Some glassware is only good for throwing, while others actually enhance the drink experience. To learn which is which please read on.

Even those of us who live in cramped apartments seem to amass enough glassware to outfit a small tavern. After all, it seems morally reprehensible to drink a $20 bottle of wine out of ceramic cups, right? Fortunately, with over 40 unique types of glassware on the market, there’s a type and style out there for everyone. If you’re planning on updating your glassware collection, we’ve pulled together a quick overview of what to look for in good glassware.

If you can’t tell your Shiraz from a Merlot but have the daunting task of selecting wine for a dinner party just follow our tips to choose the right bottle every time. Cheers!

Wine and food pairing basics

Wine should complement the dish it’s served with and vice versa — neither should out-do the other. The key is to choose a wine that’s similar to the food. Sometimes it’s the sauce or seasonings that give a dish its defining flavor (such as tomatoes, pepper or lemon), which is what you want to match. So, for example, if you serve lemon chicken, select a wine with a citrus keynote. TIP: Check the label on the back of the bottle as it often describes the notes.

Top Ten

While this list of grape varietals is in no way exhaustive, it’s a great place to start and offers plenty of options for choosing a superb bottle of wine.

Host a night of whisky tasting and discover the pleasure of Scotland’s best export.

Being Scottish in a foreign land has its problems—no deep-fried Mars bars or black puddin’ ‘n’ chips. Culinary shortcomings aside, the biggest problem is that around January 25th, when all good Scots celebrate the birth of legendary poet and author of Auld Lang Syne, Robert Burns, the price for a bag piper goes through the roof! Fortunately, most displaced Scots quickly discover that if you fudge the date a little, you can save bundles. We call it our own wee Robbie Burns day and it’s inevitably after January 25.

Regardless of the date, Robbie Burns is a great reason to gather friends and sample some of Scotland’s finest national export. To make the experience more interactive and easier on the pocketbook ask your friends to bring a bottle—we’ve pulled together everything you need to know to select a good range of samples.