Plain Old Martini Glasses Or Lolita

Plain Old Martini Glasses Or Lolita

by on 20. Nov, 2010 in Buying, Champagne Flutes, History, Lolita Glasses, Origins

The true origins of the martini are unknown; one theory is that it evolved from a cocktail called the Martinez that was created in the 1860s. This consisted of sweet red vermouth and gin with a cherry garnish. The evolution into the Dry Martini probably happened gradually; London Dry gin replaced the original Old Tom gin, and orange bitters were used instead of aromatic bitters. A dry white vermouth replaced the red vermouth and of course, the olive replaced the cherry.

The martini is of course synonymous with James Bond, and has connotations of power, excitement and quality. Real life celebrities who were known to love martinis included Mae West, Dean Martin and F. Scott Fitzgerald. As the martini has grown in popularity, many different recipes have been created, from classic martinis to flavored vodka martinis to sweet dessert martinis. Martinis will vary slightly depending on who is making them and what their preference is. Some people like “pure” martinis, which are equal amounts sweet red vermouth and dry white vermouth. Others will only add a splash of vermouth.

For a classic “Dirty” martini, you will need two ounces of gin, one tablespoon of dry vermouth, two tablespoons of olive juice and two green olives. First, place an ice cube and a little water in your martini glass, and place it in your freezer for a few minutes. Put all your ingredients into a cocktail shaker, cover and shake three or four times. Take your martini glass from the freezer (it will now be perfectly cold and frosty) and empty its contents. Strain the contents of the shaker into the glass, and add one of the olives. Not enough variety in your martinis?  well, the Internet is a great place to find hundreds of martini recipes. Trying them out is the ideal reason to invite friends round for a cocktail party.

For the perfect martini, you will of course need proper martini glasses. These are shaped in a deep “V” and were originally simply called cocktail glasses. They are used for any cocktail that needs to stay chilled without adding ice to the drink. The long stem of the glass keeps the liquid cool. It is said that the wide mouth of the glass adds to the bouquet of the gin. Legend has it that the wide mouth of the martini glass came about during the prohibition era, so that people could quickly down their drinks during a raid.

Modern martini glasses come in all shapes, sizes, materials and colors. Lolita wine glasses are one type and have become extremely popular; these are painted glasses made by the designer and entrepreneur Lolita (a former actress and model who has also worked in advertising and for fashion designers Donna Karan and Christian Dior). In a remarkably short space of time they have become virtually as iconic a symbol as a champagne flute and red wine glasses: seemingly everyone who has even the slightest bit of knowledge about social drinking mores is familiar with the style.  Lolita glasses are inspired by what she thinks a cocktail glass should look like – decorated with color and pattern in a stylish design with a recipe on the bottom.

The first Lolita product line was launched in 2004 and “Love My Martini” soon became one of the hottest gift ranges in the US, before it was launched internationally to a great response. Lolita glasses are available from a large number of stores and online retailers, with prices starting from around $20 per glass.

The Lolita stemware range, which also includes wine glasses and champagne flutes, are now sold all over the world.  They make fantastic gifts as there is a design for everyone and they look lovely displayed on a glass shelf or in a glass-fronted cabinet. Designs are available for birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, graduation and any other special occasion you can think of. The horoscope designs are popular and make great gifts. The flip-flop them is another one that is loved by many.

There is something to suit most tastes – so when you are in the market for something other than plain glasses to add to your stemware collection, take a serious look at what Lolita glasses have to offer.

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Enjoying Champagne In Crystal Stemware

Enjoying Champagne In Crystal Stemware

by on 16. Nov, 2010 in Champagne Flutes, Crystal, Plastic, Toasting, Wedding

A lot of  people enjoy a lovely chilled glass of champagne, whether to celebrate a special occasion or just treat themselves on a night out. Champagne is a symbol of luxury and extravagance, and has a fun, frivolous image. As it has become more affordable it can be enjoyed by even more people. When something needs to be celebrated, glasses are being raised in a toast or a party needs to get started, nothing but the bubbles will do.

The drink originated in the Champagne region of France, which was known for its quality still wines up until the second half of the seventeenth century. At this point wine producers grew tired of competing with the wine producers in Burgundy, and decided to create a different kind of white wine. What was originally known as “Vin Gris” became popular with British drinkers in particular; this is believed to be because during the transportation to Britain from France, the warm temperatures kicked off a further stage of fermentation – making the fizz even fizzier.

One champagne bottle contains around 58 million bubbles! A lot of champagne drinkers do not know that the quality of what they are drinking is determined by what is called the “mousse” of the champagne. This is the fizz; the softer the fizz, and the smaller the bubbles, the better it is. “Brut” champagne is dry or very dry; “Extra Brut” is bone dry.

There is no doubt that champagne tastes better in beautiful, elegant champagne flutes. The original champagne drinking vessel was called a “coupe” (a saucer-shaped glass said to have been created using a mold taken of Marie Antoinette’s breast, although there is no proof of this!).  Nowadays the champagne flute is the most common shape of champagne drinking glass – a stem glass with a tall, narrow bowl – and it comes in many different styles. The bowl itself could look similar to a narrow wine glass, or it may be very narrow and straight-sided, or shaped like a trumpet. The narrow surface area at the top of the bowl (compared to regular red wine glasses or even the white wine ones with far wider bowls) is designed to maintain the fizz (carbonation) in the champagne for as long as possible, and is why the flute has largely replaced the original coupe.

Champagne coupes, also known as saucers, are still used to create champagne towers, often at parties and wedding receptions. They are stacked in layers to make an impressive focal point. Champagne is poured into one glass at the very the top of the tower and, done carefully, it will trickle down into the lower glasses until every one is filled.

Champagne flutes may be clear glass, crystal, pewter, silver or wooden, and there are even plastic champagne flutes for those camping trips! If you like to present your champagne in flutes to match the elegance of the drink itself, crystal stemware is a natural choice. Crystal is so fine that it will not interfere with the pleasure of your drinking experience, and the transparency of crystal allows you to admire the bubbles rising to the rim of the flute. Connoisseurs of champagne and fine wine generally favor crystal stemware over any other material for these reasons. Crystal has an expensive look and feel that ordinary glass and other materials just do not live up to.

The Internet is an excellent place to start looking for your perfect champagne glasses; there are hundreds of designs available across all price ranges. Take time to do your research and compare prices to get the best value for money. Then all you have to do is find an excuse to pop open the cork of a delicious bottle of bubbly and raise your new flutes in a toast!

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Wedding Champagne Glasses For Your Perfect Day

Wedding Champagne Glasses For Your Perfect Day

by on 09. Nov, 2010 in Champagne Flutes, Goblets, Toasting, Wedding

No matter what style of wedding you are planning, a really traditional affair following all the age-old customs, or an ultra modern occasion with lots of unusual touches, there are some traditions that are followed regardless. One of these is the wedding toast, one of the oldest customs. It is rare to attend a wedding where nobody makes a toast to the newlyweds; normally there are several speeches, each one followed by an invitation to the guests to raise a glass to the happy couple. A toast is a lovely way to wish the couple good wishes as they start their new life as husband and wife. To make a toast everyone must have a drink; for a wedding this is typically a delicious glass of champagne in a glass or crystal flute. Wedding champagne glasses are similar to regular champagne flutes, except they are normally of a more elegant design as befitting a momentous occasion.

If you are trying to choose wedding champagne glasses, there is a huge variety available, so you can be sure you will find something that is ideal for your perfect day. Naturally you want every little detail to be just the way you want it, and this can be stressful. However, by taking the time to look at many different types of champagne flutes, and deciding well ahead of time what you want to go for, this aspect of the wedding planning can be stress-free.

Many couples go for crystal flutes for their wedding toasts, as crystal is considered one of the finest materials for stemware. Its transparency allows you to watch the champagne bubbles rising, and because it is so fine, it feels delicate and expensive to hold. Crystal glasses can be expensive, however, and you may find that glass flutes are more within your budget. Wonderful designs made of glass can be found at a cheaper price, which is great for a large wedding when the cost of a hundred or more flutes soon adds up. Glass champagne flutes with delicate engraving or gold or silver rims are lovely for a wedding and a little different to regular plain glass flutes.

Silver toasting flutes are also popular for weddings. Silver looks impressive on a table setting, and adds a real elegance to a toast. Many brides choose silver stemware to match cake servers, platters and other items used in the wedding feast. Just make sure the silver is really shining before the guests arrive; make it someone’s job to go around and inspect all the flutes for smudges!

There are some really unique ideas for wedding champagne glasses if you want to make a statement and money is no object. A pair of crystal champagne flutes contained within a tapered crystal vase is almost a table centerpiece in itself and will be admired by all the guests. The only downside is that the flutes do not stand up on their own, as they have no bases, so they have to be held at all times or placed back into the vase. Another novel idea is interlocking clear glass flutes; these come in a pair and have silver stems that create a heart shape when they are locked together. These look lovely on the bride and groom’s table as a symbol of their love. They can be engraved with the wedding date a and the bride and groom’s names to make them more personal to the newlywed couple.

When looking for your own toasting flutes there are different places to search for inspiration, in the home ware section of department stores in specialist shops in the mall or online. Compare styles and prices from these different retailers and I’m sure you will be spoiled for choice! Ultimately your decision will depend on your personal taste, the style of your wedding and, of course, your budget.

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Plastic Wine Goblets And Other Practical Choices

Plastic Wine Goblets And Other Practical Choices

by on 03. Nov, 2010 in Children, Goblets, Outdoor, Pewter, Plastic

Plastic wine goblets may not seem like the drinking vessel of choice for your favorite fine wines, but there are occasions on which they offer the best solution. For a picnic or large outdoor party, plastic wine glasses are practical and cost effective. No need to worry about your fine crystal or silver goblets being damaged on a trip; take plastic goblets for your wine instead, because they are highly unlikely to be damaged and if they are, it will not break the bank to replace them.

Just because you are going on a camping trip, it does not mean you cannot take a bottle of wine or two to enjoy around the campfire. Another advantage of plastic goblets is that they come in a huge array of colors, sizes and styles. So if you are having a pink themed party, buy some funky pink plastic wine goblets. Red, blue, green, orange…whatever color you want you will be able to find plastic goblets to suit.

Of course, not only wine can be drunk out of wine goblets. Many people buy colored plastic goblets for a child’s party and serve water, juice and soda in them. Many different colors of plastic goblets on a table create a wonderful rainbow effect. Another use for plastic is to serve food; it is perfect for ice cream, cake and other puddings, as it stands up to the potential damage from silverware that other materials, such as crystal, will not. These plastic glasses should last for a long time, provided they are dishwasher safe, which the majority of them are.

However, if the seasoned wine connoisseurs just cannot bear the thought of drinking their wine out of plastic, there are many alternatives besides the traditional crystal wine goblets. Wooden wine goblets are a unique choice and have a rustic feel; however, they may not provide the optimum drinking experience. Pewter wine goblets combine enjoyable drinking with stylish design and longevity. Of course, many wine drinkers still favor crystal as it is felt to enhance the complete wine tasting experience; because crystal is so fine, it does not interfere with the flavor of the wine, and its transparency allows the color of the wine to show through. Pewter is a more modern choice, though; many young couples include pewter goblets on their wedding gift lists instead of crystal.

Pewter goblets have been used for several hundred years, dipping in and out of fashion over the years; they became widely popular in the 1970s and have remained in trend ever since. The first pewter stemware was made of tin and lead, but contemporary pewter is made of a combination of materials – such as antimony, copper and tin – as the manufacturing process has evolved. They are sturdier, more affordable than fine crystal, and more attractive than plastic. A set of pewter wine goblets makes a lovely gift, and the huge choice of designs makes it easy to find a style to suit your recipient. The average pewter goblet can cost anything from around 25 dollars to 100 dollars, though at the higher price range you can easily part with hundreds of dollars. If money is not an issue, you can buy a really incredible set of pewter goblets.

Whatever your budget is for your goblets, make sure you look at lots of options before making your decision. The internet is a great place to start, and of course, you can browse hundreds of designs from the comfort of your own home. Retailers are desperate for your business right now, so compare prices and get yourself the best value for money. Make sure you check on the retailer’s delivery charges and returns policy if ordering online, then sit back and look forward to receiving your new goblets!

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Crystal Wine Goblets or Pewter Wine Goblets?

Crystal Wine Goblets or Pewter Wine Goblets?

by on 29. Oct, 2010 in Buying, Crystal, Goblets, History, Pewter

Whether you are looking for a lovely set of wine goblets for yourself or as a gift for someone else, there are many different styles to choose from. Traditionally, wine goblets are smaller than regular goblets; if you are sitting at a table with two goblets in front of you, always use the smaller one for your wine. Red wine glasses are larger than white wine goblets; white wine is often served in a flute-shaped goblet (similar to a champagne flute / champagne glass).

If you are buying new wine goblets for yourself, you may want to choose them to match other items in your kitchen. People often go for crystal wine goblets to complement other crystal pieces they own, such as serving plates and decanters. The beauty of crystal is that the light reflects off it to give a lovely sparkle. They are also durable; if taken care of they will last forever and can be passed down to future generations. Provided they are not washed at extremely hot temperatures, crystal glasses are relatively easy to keep looking as good as new. Buff them with a soft cloth now and again to really make them shine.

Because crystal goblets are so fine, the wine is shown at its best, particularly red wine. It looks rich and appealing through a crystal goblet. Crystal wine goblets tend to come in a classic design with long, narrow stems, making them popular with those who like elegant, traditional glassware.

If you or the person you are buying for has a more modern style when it comes to kitchen goods and glassware, consider pewter wine goblets as a more contemporary alternative. Pewter may look modern but it dates back almost one thousand years to the 12th century; pewter goblets were popular with the upper class who could afford the higher price. When the 1700s came about, pewter goblets lost their appeal somewhat as more people turned to glass and pottery goblets. In the 1970s, however, pewter became popular again and remains so today. Modern pewter wine goblets are made of various materials, including copper, antimony and tin (the original ones were made of just lead and tin).

One advantage of pewter wine glasses over crystal is that they are highly durable. Furthermore, they are far more affordable than most crystal and silver pieces, are extremely hard wearing and offer more of a unique look to a table setting than their more traditional looking counterparts do. No matter what type of wine goblets you are looking for, you should definitely consider both crystal and pewter as two of the most attractive, long lasting options. Go window-shopping in your local department store and look at the different designs on offer. The Internet is also a great resource for glassware; at the click of a button you can see several different brands and designs, and easily compare styles, sizes and prices.

Ultimately, what you choose will come down to your personal taste – or that of the person you are buying the gift for – and your budget. If you are on a tight budget, do not worry that you won’t be able to afford a lovely set of goblets. There are many affordable wine goblets available, as retailers have to be competitive in today’s tough market. If you have hundreds of dollars to spend, of course there are goblets within that price range and you can be sure of a truly breathtaking set. Do not spend so much on your goblets that you will not want to use them, though! Wine goblets should be used and enjoyed just as you savor the wine inside them, not locked away in a cabinet!

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Celebrate In Style With Toasting Goblets

Celebrate In Style With Toasting Goblets

by on 25. Oct, 2010 in Anniversary, Champagne Flutes, Crystal, Goblets, Halloween, Wedding

A toast is an important part of so many social occasions. From Christmas dinners to New Year’s Eve parties, baby showers to wedding receptions, speeches are made to welcome guests, give thanks and provide entertainment. Traditionally, at the end of a speech, the speaker makes a toast and everyone is invited to raise their drink in one united gesture. Toasting goblets are, therefore, a fundamental part of this process.

Goblets are available in styles to suit every occasion, style and budget. For a traditional wedding reception, fine crystal goblets are the champagne flutes of choice for many and they remain the most popular due to their elegance and transparency; the bubbling champagne can be admired through the clear vessel.  Crystal can be given a more modern look for contemporary couples; different sizes and shapes instantly update the look. Crystal goblets can also be engraved for the bride and groom with their names and the date of the wedding, or patterned with silver for an interesting decorative effect. This can be done to match other tableware at the reception, such as serving plates and cake server sets. For a really extravagant wedding, crystal glasses can be embellished with rhinestones to add extra sparkle to the toast!

Crystal remains the preference of fine wine connoisseurs who want to enjoy the appearance of their deep, rich reds or light, pale whites just as much as the taste; wine lovers like to see and judge the quality of their wine through the clear crystal.

If crystal is not your thing, there are many other options for your toasting goblets. Silver and pewter goblets make attractive alternatives that are equally stylish and appropriate for a really special occasion. Silver is perfect for a formal occasion and popular for religious celebrations such as Christenings and First Communions. Silver always looks distinguished and expensive, but it need not break the bank as there are silver wine goblets available to suit all budgets, with the less expensive sets retailing at around $20 per goblet. A set of silver goblets makes a lovely gift, particularly for a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, as silver is its symbol.

Pewter wine goblets have a rich sense of history (they have been popular since the twelfth century) and are durable and affordable. Depending on the design of the stemware, pewter can provide a traditional or a modern look to the table. Again, there is no need to worry that pewter is out of your reach if you are on a tight budget; less expensive designs are available. The Internet is the best place to start looking for wine goblets of any kind, as retailers compete for your business in a tough market. Shop around, compare prices and do not make a purchase until you find the set you are happy with.

Even if your occasion is an informal one, you may still want to make a toast and this is where plastic goblets are a good solution. You may not have considered buying plastic drinking vessels for a party, but they are perfect for themed parties where colored glasses may not be widely available in other materials. For instance, if you are having a large Halloween party using orange and black, plastic goblets would be perfect to serve your “special brews” in. Or if you are having a pink and themed party to promote breast cancer awareness you may want to buy a large quantity of pink goblets that you may not ever use again, so going for plastic–which is available in every color imaginable–means you won’t spend a lot of money. You can reuse your plastic goblets on camping trips and picnics, where durability is important.

Whatever you are toasting, make sure you have a set of goblets that you are happy with that suits your occasion and your own personal style. From crystal to silver, plastic to pewter wine goblets, there are many options for you to consider before you say “cheers!”.

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The Stylish Utility Available in Wine Glass Charms

The Stylish Utility Available in Wine Glass Charms

by on 16. Jun, 2010 in Champagne Flutes

For those wine collectors who enjoy the appeal in not just the wine’s flavor and year but also the appearance in the wine bottles and glasses themselves, you will no doubt be interested in making use of various types of wine glass charms. These charms have been known to have a traditional purpose over the years, believed by some to add to the taste and sentimental value of the wine. Many of these charms are small and simple, usually a basic ring of some sort of metallic alloy with various beads and charms hung along its circumference. These are usually hung around the neck of a wine bottle or attached to the bottom of a wine glass. In such a way and in some wine tasting circles, they play as important of a part in the tasting and enjoying process as the wine does itself.

The wide variety of customization available with these charms is what truly makes them impressive to own and apply to your glasses. The band keeping the charms together can be made of different materials, colored in gold or the standard applied silver, with a lot of room for variation in the charms themselves, depending on what the owner prefers. Many purchase a simple wine glass charm, with beads or marbles in different numbers set on the string. Others may prefer more complex and spiritually driven charms, such as crescent moons and a wide variety of other shapes. Differently designated charms can be applied to your glasses for special occasions and holidays. Wedding wine glass charms are a particular popular type to utilize: with every sip of the wine glass that is bearing them specially designated to symbolize the fortune and joviality that will accommodate the newlyweds in every year of their future. Additionally, Christmas wine glass charms can be hung around the glass to represent the cheer and spirit associated with the holiday.

Many different charms are available for many different occasions, including anniversaries, birthdays and of course the numerous holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day and Mardi gras. As a result of the large amount available, many people will start collecting these wine glass charms and use them on their glasses for each special occasion, creating an attractive cycle every year.

Many of these charms can be made at home, with a few cheap and conveniently available items that can be purchased in art stores. The metal hoop onto which the charms will be set will need to be purchased specifically for the purpose of creating a glass charm, so as to get the exact dimensions necessary for its usage. The hoop will come unaltered, which allows the user to add whatever they see fit to their soon-to-be charm. Here is where you can let your creativity run wild by adding anything you would like to the hoop. Charms and beads are to be purchased separately, and can be added in any way that appeals to the owner, ranging from a single simple charm to a multi-colored display of attractive quality. After customizing as you see fit, use pliers to bend the tip of the hoop into its socket and attach the newly crafted charm to your wine glass.

For those who wish to save money, creating these charms at home is a simple and enjoyable activity to partake in. Many people may prefer to purchase premade charms specially purchased in designated wine stores, to add professional quality and craftsmanship to the charm itself. Whatever it is you wish to do, you will no doubt be pleased with the final result and will enjoy using the charm with your wine for many years to come.

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The Collectable and Artistic Appeal of Pewter Wine Goblets

The Collectable and Artistic Appeal of Pewter Wine Goblets

by on 14. Jun, 2010 in Champagne Flutes, Goblets

When people think of drinking and tasting wine, especially valuable and aged wine, a standard wine glass may come to mind, with additional artistic features added to increase its appeal for the specific purpose of drinking wine. Some glasses may even be designed for particular types of wine as well. Many people are unaware of another type of vessel specially designed for drinking wine – one that has a history and in fact a reputation for being one of the more fashionable, if quaint, methods of drinking wine. Pewter wine goblets have long since departed from mainstream circulation, owing to the ease with which glass is produced and its significantly lower cost of creation. Despite this, many people still craft attractive wine goblets made with pewter or other alloys; and even more people regularly purchase these goblets, appreciating both their practical utility and their collectable value.

Because of the high amount of craftsmanship and personal customization showcased in each individual goblet, collecting, or indeed even using these goblets is not advised unless you have the money to spend. These goblets are often reserved for particularly special wine-drinking occasions, and when they are stored away and not in use, they truly shine as a part of a collection. The wide variety of pewter goblets available for purchase can often make choosing which one to begin with difficult. Many of these goblets are made from pure pewter, with engravings, patterns and images imprinted into them at an additional price to showcase craftsmanship (no doubt if you are considering purchasing a pewter goblet, you are not interested in a plain one of solid color).

Other goblets may include different alloys mixed into the pewter, either to increase durability or provide a different natural tinge to the goblet. Some goblets are even created with other metals used for frames and image etchings; gold is a particularly popular one seen in these wine goblets – and even stones and lustrous gems can be added to the goblet to add a truly traditional feel to them. Some of them may not even require additional metals, and instead work to bridge the gap between the old and the new by setting glass into the pewter and finding interesting and attractive ways to craft the two together. For those interested in the practical value of such goblets, those made with glass and pewter are often the most recommended – as they are designed for easier function at a lower cost than other goblets made of solid pewter material.

Showcasing these goblets can be as difficult as actually purchasing them. You will want to carefully consider the size and the placement of the cabinet, as it pertains to the way you want to display your goblets. In traditional homes exhibiting the goblets can actively make them a living part of the décor itself, and as such it is recommended to set the cabinet as a focal point of the room, so as to attract immediately attention to it. In other homes, especially with smaller collections, one may consider simply keeping them in the open in a relatively small cabinet. Depending on your purposes and the décor of your home, there are many options available for the placement of goblet collections.

With the widespread utility and availability of the internet, purchasing such a wine goblet is made very simple. Websites like amazon and overstock regularly make available artistic goblets for sale, ones designed for both drinking and display purposes. Additionally, certain specially themed stores can feature a wide catalog as well and allow you to browse through the goblets while getting a firsthand feel for them. By looking over the catalog and carefully considering the prices and the style of the goblets, you will no doubt be able to make a purchase certain to leave you happy.

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Purchasing a Champagne Flute as a Gift

Purchasing a Champagne Flute as a Gift

by on 12. Jun, 2010 in Champagne Flutes

Champagne flutes are a wonderful gift for almost any occasion, and since most occasions call for a little bubbly, they are quite a suitable gift. Knowing what to look for when purchasing them is easy, once you understand how and why they are used. Here are a few things you should know about them before you purchase them.

Believe it or not, the shape, size, and materials used to make your champagne flute can make the difference between a pleasant champagne experience or a bad one. There is a reason that these glasses are shaped the way they are, and shape is one of the most important aspects in deciding which glass to purchase. The taller and more narrow the glass is, the better it is for serving champagne. Finding a glass that has a larger bottom and then narrows at the top is best for containment of the natural aromas found in aged wines. You will also want to be sure that it has a long stem, which will keep the temperature of your hands from warming your champagne.

Glass or crystal champagne flutes are probably the most common and most appropriate type of material used to make these glasses. Crystal allows for the true color of the wine or champagne to be viewed from the glass. It also allows you to see just how bubbly your champagne truly is. The more bubbly the better quality champagne you are drinking. Other materials like silver and pewter are beautiful to look at, but should be avoided if you plan to use them to drink from. They will take away from the total experience of drinking wine or champagne, and are not recommended.

Another choice for large parties where there are a lot of people, and purchasing a hundred glass or crystal flutes is not an option, is the purchase of several plastic champagne flutes. You can find plastic wine glasses in many different shapes and sizes. Plastic will provide your guests with the same visual experience as glass or crystal, but they are a lot less expensive, and can be recycled when the party is over.

Champagne flutes come in a variety of shapes. The most common shape is the tulip shape, which is tall and slender, just as the flower. There are also some unique shapes such as the tall cylindrical shaped glass with the flat base. This glass has a contemporary look and feel, with a touch of elegance. There is also the tapered V-shaped flute, that is also contemporary, but at the same time has a classical appearance. Then there is the Verve flute, which has thick base or stem, and tapers only slightly creating the look of a beer glass. These are only a few of the many choices available.

You can find these styles and many others in stores such as Crate and Barrel, or Pier One Imports, but you can also save yourself some time and money by shopping online. There are many online stores that carry a large inventory of wine glasses and flutes. You will have access to pictures, descriptions, and prices all at your fingertips. Most of the online stores have user friendly sites, complete with shopping carts, which makes your shopping even easier. Even more beautiful, is the fact that you can have them shipped directly to your home, or have them gift-wrapped and shipped for you.

Purchasing glass or crystal flutes is not quite as difficult as it may seem. You just need to know how and why we use them so that you can make an informed choice. If you are purchasing as a gift, you may even be able to find a company that will engrave them for you too. A champagne flute makes a wonderful gift, one that can be cherished for a lifetime.

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Lolita Wine Glasses – Options and Prices:

Lolita Wine Glasses – Options and Prices:

by on 11. Jun, 2010 in Champagne Flutes

There is so much variety when it comes to wine glasses by Lolita. The prices vary a lot, depending on which particular kind you choose. Lolita wine glasses are great for weddings or as presents for birthdays, Christmas, Valentines or other special occasions. Each glass, no matter what style, also comes with a unique cocktail recipe at the bottom of the glass and is sold gift boxed.

If you are looking for something that is great just for day to day use, something nice but not particularly romantic, then a few good choices are the Santa Barbara wine glass or one of C. R. Gibson’s many acrylic wine drink-ware sets. These are made with leopard designs, celebrate, shopaholic, or Stilettos. Any of these sets can be purchased at $16 for a set of two, making it one of Lolita’s more affordable sets.

For birthdays, they offer a number of themed glasses that will perfectly suit the occasion. While you can, of course, choose a glass or set of glasses that is not birthday themed, the birthday Lolita wine glasses are very well suited to the occasion and they do not cost more than your average Lolita wine glass. The Lolita Lempika Happy Birthday wine glass costs $25, as does the Birthday Cake hand painted one. The ‘Aged to Perfection’ Birthday Ballu wine glass costs $26 and can be an ideal gift for a friend or relative who is getting on in years. The ’21′ birthday wine glass is also $25 and is made for someone who is turning 21 years old.

There are a number of Christmas themed wine glasses to choose from. Some of the pricier ones include Lolita’s Holly Berry Christmas Holiday wine glass and ‘Santa’s Mail’ hand painted wine glass, both at $50. However, the 2009 Skiing Santa Crash wine glass is only $25 while the ‘Rocking Around the Tree’ wine glass is an affordable $20.

There are also Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, and St. Patrick themed wine glasses made by Lolita. The Lolita Aliceart Wine Glass “get Lucky” St. Patrick’s Day is presently selling for $22 on eBay; however, the Hanukkah one is retired and costs $45 if you want to get one. The Thanksgiving themed ‘Thankful’ hand painted wine glass costs the same as the Hanukkah one.

There are a number of glasses that are well suited for either Valentine’s day or a wedding. The “Red Hot’ one is a good choice for Valentine’s and costs a bit over $33. Another good Valentine’s day choice is the retired Holiday Valentine wine glass and it only costs $24. The ‘I Do’ Wedding Wine glass presently sells for $30 and is suitable for any kind of wedding. There are also anniversary wine glasses that can be a great gift for the occasion; these cost $25 and come with the words ‘here’s to many more.’

A good place to look for Lolita glasses is the Internet, eBay in particular. A multitude of different kinds of glasses are sold on this site and they are in new or near new condition. It is quite hard to find as large a selection at a regular store as you can find on this site. The shipping costs vary; with some you have to pay extra to have your purchase shipped to you (this is noted on the site) and with others the purchase price is inclusive of shipping. Another good site to check out if you are looking for a particular glass and cannot find it, is Macy.com

For those who are collectors, keep your eyes open for ads selling them second hand. Sites such as craigslist.org and even your local flea market may be good places to look for bargain deals.

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