a table with one sweep of the arm :blush:
But I kept an eye on the charity shops and after a couple of months, found replacements for our old ones, Yey! and we now have a full set of nice ordinary old-fashioned wineglasses which will keep us going for a year or two. (the crystal ones are at the back of the cupboard)
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The ones that get used most in this house were ones that came free with using loads of petrol in the 80's! Stubby things with a slight stem - Company car. It also acquired us loads of storage jars! We've the "decent stuff" ie crystal but it rarely gets used as I'm uncertain if it can go through the dishwasher. We've some green ones on a long stem that we noticed on an episode of the Good Life (plus other things which we still have) sad.
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We had some wineglasses, just ordinary 80s cafe type glasses, which were getting fewer and fewer over the years.
So I decided it was time for some new ones.
I was amazed, in the intervening years wineglasses had doubled in size, no way could they be filled up anymore, each one took about half a bottle. And they were taller so I could clear a table with one sweep of the arm :blush:
But I kept an eye on the charity shops and after a couple of months, found replacements for our old ones, Yey! and we now have a full set of nice ordinary old-fashioned wineglasses which will keep us going for a year or two. (the crystal ones are at the back of the cupboard)
I did the rounds of our charity shops, Annen, and although they had numerous tiny little glasses for sherry etc, there weren't any for serious knocking over...
I do like those big half-pinters though, as it does save all that extra pouring-out!
These crunchy little things are getting a good road-test, but the dripping decanter needs a good sorting out...
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The ones that get used most in this house were ones that came free with using loads of petrol in the 80's! Stubby things with a slight stem - Company car. It also acquired us loads of storage jars! We've the "decent stuff" ie crystal but it rarely gets used as I'm uncertain if it can go through the dishwasher. We've some green ones on a long stem that we noticed on an episode of the Good Life (plus other things which we still have) sad.
Ah, Val! Garage glasses! I think we amassed about sixty thousand or even more when - like you- I had a company car, and we even saved up enough coupons for a decanter, which is still lurking somewhere...
I know that somewhere in this house, there is a cardboard box with loads more glasses, but can I find them?
Nope...
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The ones that get used most in this house were ones that came free with using loads of petrol in the 80's! Stubby things with a slight stem - Company car. It also acquired us loads of storage jars! We've the "decent stuff" ie crystal but it rarely gets used as I'm uncertain if it can go through the dishwasher. We've some green ones on a long stem that we noticed on an episode of the Good Life (plus other things which we still have) sad.
Hey they must've been quite upmarket garage glasses for the 80s, ;) ours were amber tumblers with bobbly bottoms, also ceramic soup cups, and cutlery.
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I only use crystal glasses, Dad started me off when he gave me a Waterford crystal water jug and I just loved the weight and the way the light bounces off it. To the despair of my poor OH I have two cabinets full, I have wine glasses and goblets, sherry, port, brandy and loads that I have absolutely no idea what they are for. Very few have cost me more than £1 each and I will only pay that if there is a full set. I scour the boxes on car boots and can always rely on getting a few from our local tip shop usually about 50p each. I have some Stuart and some Waterford I do not use but happily use the rest.
I find that when you are getting sleepy and drop off, the weight of the glass means that I usually wake up with it still upright in my hand. :D
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Dropping off like that rather cuts out the middle 'woman' doesn't it Lilac...;0)
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:lol: :lol: :lol:
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This post has just reminded me that I need to wash my crystal wine glasses. I have 2 sets and some beautiful heavy brandy glasses but this is the only time of year they come out. I have 3 shelves in the kitchen full of odd glasses, one or 3 being the old free garage glasses, hence the posh uns only come out at Christmas.
I do enjoy washing them though and love to see them sparkle on a white cloth.