Schooner the name comes from Australia and was created for when the glass for a pint becomes too hot when out in sun. Why people think that same methodology will apply to us in beyond me but pub landlords in the UK are taking it very seriously indeed. Traditionalists are concerned that if may start a shift away from the pint. In bars and clubs at the moment you can order a pint, half pint and a third of a pint. The smaller glass will no doubt cause a huge amount of confusion for any pub’s glassware and as the glass itself looks almost identical to a pint glass and there will no doubt be mistakes. There is quite a lot backing for this new measure due to the incentive of drinking less and also helping curb binge drinking. It is the same with wine glasses. In many pubs they will only sell a much larger size wine glasses in the bar and in their dinnerware.

The Association of drinking in Scotland does not share this stating that there is no demand for the Schooner glass. Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson said: ‘There is no question of replacing the British pint, but introducing the option of a brand new imperial measure is good for consumers and providing them with far more choice.

When selecting a glass that you want to enhance flavour look for a glass which is large and round with a very wide rim. It adds a psychological element by making it seem like an occasion, something special is happening while drinking the wine. This type of glass does have many benefits; it helps the smell of the wine to be released as well as aiding the flavour by the taste bursting in the mouth as soon as the wine is drunk.

The tips I would advice to get the most out of your wine is to make sure you decant it, warm the wine glass you use and eat salty snacks before you drink.

Doing such a simple thing as using decanters can make a serious difference to the taste. It’s important to decant your bottle of wine a least two hours before you want to drink it and make your you leave it at room temperature.

A warm glass may not sound much but does make a real difference. Make sure your glasses are at room temperature the same as your wine. If your glassware is cold you can warm it up by running it under a warm tap for a minute.

Salty snacks can add extra flavour to your wine if you eat them before. If you’re having a dinner party and serving wine with your food then salty snacks are perfect for a pre meal food and also preparing your taste buds for the wine.

You should try and incorporate these tips whenever you serve wine and they are not high resource ideas so can done easily.

Theres the simple classic bottle opener that resembles a key and in some senses it is a key to the golden goodness inside. These range from the pared down cap poppers on a Swiss Army Knife to heavy duty jobs with solid Sterling Silver rod handles.Cast metal versions may do the job for a while, but dont underestimate the sheer force required to pop a bottle cap.These cheaper ones tend to go to pieces after a while. This is true off all dinnerware and tableware in fact.

More sophisticated versions include CellarDines ZapCap, which isnt the most compact unit in the world, but is certainly effective.There’s even a magnet which holds the removed caps in place for neat disposal. You simply place it over the neck of a bottle and with just a gentle push removes the cap with a minimum of effort and fuss. ZapCap works on metal pop off and twist off caps and is a must have gadget for Christmas, along with the appropriate glassware for the lager of your choice.

But what if you are stuck without any of these excellent bottle openers to hand?How can you get into that well deserved brew? Obvious tip is, buy a bottle opener and dont lose it! Keep one handy at all times by the wine rack in fact buy a wine racks just so you can keep a bottle opener next to it!In extremis however, try these emergency options that use everyday objects to crack off that bottle cap without breaking glass or ruining your expensive dental work (they should work with pop off caps, but twist off caps will probably need a bottle opener or brute force and sound teeth).

Provided youre not a yoof who walks around with the jeans at half mast, your belts buckle can function as a bottle opener.We suggest taking off your belt first though.You really dont want to try any sudden jerking motions with glass in that area of your body.f you have a disposable plastic lighter, prop the bottom of it (not the metal top) under the caps edge.Push up on the cap with the edge of the lighter and it should at least make it loose, if not completely pop it off. If you have a set of keys, use one that can wedge between the cap and the bottles neck.Twist the key under the cap and repeat the process until you get most of the way around the cap. You should be able to simply grip the cap with your fingers and twist it off, although you may never be able to get in your front door again.

Good glassware (not necessarily expensive glasses) is central to the enjoyment of a good wine.In fact, very expensive glassware is often not a sensible choice as they tend to have long stems and a high centre of gravity.A glass filled with wine is inherently unstable and there cant be anyone who drinks wine who hasn’t tipped over the occasional glass at some time.Wine glasses will break. Accept it and buy glasses that are fairly sturdy and reasonably priced.

A good wine glass is basically quite simple ideally it should be made of glass. It should be perfectly clear with no tints or opaque colours because apart from just holding the wine, decent glassware should also display it. The true deep colour of a wine can be a beautiful sight in a clear, clean glass just as a range of bottles can be impressive in a well constructed wine rack. A glass should also enhance, or at least preserve, the wine’s bouquet. Good wine glasses are narrower at the top than at the bottom to concentrate the aromas of the wine. Experienced wine drinkers swirl the wine in the glass before taking the first sip to release more of its bouquet.

So if you plan to buy a wine gift this Christmas, any decent collection of glasses will do the trick. The only truly unacceptable wine glass is the saucer-like champagne glass – which is guaranteed to warm the wine and make it flat in record time. They are perfect for a shrimp cocktail starter, but otherwise for champagne and sparkling wines use a flute.