For New Year's, raise a glass that suits the occasion

New or old, pricey or not, it ought to be festive

By Harriett Hendren — Herald-Leader Fashion writer

Whether it's Champagne, another sparkling wine or even a non-alcoholic cider, toasting the new year calls for festive glassware.Classic Champagne glasses include the flute, with its tall, narrow shape designed to contain the bubbles longer before they escape into the air. The height of the vessel also serves to show off fizzy drinks as bubbles rise to the top.Another traditional glass is the coupe, which has a shallow saucer shape. Champagne bubbles tend to disappear more quickly because of the wider opening, but this glass gets cool credits for its vintage Mad Men style.Glassware makers are forever tinkering with the original designs. Crate and Barrel offers a stemless, modern-shaped Verve Champagne flute with a base made of glass that contains its own bubbles.Mikasa makes several designs that feature whimsical etchings of dots and stripes. Hand-blown flutes from Pier 1 would brighten a party table with boldly colored spirals of blue or red. Antique stores, flea markets and online sites such as Etsy.com are great places to find unique pieces for New Year's or any occasion, even if it's just to celebrate the end of a long day at work. Instead of sticking with traditional containers to serve your bubbly, try cups of varying shapes; perhaps a slender pilsner glass, typically used for beer and designed to show off that beverage's carbonation, or a shallow sherbet bowl.No matter the style of glass, how you pour from bottle to cup can affect the drink's fizzy performance. Bon Appetit magazine advises that when pouring Champagne into a flute, allow the liquid to flow slowly down the side of the glass for less foam and longer-lasting bubbles.