Let us help you find stylish stemware, cocktail glasses and bar tools for everyday and special occasions. Read on for our tips and recommendations.
Food for Thought
- Consider your drink preferences and how often you plan to entertain. A basic stemware set includes water glasses and red and white wineglasses. Additional stemware can be selected for specific wine varietals -- for example, Cabernet, Pinot Noir or Montrachet.
- Be sure your selections include items like highballs, old-fashioneds and stemmed cocktail glasses, as well as bar tools and accessories, if you plan to host cocktail parties.
- Register for at least twice as many wineglasses as dinnerware place settings to ensure you have enough glasses for the cocktail hour and dinner.
- Choose sturdy, versatile glassware for everyday use and casual entertaining. Our Picardie tumblers -- a Williams-Sonoma favorite for over 30 years -- are ideal for this purpose.
Stemware Care
Step 1: Wash under warm water; detergent is not necessary.
Step 2: Place on linen towel to dry briefly.
Step 3: For extra shine, steam over boiling water.
Step 4: To dry, use two absorbent flour sack towels. Hold glass by base; never twist the base and bowl.
Step 5: Use one hand to cradle the bowl while polishing with the other for a perfect result.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img71.jpg)
A water glass is shaped large enough to serve still or sparkling mineral water, and it offers a more formal presentation of iced tea or juice.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img72.jpg)
Picardie Tumblers (quantity: 12)
These sturdy glasses have been Williams-Sonoma favorites for decades. Designed to serve hot or cold beverages, they can also accommodate juice, water, wine and more.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img73.jpg)
An elegant pitcher is useful for serving margaritas, martinis, sangria, Bloody Marys and other libations. It's also handy for non-alcoholic drinks like lemonade and iced tea.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img74.jpg)
Champagne Flute (quantity: 12)
A flute is ideal for serving champagne and sparkling wines, as well as the cocktails made from them. Its tall, slender bowl focuses aromas and helps preserve effervescence.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img75.jpg)
Perfect for everything from assertive Cabernets to mellow Merlots, this glass has a large bowl that encourages the bouquet to develop, eliciting every nuance of aroma.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img76.jpg)
White Wineglass (quantity: 12)
This glass is ideally proportioned for serving white wines, from dry Chardonnays to fruity Rieslings. The tall stem keeps the bowl from being warmed by your hand.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img77.jpg)
This tool allows you to open bottles of wine with the ease and expertise of a sommelier.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img78.jpg)
Keep white wine and champagne at their ideal serving temperature by chilling them in an elegant bucket filled with ice.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img79.jpg)
Double Old-Fashioned (quantity: 12)
This short, wide glass is perfect for serving mixed drinks (including the old-fashioned, from which it derives its name), as well as fruit juice, milk or other soft drinks.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img80.jpg)
This glass is used to serve tall mixed drinks, such as a mojito or a gin and tonic. It's also great for sodas, lemonade or iced tea.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img81.jpg)
Martini Glass/Stemmed Cocktail
Distinguished by its broad, conical bowl, this is the quintessential glass for martinis and other classic cocktails like cosmopolitans and sidecars.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img82.jpg)
This stemmed glass has a wide, shallow bowl and a rim thick enough to hold a coating of salt, the classic margarita garnish.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img83.jpg)
Tall, tapering pilsner glasses or substantial beer mugs are essentials for serving beer, ale, porter and stout.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img84.jpg)
Just right for aperitifs and after-dinner liqueurs, this diminutive glass can also be used for serving spirits.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img85.jpg)
Also known as a snifter, this glass has a balloon-shaped bowl that provides ample space for swirling brandies and cognacs and enjoying their aromas.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img86.jpg)
Shaking cocktails with crushed ice quickly reduces the alcohol's temperature without diluting the flavor of the spirits.
![](https://assets.wsimgs.com/wsimgs/ab/images/dp/recipe/202411/0023/img87.jpg)
A typical set of bar tools includes a cocktail strainer, stirrer, jigger, ice tongs and bar knife -- all to make mixology more enjoyable and successful.