Placing Glassware

Table Setting Guide

Stemware is placed on the table in a way that is comfortable, convenient, and symmetrical. Stemware is aligned symmetrically at the top right of the plate.

Stemware Configuration

The arrangement of stemware is based on space. At a multi-course meal, there is a lot of tableware, including a water goblet and two or three wine glasses. To save space, stemware is arranged in the shape of a triangle or a diamond.

• In the triangle arrangement, the dessert glass forms the highest point. The water goblet is angled to the lower left of the dessert glass, and the glasses for red and white wine are placed on the lower right side. When sherry is served, the sherry glass is placed on the lower right of the white wine glass.
• The diamond shape is the same as the triangle arrangement, except the white wine glass is angled to the lower left of the red wine glass, and the sherry glass to the lower left of the white wine glass.

At a simple meal, less stemware is required. Usually one wine glass is used along with a water goblet. There is room to arrange stemware in any way one chooses, such as in a straight line parallel with the edge of the table or a diagonal line angled toward the table's edge.

Order of Use

Stemware is placed on the table in the order of use.

• Water Goblet. The water goblet is placed in a position closest to the hand, approximately 1 inch above the tip of the dinner knife.
• Wine Glasses. Wine glasses are placed on the table in the order that accommodates the service of wine. Normally at a simple meal, one wine is served, and the way the wine glass is placed on the table is not important. But at a multi-course meal, the appropriate wine glass is placed nearest the hand.
• Sherry Glasses. The sherry glass is placed on the table when sherry is served to accompany a course in which sherry is an ingredient. On an uncrowded table, the sherry glass is placed on the right side of the white wine glass. However, when space on the table is crowded, the sherry glass is placed to the left front of the white wine glass.
• White Wine Glasses. The white wine glass is arranged in the form of a triangle or a diamond. In the triangle arrangement, when a sherry glass is placed on the table, the white wine glass is positioned to the upper left of the sherry glass. If a sherry glass is not placed on the table, the white wine glass is placed to the lower right of the red wine glass. In the diamond arrangement, the white wine glass is placed to the lower left of the red wine glass.
• Red Wine Glasses. The red wine glass is placed also in a triangle or a diamond. In the triangle arrangement, the red wine glass is placed to the upper left of the white wine glass, generally above the spoon. In the diamond arrangement, the red wine glass is placed to the upper right of the white wine glass.
• Dessert Wine Glasses. The dessert wine glass is angled to the right rear of the water goblet when space is at a premium. Otherwise, it is placed directly to the right of the water goblet.
• Champagne Glasses. The champagne glass is placed on the table to the right of the water goblet when champagne is the only wine served. If champagne is served to accompany a particular course, the champagne glass is placed on the table in the order of use.
• Juice Glasses. The juice glass is placed in the center of the cover on a small underplate when juice is served as a first course. If juice is served to accompany a meal, the glass is placed directly on the table at the top right of the cover.

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